Morphin’ Legacy has been up for five whole years. In that time, we’ve seized control of the hearts and minds of fans all over the world by bringing news, editorials, exclusive content, and the almighty database to your eyes one article at a time. As a writer, it’s been a very valuable experience, and as a member of the Power Rangers fan community, it’s a position that I’m thankful to participate in. Before I joined, I didn’t have much of an outlet for my ongoing interest in the show, the way the heroic deeds of the characters made me feel even as an adult. In a society where superhero brands have merged into the pop culture, Power Rangers remains a niche market and almost shunned from the greater collection of interests. It didn’t feel great to be a Power Rangers fan, but since I’ve been able to write for this site, I’ve let loose theories and ideas that I couldn’t have ever shared with anyone else because of disinterest and the ongoing negative and juvenile image that the show retains.
Because of this site, I am continually able to express things that I’ve had to suppress and replace with subjects including ‘taxes’ or ‘I’ll eat as much ravioli as I want, Dad’, and it’s freeing and so pleasant to see the feedback from you all article after article. Morphin’ Legacy has evolved into a forum where any fan can feel comfortable talking about whatever part of the show interests them or is relevant to a particular post, tweet, or article. When the fandom engages as I’ve seen it across the myriad of Morphin’ Legacy social media platforms and at conventions like Power Morphicon, I can’t help but draw a parallel between the unique bond between fans who are no more than strangers to each other and the bond between the Ranger characters themselves; I’ve met or heard about a good portion of you who work as volunteers or charities, attend birthday parties cosplaying as your favorite character, and hold a discipline directed toward producing good things in the world, which I’d say is a pretty good societal effect for a cheap TV show from the 1990s.
One of my primary points in writing for the site was the name: Morphin’ Legacy. What has the show accomplished? What has it done, what has truly lasted from the first time those morphin’ teenagers appeared on television over 20 years ago? Why does it even have a legacy? The short answer is that the fans are responsible: to quote the original tagline of the site, WE are a legacy. The site and the various branch pages wouldn’t exist without a few thousand likeminded people who want to stay current with a show they love. I feel very thankful to have Ranger Nation as my peers in celebrating a show that won’t ever bore me.
For our anniversary, I’ve decided to show off four other members of Ranger Nation, as well as myself, that help bring the Morphin’ Legacy experience to you. Read on after the break to learn more about the staff that works to keep things running.
What is your name, where are you from, and what do you do for Morphin’ Legacy?
ShadowRay22: My name is Ray aka ShadowRay22, I’m from Bayonne, New Jersey, and I am the Vice President and Database Engineer of Morphin’ Legacy.
Pan2DaPan: I’m Amber, I’m from Missouri and I am currently the Super Sentai reviewer here on Morphin’ Legacy!
MentoMonster: My name is Austin, I’m from California, and I am the Official Graphic Artist for Morphin’ Legacy.
TheGreenKnight: I’m Matt Leslie from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I am Morphin’ Legacy’s Ranger Philosopher: I cover various topics about WHY Power Rangers has lasted so long in the hearts and minds of kids and adults across the world by analyzing elements of the show and contrasting them to universal elements of storytelling. Or pretend I do.
What is your favorite Season?
ShadowRay22: My favorite season is Power Rangers In Space due to the superb writing, awesome Rangers and villains, and having fond memories of watching it as a young child.
Pan2DaPan: RPM, it’s what brought me back after a very long absence from the fandom. I’m also really loving Dino Charge right now, and Dino Thunder will always have a place in my heart. My favorite Sentai are Kakuranger and Kyoryuger (I absolutely cannot just have one, fight me!). Granted, I’m still watching a few different series, so it might change, but I doubt it!
MentoMonster: Power Rangers Time Force is my favorite season. I really enjoy the idea of time travel, and the story and characters are very well-written and entertaining.
