An iconic Power Ranger is joining Hasbro's Lightning Collection in his Black Ranger form.Revealed by @preterniadotcom on Twitter, Jason David Frank's Black Dino Thunder Ranger is officially getting the Lightning Collection treatment. The upcoming wave of Lightning Collection figures also includes Power Rangers Dino Thunder's main antagonist Mesogog, and the Blue Dino Fury and Pink Lost Galaxy Rangers, and are available for pre-order as of 1 p.m. EST on Jan. 17. It is not yet known whether the version of the Pink Lost Galaxy Ranger will be based on Valerie Vernon's Kendrix Morgan or Melody Perkins' Karone.
Frank, an actor and mixed martial artist, joined the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers during the show's first season in 1993 as Tommy Oliver during the five-part episode, "Green with Evil." The character quickly became a fan-favorite and has gone on to leave behind one of the most indelible legacies of any Ranger in the entire franchise. Frank's role as the original Green Ranger eventually led him to also become the series' first White Ranger, followed by him taking up the mantles of the Red Zeo and Red Turbo Ranger, the latter of which marked his exit from the series in 1997.
Frank returned in 2004 to lead the team once more as the Black Dino Thunder Ranger, as well as for various appearances across other iterations of the franchise. Frank passed away in November 2022, with suicide cited as the cause of the actor's death. He was 49 years old.
2023 marks the Power Rangers franchise's 30th anniversary, as well as the 30th and final season of the main television series in the form of Power Rangers Cosmic Fury. The upcoming series is a continuation of Power Rangers Dino Fury with new looks to take on both classic villains such as Lord Zedd and entirely original threats.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Return to Netflix
The franchise's 30th anniversary will also be celebrated by a Netflix special titled, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. Netflix released the first trailer for Once & Always, along with exclusive photos, which offer a first look at the reunion between the original cast members from the very first season of the series. Power Rangers cast members returning for the special include David Yost, Walter Jones, Catherine Sutherland, Steve Cardenas, Karen Ashley and Johnny Yong Bosch. The special precedes Netflix's own version of the series, which will be helmed by The Witcher and Jessica Jones producer Jenny Klein.
The next round of Hasbro Lightning Collection figures is now available for pre-order. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always hits Netflix on April 19.
Source: Twitter