The following contains major spoilers for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #104, available now from BOOM! Studios.
While the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers have always faced off against monstrous foes, those of the comics have proven to be infinitely more menacing than their small-screen counterparts. This isn't just true of the main antagonist such as Rita Repulsa or Lord Zedd, however, as even more middling villains have been given the grim and gritty treatment. In fact, it is one of the original series' least appreciated antagonists that has undergone what might be the most gruesome shift of all, and it could be what finally makes fans take Rito Revolto seriously.
After making an unforgettable comeback as Mistress Vile, the villain formerly known as Rita Repulsa finally reveals the secrets to her transformation in the pages of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #104 (by Melissa Flores, Kath Lobo, Simona Di Gianfelice, Fabi Marques, Raúl Angulo, and Ed Dukeshire). As it turns out, it was Divatox who freed her from her imprisonment at the behest of Master Vile, Rita's father, and Dark Specter's loyal servant. Upon reuniting with his daughter, Master Vile eagerly shows off his latest hope for a vessel for his master. Unfortunately, Rita rebuked his efforts not just for his past failures, but for the fact that they left her half-brother Rito a skeletal shell of his former self.
Who Is Rito Revolto - And What Happened to Him?
Rito made his franchise debut all the way back in the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Season Three premiere episode "Ninja Quest" in 1995. While the episode marked the first appearances of heroic fan favorites such as Ninjor and the Ninjazords, it also introduced a new era of enemies headed up by Rito himself. As the son of Master Vile following his monstrous transformation, it was no surprise that Rito also bore a grotesque appearance. Similarly, as a tertiary recurring antagonist, it was no surprise that Rito was portrayed as a dimwitted, slapstick villain.
In a gut-wrenching turn, these traits are still present in the Rito of the comics, though they are hardly inherited traits by any measure. Instead, whatever Rito used to be was reduced to bleached, unfeeling bones thanks to Master Vile's attempts to make him into Dark Specter's living vessel. As Rita notes, this botched transformation also did irreparable harm to Rito's mind. Beyond drawing Rita's ire, Master Vile's despicable use of his own son as a test subject is a testament to just how fitting his name truly is.
Rito Revolto's Fate Darkens the Power Rangers Universe
The Power Rangers of the BOOM! Studio's universe has always lived in a darker space than its predecessors from the small screen, yet rarely have things been so bleak as the fate of Rito Revolto. Death, destruction, and the reshaping of the multiverse itself have long been among the worst outcomes for the heroes when it comes to facing failure. But the lengths that Dark Specter's legions are willing to go to in his name speak to even worse things to come if the Rangers can't turn the tide against him.
Of course, the Power Rangers' innate ability to achieve miraculous victories in the face of overwhelming odds is still ever present in the comics. This means there are little to no chances of them ever genuinely facing their absolute end. At the same time, that doesn't mean that individual members of the team or their allies can't still come into harm's way. If anything, Rito's fate proves that this particular timeline is willing to churn anyone into a pile of bones with no regard for where they stand or how far from the spotlight they happen to be.