TheGreenKnight: Ninja Storm/Hurricaneger; it’s such a refreshing departure from the normal formula of the show, it seems just plain experimental, like Toei had some extra cash after Gaoranger and were basically allowed to do whatever they wanted, and I really liked how it translated into the story. The ninja theme is rad, the morphers are fun, the suits are crazy cool, and I liked seeing the actors in the suits when the faces on their helmets were crawled back. It happened a LOT, too, so it just shows that the American crew was dedicated to replicating that little piece of Hurricaneger.
Favorite Ranger?
ShadowRay22: My favorite Ranger, if I had to choose one, would probably be Dustin from Ninja Storm due to how goofy, nerdy, and lovable he was.
Pan2DaPan: It’s hard to just pick one, so I’m going to be a brat and pick all of the Gold Rangers! They’re always my favorite, PR or Sentai!
MentoMonster: My favorite Ranger is Jen Scotts, the Pink Time Force Ranger. She’s so badass. What’s not to like?
TheGreenKnight: Tie between the two Thunder Rangers; their story was so unique and they were played very well by their actors. I DO like Navy’s suit and symbol a little better, though, so I revise my answer: Blake Hunter, Navy Thunder Ranger.
Favorite Villain?
ShadowRay22: My favorite villain hands down has got to be Astronema from In Space. She had an awesome story, character development, and a fierce personality. She is also the ONLY villain to become a Power Ranger in the very next season.
Pan2DaPan: I’m always a fan of lady villains, they’re always so much better than the guys! I especially love Marah and Kapri!
MentoMonster: My favorite villain has to be Divatox from Power Rangers Turbo. Turbo was my favorite season as a kid, and Divatox was such an entertaining villain. I would chase my sister around the house pretending that I was Divatox! “Enjoy your soda pop, sister!”
TheGreenKnight: I really liked Master Xandred in Samurai. I’ve written briefly before about how since Saban reacquired the franchise, their use of villains has been really strong, and in particular, Xandred’s character adapted really well from Shinkenger; it was actually pretty neat to see him hang out on his ship in the Sanzu River all season, see his minions get blown away one by one, and then ball so hard that he throws the Sealing Symbol off of himself like a damn blanket and almost wipes out the Rangers single handedly. Like, he comes REALLY close to winning; it really made me think of what Lord Zedd would have been like if he had done any of his dirty work himself.
Favorite Episode?
ShadowRay22: My favorite episode is a rather goofy episode in Lightspeed Rescue titled “In The Limelight”. Dana suddenly becoming a diva model was so hilarious and Koko Kashmere has got to be one of the most over-the-top characters in the shows history.
Pan2DaPan: This is so, so, so hard! I’m going with a gut reaction and saying Dino Thunder’s “Lost and Found in Translation”. Because of it, I discovered Super Sentai and Abaranger!
MentoMonster: This is a hard question for me, because there are so many episodes that I enjoy! Personally, “The Wasp with a Heart” from Power Rangers in Space is a guilty pleasure for me. I love the idea of villains (or, in this case, Monsters of the Day) turning good. I also enjoyed the interaction between Cassie/Waspicable. Good stuff.
TheGreenKnight: I have no unique opinions here: Forever Red has to be one of the best episodes ever made. Disney went so, so, SO out of their way to make a tenth anniversary team-up happen. It was such a perfect combination of Amit Bhaumik, Koichi Sakamoto, the writing, the pageantry, the production stories, the Beetleborgs costumes, the use of so many elements from the previous shows, and a total commitment to making something that honored the American show on its own is just content that can’t be beat, and probably won’t ever be beat. The Ten Man Morph still gives me exciting goosebumps and always reminds me about how great the golden age of Power Rangers was.
Favorite Weapon?
ShadowRay22: The Spiral Saber because of how awesome it is that it’s both a saber and a drill.
Pan2DaPan: I’m counting the Dino Charge Morpher as a weapon!
MentoMonster: My favorite weapon will have to be the Dino Charge Morpher. It’s just so awesome and pretty and you stick batteries in it and that’s great.
TheGreenKnight: Magna Defender’s sword/blaster, hands down. It’s got such a cool classical broadsword style to it; it just looks like it’s meant for swinging around and getting into swordplay with.
