Hasbro, ostensibly a toy company, has licensed global Power Rangers toy rights to Playmates, with CEO Chris Cocks telling investors the brand just wasn't profitable enough to keep making in-house. With the sale of Entertainment One and the apparent fizzling-out of Jonathan Entwistle's planned movie and television projects, is this the end of the road for Power Rangers? Tyler and Josh talk about it. Also in this episode: Toy industry insider says Playmates will need "focus" to succeedBOOM!...

Austin St. John is back in the headlines and again it's for all the wrong reasons. In a February podcast interview with Jim Cummings, he said he planned a clothing line featuring quotes from leaders both famous and infamous, saying the German mustache guy "was a demon on steroids but he had some pretty good one-liners." This week, Power Rangers fans took notice of the comments and the former Red Ranger has faced backlash from nearly all corners. Tyler and Mike Manos offer their takes on what...

Koichi Sakamoto is a household name for Power Rangers fans. The Japanese American director and producer best known for his work on Power Rangers from the mid-1990s up through 2009 before heading to Japan and working on iconic tokusatsu franchises. His new movie is Ninja vs. Shark, out now on Blu-ray. We spoke to Sakamoto-san at AnimeNJ++. Thanks to John Sirabella of Media Blasters for his help in arranging this interview. We'll talk more about the convention in our next episode. Be sure to...

Tyler and Mike Manos talk about the episodes "Team Work," "Rock Out" and "Take Off." We also discuss some developments on the Power Rangers and Sentai fronts. Mentioned in this episode: Incoming Power Rangers overlord Jonathan Entwistle to helm new Karate Kid movieLegend of the White Dragon two-pack available for pre-orderMeet Olivia Hart, the Green Ranger of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The ReturnShiro Izumi coming to Power MorphiconTrailer released for Garo: The Inheritor of SteelBandai...

We're pleased to bring you an interview with Pan, the face, voice and pen behind the tokusatsu-themed idol project Bakery Sentai Panranger. Pan (they/them) this week released their first original song, GUARDIAN. We talked to them about their background, style and the rigors of a summer spent performing at cons and other events all over the country. Mentioned in the news segment: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie going out of printTokuSHOUTsu asks eight fans...

In this episode, we finally get to discussing the first few episodes of Power Rangers Cosmic Fury: Lightning Strikes, Beyond Repair and Off Grid. We also talk about some toy news, some comic news and a rare mention of Sentai in People magazine. We discuss the arrest of Gokaiger and Garo actor Junya Ikeda and mourn the passing of Eka Darville's young son, Mana. Mentioned in this episode: Funko Pop! Tyrannosaurus Dinozord at TargetBOOM! Studios Direct Reserve Kickstarter campaign for Mighty...

Tyler sat down virtually with Andrew Bush, director of the Kickstarter tokusatsu project Metal Force. The project aims to create a horror-tinged short. The project is about a metal band that gets abducted by aliens and granted superpowers. It has raised more than $4,000, twice its initial goal. Funding closes next Monday. (This recording makes reference to the Writers Guild of America strike. The WGA has since reached a tentative deal with producers. The SAG-AFTRA strike remains...

Tyler and Josh talk about the Power Rangers Cosmic Fury teasers and details, including the return of Billy and other old friends. We also break down the 30th-anniversary comic release (spoiler warning). And Power Rangers Day was on Aug. 28. We talk about how Hasbro did and didn't celebrate it. Referenced in this episode: David Yost returns in Cosmic Fury -- get a sneak peekSAG-AFTRA chief negotiator blasts studios for refusing talksA first look at the Lightning Collection Master...

Summer travel plans are forcing us into a brief hiatus, We expect to be back in late August to talk about news including Lionsgate's planned acquisition of Entertainment One. For this episode, we turn the clock back to 2008 and Anime Central in Chicago. Jason David Frank, Robert Axelrod, Steve Cardenas and Karan Ashley held court for fan press at one of the first conventions to invite guests from the franchise. Here unguarded reminiscing on the show's early days and lots of laughs. Thanks to...

Tyler and Josh talk about the news (or lack thereof) out of San Diego Comic-Con. Hasbro's repositioning and the ongoing strikes of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA may keep us waiting a while for the future of Power Rangers. In the meantime, the Lightning Collection line will be put on pause. We talk about the series of events that got us here and the people and events responsible for Power Rangers' apparent second-class status in the Hasbro empire. Hasbro: "Development is ongoing"...

After New Zealand media confirm Power Rangers is leaving its longtime production home, Tyler and Lamar reflect on what they'll miss and chat about what may be to come. Mentioned in this episode: Leak reveals Lightning Collection Omega Rangersthreezero drops Armored Black RangerAn early look at the Cosmic Fury MegazordOnce & Always soundtrack on Spotify and Apple MusicSuper7's SDCC offeringsShodo SUPER Megaranger team available in December from Premium BandaiJohnny Yong Bosch is Ultraman...

Despite no new episodes of Power Rangers until the fall, there's still some news we had to get through. Tyler and Josh talk about toy developments in the US and Japan and some other recent developments. Mentioned in this episode: The Roku Channel adds Power RangersOur first look at the Cosmic Morpher toySOC Daizyujin and Dragon Caesar reissuesPreorders open for Kamen Rider Black RX Blu-ray setBuy a Shin Japan Heroes transforming toyBandai Namco gets the master toy license for Ultraman in...

