The original iteration of Power Rangers had 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 in Mighty Morphin's second 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 Ranger in Power Rangers: Across the Morphin Grid #1. The anthology collects stories Zordon's first Rangers team from 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, sco Segala, Gloria Martinelli, and Ed Dukeshire in Power Rangers: Across the Morphin Grid #1
Although the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series doesn't spend much time focusing on Rocky's life outside of his Rangerhood, the lore-expanding Power Rangers comics do 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, she steals his Morpher and Red Ranger powers, but things quickly go south.
To learn more about Rocky and his family, check out the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comics from BOOM! Studios, as well as the two spinoff comic series, respectively titled Mighty Morphin and Power 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 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 s 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 ing 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.
Power Rangers’ New Red Ranger Is Fixing A 30-Year-Old Franchise Mistake
Power Rangers’ new Red Ranger avoids two of the oldest Power Ranger tropes and brings something that the 30-year-old- franchise had yet to see.
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 of upgrade from Yellow to Red with the Omega Rangers. There's been a lack of representation for women aspiring to be Red Rangers, but Raina's ittedly brief run helps fix that issue. Raina adds another female Red Ranger into Power Rangers continuity while also showing how the comics are able to fill a hole that the television show couldn't.
Power Rangers: Across the Morphin Grid #1 is available now from BOOM! Studios.
Power Rangers
Power Rangers is a long-running multimedia franchise that debuted in 1993 with the TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Created by Haim Saban and adapted from the Japanese Super Sentai series, Power Rangers became a cultural phenomenon by combining action-packed footage from Super Sentai with 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.
