Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Power Rangers Prime #1!Power Rangers’ Angel Grove has always been portrayed astheidyllic ‘teenage town’, where kids could safely roam the streets, meet-up at local hangouts, and rollerblade to their heart’s content. It’s a town where every ‘90s kid wanted to live, as it was a picture-perfect representation of the bright and colorful (and fictitious) SoCal existence of the ‘90s. However, inPower Rangers’ new continuity, Angel Grove has become something fans have never seen before.
InPower Rangers Prime#1 by Melissa Flores and Michael Yg, Angel Grove, California (and, indeed, the entire world at large) has gotten a major overhaul courtesy of the Eltarian Empire. The Eltarians - who were originally a peaceful race of aliens - came to Earth decades before the events of this comic to save the planet from a Beast Brigade invasion. Back then,the Eltarians fought side-by-side with the Power Rangers, but once the Beast Brigade was defeated, the Eltarians turned on the Rangers. They kill every Ranger, allowing the Eltarians to take over the Earth unchallenged.
When the Eltarians took over, they gave the entire planet a total ‘facelift’. The Eltarians introduced humanity to advanced technology that the world quickly became dependent on, they restructured the education system around the globe, and they permanently made themselves the unchallenged rulers of the world. Given all these changes, every corner of the Earth was bound to look different, including and especially Angel Grove, California.
Angel Grove is a Futuristic City & Eltarian Training Center in Power Rangers Prime
The Once Idyllic ‘Teenage Town’ is Now a Major Hub for the Eltarian Occupation
In the originalPower Rangerscontinuity, Angel Grove was the epitome of what every kid wanted from their hometown in the ‘90s, as it perfectly captured the ‘radical’ energy of the ‘90s that teenagers everywhere wanted to experience for themselves. Plus, the town was made even cooler by the fact that it was under the direct protection of the Power Rangers, meaning if one lived there, they could potentially see the Power Rangers in action (something Bulk and Skull tried effortlessly to do throughout the original series).
Now, however, it’s safe to say that no one who wanted to live in Angel Grove in the ‘90s would still feel that way. Not only has it become the antithesis of the ‘no rules’ energy the classic town gave off due to the fact that basically the entire town is now an Eltarian training center, but the overall aesthetic has completely changed from what it was. Alien architecture and futuristic aesthetic has engulfed the once classic SoCal town, transforming it into a pillar of intergalactic fascism the Eltarians represent - which, as every ‘90s kid would agree - totally sucks.
Power Rangers’ Angel Grove is Now More Significant than Ever Before
Angel Grove is Where the Fate of the World Will Be Decided inPower Rangers Prime
While Angel Grove has always been significant inPower Rangerslore, given that it’s wherethe Power Rangers regularly battle potentially world-ending threats, it’s just become even more so inPower Rangers Prime.Angel Grove is where the Power Rangers will once again rise to prominence, and once they do, they’ll have to disrupt the Eltarian stronghold that has become of Angel Grove if they have any chance of winning back their planet. If the Power Rangers can take back Angel Grove, they can reclaim the world, making the town way more significant than it’s ever been.
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Even though Angel Grove has taken on a heightened level of narrative significance, it still suffered a massive downgrade in Power Rangers lore. Gone is the idyllic ‘teenage town’, and in its place, a pillar to intergalactic fascism has been erected, one that thePower Rangerswill have to tear down if they hope to save the world, and one that fans have never seen before.
Power Rangers
Power Rangersis a long-running multimedia franchise that debuted in 1993 with the TV seriesMighty Morphin Power Rangers. Created by Haim Saban and adapted from the JapaneseSuper Sentaiseries,Power Rangersbecame a cultural phenomenon by combining action-packed footage fromSuper Sentaiwith 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.