Favorite Zord?
ShadowRay22: My favorite Zord would probably be the Astro Megazord most likely due to nostalgia and me loving the dual use of it being both a homebase AND Megazord.
Pan2DaPan: The Dino Charge Zords! I love a good dinosaur! ( I AM SO BIASED, SORRY)
MentoMonster: The Velociraptor Zord from Power Rangers Dino Charge will have to be my favorite. I know it’s recent, but it’s a cute Zord. Also, Riley.
TheGreenKnight: Tommy’s Zeo Red Battlezord: giant fists that are also machine guns. Come on now.
Favorite Moment?
ShadowRay22: My favorite moment is the opening of the first episode of In Space where all of the villains from the past five years are in one place having a celebration feast. Seeing all those villains in one place interacting with each other is both hilarious and epic at the same time.
Pan2DaPan: I love any musical moments! Too much fun!
MentoMonster: My favorite moment in Power Rangers history is when Jen shows up in “Reinforcements from the Future, Part 1” from Power Rangers Wild Force, decked-out in leather and backflips down a mountain with explosions and stuff. Love it.
TheGreenKnight: In the last act of Countdown To Destruction when Astronema demands the besieged citizens of Angel Grove turn over the Power Rangers or else basically get executed en masse and Bulk steps out of the crowd to give himself up as the Blue Ranger. Skull, Professor Phenomenus, Adelle, Bearded Dude and Reese Witherspoon all step up to declare that they are also Rangers to save the real Rangers, and I always thought it was the penultimate moment for Bulk and Skull, having evolved from traditional high school bullies to the most heroic members of the civilian population, even leading the civilian charge against Astronema’s occupying ground force. It’s just a really touching moment that has a lot of substance and heart to it.
When did you start working for Morphin’ Legacy?
ShadowRay22: I started working for Morphin’ Legacy around May 2013 so a little over two years. I originally started off working as a Ranger profile writer and eventually became the head of the entire database and VP of the site.
Pan2DaPan: I started working for ML late last year after SimplyScott stepped down from reviews.
MentoMonster: I started working for Morphin’ Legacy in May 2013. I began as a random toy reviewer, then began reviewing Power Rangers games for handheld gaming systems, as well as randomly contributing news articles on gamingbuff.com every now-and-then. I became the Official Graphic Artist early 2015.
TheGreenKnight: Late 2012, but I’ve been a genius all my life.
What is your proudest accomplishment on the site?
ShadowRay22: My proudest accomplishment has got to be the database hands down. All the work and time I put into it, which included taking hundreds of screencaps and writing up paragraph upon paragraph of info was well worth all the work. It feels good to know your work will help a fan find some info about a weapon or character they want to know more about.
Pan2DaPan: My reviews, of course! Hopefully, someday, I’ll be able to contribute something else, but for now, I’ll stick with reviews and guest-hosting on The Grid!
MentoMonster: My proudest accomplishment for the site is the buttons I made for the Legacy articles. They are so pretty!
TheGreenKnight: I went to the east coast in summer 2013 for an extended vacation and got to visit the brains of the MMPR fan film in the heart of New York City. They showed me all kinds of neat sets, sound stages, introduced me to their prop guys in their studio, and even took me out to eat Thai food in a Polish neighborhood (it was fantastic, just so you know). The article brought a lot of attention to the fan film during or just after their very successful Kickstarter and I met some good fellas who are now friends of mine, and I think in general it was well-written and a good contribution to original, exclusive content on the site.
What do you want to say to the Morphin’ Legacy followers?
ShadowRay22: I would like to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you for coming to our site for all your Power Rangers needs.
Pan2DaPan: Thanks for visiting the site, having fun, and keep coming back because the boss has some really great things in store for the future!
MentoMonster: I want to say thank you so much for following Morphin’ Legacy for five years, and for reading and liking and listening and watching and everything. I feel so honored to be a part of this milestone, and I can’t wait to share many more with you all! Thanks again!
TheGreenKnight: I don’t sleep, so you can’t sneak up on me.