Warning: contains a preview for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2!Following their iconic initial crossover, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers are back together once again in the official sequel to the original miniseries–and on one variant cover for the upcoming second issue in this all-new series, Shredder has been redesigned as the Green Ranger (and this isn’t the first time).
In the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Ryan Parrott and Simone di Meo, Green Ranger Tommy Oliver went undercover within the Foot Clan to save his friend and take Shredder down. Unfortunately, the Shredder was able to outsmart Tommy and figured out how to tap into the Morphin Grid through Tommy’s Power Coin–effectively making Shredder the new Green Ranger. While this event was dramatic (and, admittedly, insanely awesome), Shredder would eventually be defeated before Rita Repulsa used her magic to seemingly get rid of him for good, at which point Tommy reclaimed the title of the Green Ranger. However, if this new variant cover is to be taken into consideration, it seems as though ‘Green Ranger Shredder’ is coming back with a vengeance.
As of right now, only the first issue of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II (by Ryan Parrott and Dan Mora) is available to read, but in a preview for the second issue released by League of Comic Geeks, fans not only get a sneak peek at the comic’s plotline, but also a look at the return of an iconic character-amalgamation: Green Ranger Shredder. On this variant cover (by artist Derrick Chew), Shredder is once again channeling the power summoned from the Morphin Grid through the Green Ranger’s Power Coin, effectively merging Shredder with this cosmic energy. While Shredder does become more powerful in this form, the real takeaway is how undeniably cool he looks. Rather than just transforming into a regular Green Ranger, Shredder’s classic aesthetic is mixed with that of the fan-favorite Ranger in truly epic fashion.
Shredder’s Green Ranger Form Could Be Making a Comeback
There are two obvious possibilities when considering this variant cover. Either the artwork is simply a tribute to the original crossover series with no bearing on the actual storyline, or Shredder’s Green Ranger form is about to make a comeback. In the first issue of this sequel series, Casey Jones is battling Karai because he is looking for Shredder, even though his disappearance–courtesy of Rita Repulsa–was well-noted. Introducing the idea that Shredder will once again be a major threat in this storyline, even if he hasn’t even been featured yet, is a pretty good indicator that he will be back–and this variant cover seems to also indicate that, if he does return, he will reclaim his Green Ranger power once again.
While it would be cool to see Shredder don the Green Ranger aesthetic once again in this new series, this cover doesn’t necessarily confirm that will happen, as the other possibility (that this artwork is simply a tribute to the original TMNT/Power Rangers crossover) is just as likely. Either way, one thing that is clear is how insanely awesome Shredder looks as the Green Ranger, and this all-new artwork takes that original design to jaw-dropping new heights within the recently-revived world shared by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2 will be available January 25, 2023.
Source: League of Comic Geeks