The next time the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles team up, there is a good chance that fans will finally get to see the ultimate ’90s Zords brought to life. The one constant between the two prior MMPR/TMNT crossovers has been the cross-integration of certain characteristics from each team. Therefore, fans should expect more of the same when they collaborate again.
With the conclusion of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, Zords remain the only major main capability left to share between the teams. As hinted in the miniseries’ conclusion, any further Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collaborations will most likely see the Turtles given some form of the Power Rangers’ mecha battle bots that they use to fight the over-sized monsters Rita, Lord Zedd or other enemies send against them. Since the Powers Rangers already have Zords, any new Zord team will be attached to the Turtles. Naturally, the question fans are most likely pondering is, what type of new Zords will manifest for Donnie, Mickey, Leo, and Raphael in their Dimension X Ranger forms?
TMNT-Powered Zords Are Inevitable
Considering the diversity of Zord variations that have been introduced over the years, along with the wealth of characters generated over the same period by each franchise, the creators could introduce whatever form they want. There is an opportunity to create a new line of Zords unlike any that has been seen before. Indeed, the cross-pollination of traits, powers, and capabilities that already occurred has allowed the creators some poetic license to go off-script. In Ryan Parrott and Dan Mora’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I #5, Billy Cranston and Donatello reveal the Turtle Megazord, which combines aspects of the original 1990s Megazord with those of Metal Head, Donnie’s radical ninja mecha that originally was Krang bot. It’s the exact same creative flexibility fans should expect in a TMNT Zord.
Based on their previous collaborations, as well as the history of the two teenage superhero teams, the best Zord for the Turtles’ Dimension X Ranger forms would mirror their humanoid features. That is, a mecha that is a bigger and more powerful version of each Turtle, but nothing as big as Turtle Megazord. This Zord form could provide the exact capability boost that the mecha battle bots were created to exploit. Naturally, there are several reasons why this Zord form would be the coolest and most effective.
Monsters Have No Defense Against A Mecha Ninja
Because the brothers are already animals, there’s no special power that an animal Zord could provide that would enhance their already significant mutant abilities. Zord forms should tap into something outside the actual pilot to make it more effective. The same logic underpins the Zord used by the original Power Rangers – they enhanced the Rangers’ human abilities with “Dino Power.” Accordingly, a TMNT Zord in humanoid form would be resilient and strong, but also allow the brothers to tap into their martial arts skills and combat experience.
Previously, the Powers Rangers used several humanoid Zords, such as Turtle Megazord, so there is precedent for this type of form on a smaller scale. One of the more relevant of those forms for the Turtles is the Shogunzords, which first appeared during the third season of the 1990s television series. They were mecha that resembled ancient Japanese warriors. Like the Turtles, two key elements of their success were their teamwork capabilities and access to different weaponry. There’s also Matt Youngberg’s 2017 animated short, Teenage Mecha Ninja Turtles, which aired on Nickelodeon’s TMNT Summer Shorts program. The show depicts a future New York City protected by Turtle mecha piloted by teenagers trained by Michelangelo.
While the choice of humanoid Zords piloted by Turtles may not be the first idea that comes to mind for many fans, considering the history of both franchises and the previous ways powers have been shared in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collaborations, it’s a choice that makes sense and would be exciting to see in action.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I and II are now available by BOOM! Studios and IDW Publishing.
