Warning: Spoilers for Power Rangers Prime #3!The newest Power Rangers have finally discovered the source of their powers. The final chapter of BOOM! Studios' decade-long Power Rangers comic book inspired the publisher to start experimenting with a new Prime universe. With Samurai's Red Ranger, Lauren Shiba, at the helm, this Rangerverse is an entirely original revamp of classic Rangers lore.

After multiple issues teasing the inevitable, the source of the central team's new powers is revealed in Power Rangers Prime #3 by Melissa Flores, Michael Yg, Fabi Marques and Ed Dukeshire. The well-documented Rangers mythos has established Zordon as the source of the Rangers' powers, but this time, that honor shockingly goes to longtime Power Rangers foe Rita Repulsa.

This latest twist in the established Power Rangers canon could wind up changing either Rita Repulsa or the Rangers forever. Either way, it would be shocking if such an olive branch came without consequences for either party.

Rita Repulsa Gives the Power Rangers Their Powers in New Lore

A Massive Twist to Established Canon

Rita Repulsa was the first recurring villain and main antagonist of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series. Power Rangers Prime recreates Rita Repulsa as younger and just as diabolical, but also as someone who intended to do good. In this same issue, Rita reveals that she was infused into the Morphin Grid as a child, with hopes that it would steer her onto the path of good. Although the attempt was unsuccessful, it reveals that her role in this new franchise is a mixture of the classic Repulsa as well as Zordon.

This story isn't the first time that Power Rangers flirted with the idea of Rita Repulsa having a redemption arc, but becoming the Rangers' coach, mentor, and source of power (however briefly) could steer her down such a path sooner rather than later.

Zordon's connection to the Morphin Grid makes him the personification of good, while Rita's connection to the Grid in this universe solidifies her as just the opposite. Then again, with there technically being still some good inside of her, symbolized by the Morphin Grid, the story could be steering Repulsa toward a redemtion arc before the story is over. This story isn't the first time that Power Rangers flirted with the idea of Rita Repulsa having a redemption arc, but becoming the Rangers' coach, mentor, and source of power (however briefly) could steer her down such a path sooner rather than later.

Could Rita Repulsa's Evil Chaos Magic Make the Power Rangers Go Evil?

The Seeds of This Dark Possibility Exist

Alternatively, any of these new Rangers led by Shiba could become evil. Barring the history of Rita Repulsa and her evil Green Ranger, their power is imbued not only with the Morphin Grid but with Rita's chaos magic. It's hard not to imagine that there will be consequences for Rita's magic in the issues to come. The seeds of doubt - as well as lots of foreshadowing - seem to have been planted in this very issue.

Prior to meeting Rita, Lauren talks to one of the would-be Rangers, Valentina, in the middle of the Angel Grove Natural History Museum. While Shiba expresses needing raw power for the sake of survival, Valentina expresses wanting power for the sake of having power. Valentina shrugs off Lauren's nobler intentions. This difference in ideologies could signal that Valentina is heading toward learning such nobler characteristics - or it could be that lacking them will be the first step toward evil. Either way, the Power Rangers found their power, and neither Rita Repulsa nor the Rangers will ever be the same.

Power Rangers Prime #3 is available now from BOOM! Studios.