The original iteration ofPower Rangershad a third Red Ranger whom ’90s viewers knew nothing about. Hardcore fans know that Jason Lee Scott was the franchise’s first Red Ranger, with Rocky DeSantos replacing him inMighty Morphin’ssecond season to become the second Red Ranger. The comics introduce a female Red Ranger who pre-dates both as Zordon’s first leader, but another woman succeeds Rocky and Jason to go Red.
Rocky’s sister, Raina, succeeds him as the Red RangerinPower Rangers: Across the Morphin Grid#1. The anthology collects storieswritten by iconicPower Rangersactors, and “In the Red” by Rocky’s actor, Steve Cardenas (alongside Mat Groom), expands the lore of the franchise in a big way. Canonically, Raina DeSantos officially marks the second time that a Red Ranger has been a woman, after Grace Sterling forZordon’s first Rangers teamfrom 1969.
It’s rare to see a female Red Ranger onscreen, but the comics expand both the canonical lore and the historical significance behind Power Rangers.
Rocky’s Sister is a Red Ranger That Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Fans Know Nothing About
“In the Red” by Mat Groom and Steve Cardenas, Anand Ramcheron, Francesco Segala, Gloria Martinelli, and Ed Dukeshire in Power Rangers: Across the Morphin Grid #1
Although the originalMighty Morphin Power Rangersseries doesn’t spend much time focusing on Rocky’s life outside of his Rangerhood,the lore-expandingPower Rangerscomicsdo mention that he has four brothers and one sister. His sister was unnamed at the time, but this comic reveals her as the younger Raina. One day, Raina has a bad day that she wants to confide in her older brother about, only to find him sleeping with his Power Morpher in hand. To feel powerful for one day, shesteals his Morpher and Red Ranger powers, but things quickly go south.
To learn more about Rocky and his family, check out theMighty Morphin Power Rangerscomics from BOOM! Studios, as well as the two spinoff comic series, respectively titledMighty MorphinandPower Rangers.
By taking his powers without enduring a proper Power Transfer with the Sword of Light, Raina’s abilities go haywire when she’s suddenly attacked by one of Lord Zedd’s monsters, Bulldog. Thankfully, Rocky is on the scene to help coach her through the pain. Rocky has always been one of the more underrated and overlooked Rangers, but this moment shows him displaying the signs of a true leader by being an emotional support system for Raina while helping her find her confidence. Even better, he’s able to fend off Bulldog without his powers, showing off his bravery and skill.
Raina Joins a Rare Line of Female Red Rangers
Why Raina Becoming Canonically the Third Female Red Ranger in Power Rangers Lore is Important
Female Red Rangers in the Power Rangers franchise have been few and far between. The first one comes in the show’s 13th season,Power Rangers S.P.D., when Gina Varela played the villainous A-Squad leader, Charlie. Then, Kimberley Crossman would play Lauren Shiba, the second Red Samurai Ranger, in the 18th season,Power Rangers Samurai.In both cases, the characters were in supporting roles, and their time as Red Ranger was brief. It wouldn’t be until the show’s landmark 30th season,Power Rangers Cosmic Fury, that the show would get a woman playing the Red Ranger full-time.
The comics have helped boost those numbers a bit with the introduction of Grace Sterling as Zordon’s first Red Ranger, as well as the reintroduction ofLauren Shiba asPrime’sRed Ranger, and Trini Kwan’supgrade from Yellow to Redwith the Omega Rangers. There’s been a lack of representation for women aspiring to be Red Rangers, but Raina’s admittedly brief runhelps fix that issue. Raina adds another female Red Ranger intoPower Rangerscontinuity while also showing how the comics are able to fill a hole that the television show couldn’t.
Power Rangers: Across the Morphin Grid #1is available now from BOOM! Studios.
Power Rangers
Power Rangersis a long-running multimedia franchise that debuted in 1993 with the TV seriesMighty Morphin Power Rangers. Created by Haim Saban and adapted from the JapaneseSuper Sentaiseries,Power Rangersbecame a cultural phenomenon by combining action-packed footage fromSuper Sentaiwith new scenes featuring American actors. The franchise follows teams of young heroes who transform into Power Rangers to battle various villains, using martial arts, special powers, and giant mechas called Zords. Over the decades, the franchise has expanded into multiple TV series, films, comics, video games, and merchandise, becoming one of the most successful children’s franchises in the world.
