If you had been a child who grew up within the ’90s, and even within the early 2000s, you most likely watched reruns or VHS tapes of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. This high-energy youngsters collection united a bunch of “youngsters with angle” (as if there have been every other variety) to battle in opposition to alien invaders, otherworldly monsters, and intergalactic demons who threatened to destroy our world. More than something, it was a fever dream for youths that solely heightened their needs for their very own Megazord or Morpher in order that they too may battle evil. Everyone wished to be a Power Ranger, particularly after the introduction of the unique Green Ranger.
Played by Jason David Frank, Tommy Oliver had an advanced Power Rangers historical past, one which finally led to him turning into a recurring fan-favorite who by some means caught with the franchise via numerous buyouts, reboots, and incarnations. Tragically, Frank died this November, however though the Mighty Morphin star is gone, the Power Rangers legacy of Tommy Oliver nonetheless stays. Frank himself was a relentless advocate for the character and starred as Tommy in 4 completely different incarnations of Power Rangers in addition to the out-of-continuity Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. Including his visitor appearances on different Power Rangers seasons (most notably his last look in 2018’s Power Rangers Super Ninja Storm), Frank appeared in over 200 episodes as Tommy Oliver, a personality who by no means stop and all the time gave his all.
Of all of the characters to frequent the world of Power Rangers, none are extra developed than Tommy. Not solely did he star in a number of seasons and incarnations of the hit present, however he is the one Ranger to alter his coloration scheme 4 completely different instances all through his character’s run. Beyond that, Tommy’s resilience, his combating abilities, and his character have made the unique Green Ranger a larger-than-life hero. To at the present time, followers all around the world nonetheless take into account Jason David Frank’s Tommy the best Ranger (a title he usually shares with Austin St. John‘s Jason Lee Scott, the unique Mighty Morphin Red Ranger), which has saved Tommy within the Power Rangers highlight for practically three many years..
Deceptive Origins
Beginning within the five-part “Green With Evil” arc within the first season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Tommy Oliver was kidnapped by the villainous Rita Repulsa (Machiko Soga) with the only intention of utilizing the teenager to infiltrate the Power Ranger’s secret base and destroy the supply of their energy. As the villainous Green Ranger, a brainwashed Tommy was given the powers of the Dragonzord (to not point out his magical flute), and used his newfound skills to destroy the Power Ranger’s Dinozords and assault their Command Center. That’s proper, Tommy single-handedly defeated the unique and most iconic crew of Power Rangers in his first look, and that is an enormous deal.
Of course, the Rangers broke Rita’s maintain over Tommy, revealed their identities to him, and recruited him to battle again in opposition to the one who enslaved him within the first place. Although he did not really feel worthy, Tommy ultimately earned the belief of the opposite Rangers and their chief/mentor Zordon. Over the subsequent season and a half, Tommy would battle alongside the others as a heroic Green Ranger, and whereas the unique Mighty Morphin Power Ranger collection itself solely touched on Tommy’s struggles with being brainwashed, the critically acclaimed BOOM! Studios comedian books (particularly their Mighty Morphin Power Rangers collection) dive even deeper into Tommy’s struggles with self-doubt and the way he overcame them.
Sadly, Tommy’s time because the Mighty Morphin Green Ranger would ultimately come to an finish. Although there have been a couple of moments the place Tommy feared that he’d lose his Green Ranger powers for good, he ultimately did after the evil Lord Zedd used the Green Crystal to empty him of his powers. Sadly, the villain’s plot labored, and Tommy misplaced his Green Ranger powers. But, Zordon and Alpha 5 had a plan to revive Tommy as a Power Ranger…
Becoming A Leader
As Zordon and Alpha 5 developed a brand new set of powers for Tommy, skills that will come from the incorruptible White Light of Good, Tommy returned to Angel Grove to reunite along with his pals. Becoming the brand new Mighty Morphin White Ranger, Tommy was chosen by Zordon to be the brand new chief of the Power Rangers. For the subsequent practically two years, Tommy led the Power Rangers in his White Ranger identification, combating laborious in opposition to Rita Repulsa, Lord Zedd, and different villains who continued to reach in Angel Grove.
Yet, after Rita’s father Master Vile arrived and de-age the Rangers again into kids, they had been compelled to seek out remnants of the fractured Zeo Crystal that will restore their energy. Once they did, a brand new collection — Power Rangers Zeo — was born, which noticed Tommy tackle the function of the Zeo Ranger V aka the Red Zeo Ranger. Continuing to steer the Power Rangers in opposition to villains such because the Machine Empire (who would additionally try to brainwash our hero), Tommy solely grew right into a extra assured and keen chief. No doubt, Jason David Frank’s cool aesthetic, good-looking options, and real karate skills (he ran his personal dojo for crying out loud) solely helped make Tommy a extra thrilling character week in and week out.
After Zeo, the Power Rangers had been relaunched but once more with Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, an in-continuity characteristic movie that kickstarted the racing-themed Power Rangers Turbo collection. Tommy continued his function because the crew’s chief but once more because the Red Turbo Ranger as his crew confronted new foes and acquainted challenges. Naturally, Tommy’s management abilities solely excelled, however they weren’t sure to final.
