Photo: Archive Photos / Stringer (Getty)
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new Power Rangers film coming out next year. And, as it should be, the reboot is based on the original and far superior cast of the series, which is, of course, the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.
As anybody who, like myself, was raised with Jason, Tommy, Billy and the rest of the diversified gang on television (and man, we wish it was streaming), it’s safe to say we’re are all pretty fucking excited about it, as this is long overdue.
The show, despite its inherent awful-ness (seriously, try watching it now, especially season one), was an absolute sensation that took the afternoons and Saturday mornings of excited children by storm, despite our parents’ collective complaints that the show was too violent.
In anticipation for the dark take on the series due out March 2017, I attempted to re-watch the series to determine which of the series’ villains were the best, but failed miserably. The show is that bad, I promise you. Regardless, I managed to narrow all 134 of power rangers villains in the Mighty Morphin’ series down to 10.
The 10 Best Villains In ‘Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers’
And now, in order to get even more hyped up, check out the trailer for the newest Power Rangers movie.
Now check out some more of your favorite ’90s television shows: Ranking The Best Cartoons Of The ’90s
Power Rangers Villans
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10. King Sphinx
This pharaoh-based being was employed by Rita to assassinate the team’s leader, Jason. His powers, as you will find is a trend amongst the monster provided, were weird AF. While his ability to blow enemies away with his wings weren’t necessarily farfetched, having his sceptre shoot fiery question marks is a tad more bizarre. Despite having Goldar assist him in his one-on-one battle with the red ranger, he still lost. Because they always do.
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9. Chunky Chicken
You’d think that being a chicken and all, Chunky Chicken’s powers would be at least somewhat related being a chicken -- like laying evil eggs, or something. But that’s not the case. Not even close. Instead, he’s got some giant scissors that are used to cut through the fabric of time so he can move freely through time and space. No, I’m not kidding.
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8. Pumpkin Rapper
OK, so hear me out. This monster is a pumpkin humanoid who spoke in rhyme and would rap almost every line of dialogue. He has a gigantic, upside down jack-o-lantern for a head and was without a doubt your worst nightmare realized. As for weapons, he’d employ vine tentacles and pumpkin bombs to attack the rangers as a terrible rap track echoed whenever he engaged in trash talk.
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7. See Monster
He’s a monster based on a perverted flasher. Except instead of a trenchcoat, his jacket was made from his own skin, and he’d expose his insides (which were a bunch of eyeballs that emitted mind powers) when battling the rangers.
As is the case with most of Rita’s monsters, he just couldn’t quit it with the puns. Bad ones, like “I am a sight for sore eyes!”.
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6. Lipsyncher
Lipsyncher is vanity personified. Literally. She was created from lipstick found in Kimberly’s purse when Lord Zedd turned both items into monsters. Lipsyncher wielded a lip-shaped sword and had two huge lipsticks fastened to her shoulders. This idea of vanity was taken even further when Jason’s power sword cut her face, which devastated her, as again, she’s very, very vain. Did I mention how vain she was?
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5. Scorpina
Scorpina is a deadly assassin who wields a boomerang-shaped blade. She’s beautiful in human form, but her true identity is revealed when she grows into a grotesque scorpion-like monster when battling the rangers’ zords and puts up one hell of a fight, which is more than can be said for most of the others on this list.
It is disputed that she and Goldar had something of a romance in the works, but nothing ever really came of it, so I guess that one’s up for us to decide.
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4. Primator
Created from Zack’s white gorilla suit, Primator had the ability to shapeshift, making him a very confusing yet threatening adversary for the rangers, especially when he’d transform into a power ranger himself, inviting a “who’s who?” standoff.
On top of shapeshifting, Primator could also emit electricity from his hands, could teleport and could further defend himself with a lance. Somehow, with all of these powerful assets in his offensive arsenal, Primator still fell victim to the rangers, proving yet again that any and all of Rita/Lord Zedd’s attempts at defeating the rangers are futile.
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3. Lord Zedd
Lord Zedd is the First American made villain not based from the Japanese Sentai series. When initially introduced to audiences, parents complained that Zedd was too dark and scary for their children, as such, he was toned down a great deal.
Driven by intergalactic domination, Zedd left Rita in charge of conquering Earth, as he figured Earth to be a weak planet. After Rita’s shortcomings in season one, Zedd visits earth to finish the job himself. He attempted this by creating monsters that made people crave junk food and others that would cause friends and lovers to despise each other. Needless to say, Zedd, too, is excruciatingly unsuccessful in defeating the rangers.
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2. Goldar
The Humanoid ape with golden armor who’d only sometimes have wings was Rita’s (then Zedd’s) second in command, despite being pathetically incapable of defeating the rangers. As a result of his string of failures, he’d often promise revenge, which would fall on deaf ears.
Unlike other baddies, Goldar has a zord of his own, Cyclopsis, who again, would lose in battle every single time he’d intervene. Despite being totally useless, Goldar was the highest ranking villain to actually engage in combat with the rangers, and for that, he ranks second overall.
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1. Rita Repulsa
With a voice like nails on a chalkboard, Rita Repulsa, the series’ original antagonist until playing second fiddle to the inferior Lord Zedd in the second season, was undoubtedly the best of the bunch.
The alien sorceress, who spent an astonishing 10,000 years incarcerated in a dumpster on the moon, is hell-bent on intergalactic domination and wielded insurmountable powers, which she’d primarily employ to grow her monsters as a last ditch effort to defeat the Rangers, which she could never manage to do.
Top that off with a Madonna-like cone bra that matched the cones on her head and you have yourself one hell of a villain. And good news, guys: She’s the lead villain in the reboot!
