Power Rangers Is Preparing to Redeem Rita Repulsa as the MYSTIC MOTHER - Theory Explained

Summary BOOM! Studios' Power Rangers comics have made some striking divergences from the franchise's television canon; the possible introduction of Mystic Mother, the pure good form of Rita Repulsa, would be one of their most significant remixes of the series' lore yet.

Rita's redemption arc, as she contemplates her future, could lead to a significant departure from her TV counterpart's transformation, which occurred when the "Z-Wave" wiped all traces of evil from the universe.

Rita's evolution into Mystic Mother may be inevitable, especially as she distances herself from her villainous past and aligns with the Rangers, though in a way, her transformation will be more impactful because she is making the decision herself.

Warning: Spoilers for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #118!

Rita Repulsa's final form, the Mystic Mother, may be making its way into the Power Rangers comics. Ever since acquiring the rights to the franchise, and undertaking an ambitious comic book reimagining, BOOM! Studios has frequently introduced new ideas into Rangers lore. As much as it has reintroduced old ideas from the TV show. BOOM! loves reinventing classic characters, and they may be preparing to make a pivotal change to Rita.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #118 – by Melissa Flores, Simona Di Gianfelice, Marco Renna, Raul Angulo, Jose Enrique Fernandez, and Ed Dukeshire – has led some readers to believe the series is preparing to introduce Rita's kindhearted alter ego into its comic universe.

BOOM! has already reinvented Rita Repulsa completely, revitalizing her as the far more dangerous Mistress Vile, but this next step is both inevitable and intriguing. As she prepares for a redemption arc, it all could culminate in Rita meeting her destiny as the Mystic Mother in a new way.

Having maintained her magic post-purification in [Power Rangers in Space], she used it for good as the Mystic Mother, the Empress of Good Magic, who connected the Mystic Rangers to the Morphin Grid.

The Mystic Mother & Her Role In Rangers Canon, Explained

Rita Repulsa's Pure Good Form

Close

For years, Rita Repulsa tormented the Power Rangers week in and week out as the franchise's first recurring villain. After debuting in Mighty Morphin's premiere episode, Rita would remain a presence throughout the next few seasons, right up to Power Rangers in Space's "Countdown to Destruction." The finale would culminate in the Z-Wave, Zordon's sacrificial wave of pure energy that erased all traces of evil from the universe. This included washing every ounce of evil out of the domineering Rita Repulsa.

Every villain who the Z-Wave hit would instantly become a pure-hearted civilian or at least some form of good with no desire to inflict evil. Rita and her husband, Lord Zedd, immediately became a mild-mannered couple, but Rita would evolve into something much more years later. The next time that Rita resurfaced in the television franchise was eight years later in Power Rangers Mystic Force. Having maintained her magic post-purification, she used it for good as the Mystic Mother, the Empress of Good Magic, who connected the Mystic Rangers to the Morphin Grid.

Power Rangers Mystic Force's "Mystic Fate" two-part finale aired on November 13, 2006. Machiko Soga, the original Rita Repulsa, returned to reprise the role in these episodes, debuting as the Mystic Mother.

How Rita Repulsa's Journey Diverges In The Comics

Rebirth As Mistress Vile

Close

Rita's greatest achievement as Mistress Vile comes during the Darkest Hour, where she proves instrumental in Dark Specter's rise to power.

With BOOM! Studios offering a modern revamp of the Power Rangers, the comics often diverge from what happened in the television show. As such, Rita Repulsa's journey in the comics is playing out a little bit differently. With no Z-Wave in sight during the comics canon, Rita Repulsa goes through a more sinister rebranding by becoming Mistress Vile. Adopting the name from her dastardly father, Master Vile, she handed the Rangers devastating defeats, nearly turned the new Green Ranger into her evil minion, and forced a shattered Zedd to retreat to the Rangers to establish her new power immediately.

Her greatest achievement as Mistress Vile comes during the Darkest Hour, where she proves instrumental in Dark Specter's rise to power. She provides him with the perfect vessel to give him a corporeal form among the living and uses her magic to corrupt unwilling participants for his Dark Ranger Army. Unfortunately, Dark Specter hasn't been so appreciative of her contributions. The shortcomings she's had in trying to corrupt the incorruptible Tommy Oliver have been enough to sour Dark Specter on his right-hand-woman. Seeing the writing on the wall, Rita is starting to rethink her villainous career path.

Rangers Comics Hint At A Different Origin For The Mystic Mother

Rita Alludes To Her Future

Close

Rita working to redeem herself of her own free will would be one of BOOM! Studios' most significant divergences from canon – though it can be argued, for the better.

As Rita contemplates her place and future in Dark Specter's ranks, she opts to break her former Green Ranger out of imprisonment. Together, they fight off Dark Specter and his army. What's most significant about the interaction during the break-in is that while Rita contemplates if anyone is capable of redemption, she makes bolded statements about Tommy being "pure of heart," almost as if it's something she aspires for. Knowing that the TV version of Rita becomes the ultimate personification of purity and pure magic as Mystic Mother, the phrasing can't be coincidental.

Because the Rangers comics' canon tends to stray from that of the TV show, this is an opportunity to introduce a version of Mystic Mother under different circumstances. Plus, this revamp allows a more meaningful transition into Rita's mystical motherhood. Whereas she was forced to turn good because of the Z-Wave, her redemption could mean more in the comics, where there has been no such Wave. Rita working to redeem herself of her own free will would be one of BOOM! Studios' most significant divergences from canon –though it can be argued, for the better.

BOOM!'s Power Rangers Previously Referenced The Mystic Mother

Power Rangers Unlimited: Edge of Darkness #1 – By Frank Gogol, Simone Ragazzoni, Igor Monti, Sabrina Del Grosso, and Ed Dukeshire

Power Rangers' creative team is fully aware of the Mystic Mother version of Rita, and appears to be inching toward that destiny for her slowly.

In the fight with Dark Specter, he cuts off her famous veil, which feels symbolic to signify that Rita's days of evil are officially behind her, as she will soon embark on a path of redemption. Truthfully, losing the Rita Repulsa name as she loses villain status itself makes logical sense for her arc to end in such a way, when the time comes. After all, she already rejected the Rita Repulsa name for an evil upgrade. She's not likely to keep the Mistress Vile upgrade if she's not siding with the bad guys anymore. Becoming the Mystic Mother seems inevitable.

Plus, Lord Zedd, opposing Dark Specter himself, is now aligned with the Power Rangers. With Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers #118 featuring the reunion of the dastardly couple, Rita is likely to start working with them as well. The comics have teased an untapped purity for Rita in the past, even referencing Mistress Vile previously as a potential future for Rita Repulsa. Often foreshadowed and teased, Power Rangers is finally ready to transform Rita Repulsa into Mystic Mother.