Passing The Torch
All good issues should come to an finish, and that was actually true with Tommy’s authentic tenure on Power Rangers. After taking part in a Power Ranger for 5 seasons, Jason David Frank (and lots of the different recurring Rangers who had been round because the Mighty Morphin days) left the collection about midway via Power Rangers Turbo. Tommy handed his Red Turbo Ranger alter-ego over to T.J. Johnson (Selwyn Ward), who would proceed with the collection via the subsequent epic incarnation Power Rangers In Space, and set off to take pleasure in a post-Ranger life. But, though Tommy left the present, he did not utterly depart his responsibility as a Power Ranger behind.
In the Power Rangers Wild Force episode “Forever Red,” which reunited the vast majority of the Red Rangers from each earlier Power Rangers incarnation, Tommy returned because the Red Zeo Ranger to steer each the Wild Force Rangers and the previous Red Rangers in opposition to the Machine Empire, who had returned after years of rebuilding post-Power Rangers Zeo. Known at this level as “the best Ranger ever,” Tommy was a legend within the eyes of the younger Wild Force Ranger, although the Red Zeo Ranger made it clear that his time within the highlight was over.
Although Jason David Frank had left his function as a Power Ranger behind, he was nonetheless thought-about by followers to be the head of the collection. The character with essentially the most love behind him, Tommy Oliver was a Power Ranger who may by no means be totally changed, and “Forever Red” served as a stark reminder of that. Around this time, Saban offered the rights to Power Rangers, which had been acquired by the Walt Disney Company. Under Disney, Tommy would return as soon as extra, however this time in a distinct function than we would ever seen him earlier than.
A Mentor For A New Generation
In Power Rangers Dino Thunder, we be taught that Tommy Oliver is definitely Dr. Tommy Oliver now, with a Ph.D. in paleontology from M.I.T. That’s proper, after leaving the Rangers, Tommy bought himself a school schooling, and used it to develop new dinosaur-based weaponry, which might ultimately be utilized by his former friend-turned-enemy Mesogog. Ashamed of what he’d helped create, Tommy labored on the Dino Morphers, which might quickly be discovered by three of his Reefside High college students, Connor McKnight (James Napier), Ethan James (Kevin Duhaney), and Kira Ford (Emma Lahana).
Tommy would quickly recruit these three as the brand new Dino Rangers, with McKnight serving because the Red Dino Ranger, James because the Blue Dino Ranger, and Ford because the Yellow Dino Ranger. Mentoring these new heroes, Tommy would information them as they battled Mesogog’s forces, that’s till he grew to become a Ranger but once more. This time, Tommy took on the Black Dino Ranger powers, which permit him to grow to be invisible, alongside his different Power Ranger skills. With his new Dino Thunder crew, Tommy confronted his personal demons — together with previous variations of himself within the fan-favorite episode “Fighting Spirit.”
After lastly defeating Mesogog, Tommy returned to his common life as a highschool science instructor, hoping to flee the superhero enterprise for good. But, with a moniker like “the best Ranger ever,” it appears practically inconceivable to flee being a Power Ranger. Dino Thunder marked the ultimate season that Jason David Frank would star in as Tommy Oliver, and although the character would make an look within the following season Power Rangers S.P.D., it could be with out Frank behind the Black Dino Ranger masks.
The Legend Continues
Since Dino Thunder, Frank continued to return as Tommy Oliver in numerous Power Rangers storylines, such because the web-based RPG Power Rangers Hyperforce, the place he returned because the Black Dino Ranger. For the twentieth anniversary of Power Rangers (owned as soon as once more by Saban), Frank returned as Tommy as soon as extra within the Power Rangers Super Megaforce particular “Legendary Battle,” the place he confirmed off his authentic Mighty Morphin White Ranger sword Saba and his authentic Green Ranger uniform and powers to assist the Megaforce Rangers of their conflict with the Armada.
In 2018, for the twenty fifth anniversary of the franchise (which is at present owned by Hasbro), it was revealed that Tommy now owns a Master Morpher, which permits him to modify between all 5 of his earlier powers and Ranger identities, together with the unique Mighty Morphin Green Ranger. In Jason David Frank’s last live-action look because the character, the Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel episode “Dimensions in Danger” introduced Tommy again with a bunch of different Rangers to maintain the multiverse from being destroyed. And, in true Tommy style, it additionally meant that he wanted to face off in opposition to an evil model of himself, one final time.
Outside of Power Rangers continuity, Jason David Frank made an effort to return to the character very often. Be it his duels in opposition to Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter characters within the on-line internet collection Super Power Beat Down, or because the evil Lord Drakkon (a villainous model of Tommy from an alternate world) within the trailer for the “Shattered Grid” occasion inside BOOM! Studios’ Power Rangers comics, Frank all the time knew methods to maintain Tommy within the recreation. In truth, the final Tommy Oliver story, a comic book e book written by Kyle Higgins entitled Power Rangers: Soul of the Dragon, was created partially by Jason David Frank himself, who desired to inform an “Old Man Logan”-style last story for the world’s biggest Power Ranger.
Whether you liked Tommy as a child or in the event you’ve adopted this character all through the previous practically 30 years, there is no doubt that his legacy is each notable and spectacular when the whole historical past of Power Rangers is taken into account. Not solely did Tommy encourage numerous kids over the course of his time with the collection, however he is sparked a complete host of fabric together with motion figures, comedian books, video video games, and Jason David Frank’s last movie, the Power Rangers-inspired Legend of the White Dragon.
No matter if you have not watched Power Rangers in ages, or in the event you’re nonetheless a die-hard fan, the reality stays that there was one thing distinctive and particular about Jason David Frank’s Tommy Oliver. With a vastly colourful historical past like this, there’s completely little doubt that he was the best Power Ranger of all of them.