For scheduling reasons, we are taking a few weeks off. But we're not leaving you empty-handed. Robert Axelrod is best known for being the voice of Lord Zedd and Finster, among other things, on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. A prolific voice actor, he followed Tony Oliver and other Robotech regulars over to Saban. His credits included Wizardmon and Ankylomon from Digimon, Emperor Darius in the William Winckler Productions dub of Dino Mech Gaiking and various roles in shows like Cowboy Bebop,...

Picking up from where we left off in the previous episode, Tyler, Mike, Josh and Lamar talk about all the news we couldn't fit into one episode. Mentioned in this episode: Power Rangers Hyperforce returns in upcoming one-shotU.S. theaters list Shin Kamen Rider on May 31Vintage Henshin visits the POWER UP! mall tourRanger Liz's dispatch from the POWER UP! tourAmazon lists Power Rangers 30th anniversary apparelHasbro moves closer to selling Entertainment OneUltraman BlazAr announced, will get...

Tyler, Mike, Josh and Lamar talk about "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always," perhaps the most anticipated episode of the show since "The Mutiny." Yes, there will be spoilers ahead. Referenced in this episode: Johnny Yong Bosch says the story of the special could continue if streaming numbers meritDavid Yost and Walter Jones discuss the dedication at the end of the specialCatherine Sutherland discusses her experience working on the specialYost: "You never stop being a Power...

Like clockwork, a couple of days after we last recorded, Netflix dropped the trailer for "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always," the special set to release on April 19. Tyler and Lamar are here to talk about it. In other news: "Legacy Wars" Z-Putty prankAmy Jo Johnson dishes on her "Power Rangers" comic seriesBOOM! Studios sets up Kickstarter for their next hardcover setUltraman Z dub heads to YouTubeToei Tokusatsu Fan Club streams Power Rangers in Space for Japanese...

Tyler, Lamar, Josh and Tori talk about the innovations of the Power Rangers comics and catch up on all the news we've missed in our month away, including intriguing details on the 30th anniversary special and the release of the Zord Ascension Project Astro Megazord. Forgive Tyler if he sounds a bit loopy. He recorded this while fighting a cold. Mentioned in the show: Doug Sloan considers dishing on the inner workings of Power RangersEka Darville asks for help funding his son's glioblastoma...

Tyler, Lamar and Josh bemoan the state of the Lightning Collection. We also talk about troubling layoff news out of Hasbro and react to the latest announcements from Renegade Games Studios. Mentioned in the show: SPD To The Rescue Expansion for Deck Building GameHeroes of the Grid: Shadow of Venjix Theme PackRanger Allies Pack #3 includes Doctor K, DelphineHasbro lays off 1,000 while implementing new business planDavid Yost shares the script for the first part of Quantum ContinuumDiscotek...

Tyler, Lamar, Mike and guest host Josh (/r/powerrangers moderator RazgrizInfinity) react to a Hasbro stream full of big reveals. We got a rough synopsis of the 30th-anniversary special and a look behind the scenes of the special dropping on Netflix April 19. We got a fresh look at Cosmic Fury and all the ranger suits. Hasbro also showed off toys in the pipeline, including refreshed looks for MMPR toys. Mentioned in the show: Featurette offers a look behind the scenes at "Once &...

Tyler and Lamar welcome voice actor, graphic designer and writer Mike Dent. Dent, a former Rangercast co-host, also created the podcast R5 Central and hosted Otaku USA's Friday ACE Podcast for a spell. More recently, he's had a hand in tokusatsu projects for Shout! Factory and Discotek Media. We ask him about his origin story and get him to explain the staying power of Space Sheriff Gavan. Also, we discuss toy news and leaks, the current whereabouts of a key Masked Rider prop and mourn the...

As we continue to grieve the loss of Jason David Frank, Tyler and Lamar talk about the moments that made Tommy special to legions of fans. Also in the news: Stunt professionals offer explosive experiences to tourists at Mt. IwafuneHasbro looks to offload Entertainment OneRanger Academy series to launch on Free Comic Book DayAbaranger 20th anniversary project in productionCore five Hurricanger team reunites for 20th anniversary specialJason David Frank's widow speaks outRanger Command Power...

Power Rangers fans awoke Sunday to the devastating news that Jason David Frank, a man almost synonymous with the franchise itself, was dead at the age of 49. Tyler and Mike try to make sense of the stunning loss for Frank's family, friends, co-stars and fans and share outpourings of grief from Ranger Nation. Walter Jones recalls the last time he saw FrankCiara Hanna writes an open letter to her "hero"Jason Bischoff, late of Saban and Hasbro, reflects on the pieces of JDF that lived in his...

It's all-news this episode as Tyler and Lamar dig into some hot topics. In this episode... Power Rangers showrunner Simon Bennett quit Twitter and Rangerboard. Is this a teachable moment for fans?We have dates for Power Morphicon 2024. The Gold Ranger VIP membership tier sees a price hike.More scuttlebutt about Cosmic Fury and the 30th-anniversary projectAnd a new feature, post of the week!Mentioned in this episode: Cassette-style red, yellow and black MMPR figures now available Cobra Kai...

Even after the big reveal at Power Morphicon (or, more precisely, the big reveal at 11 p.m. the night before the panel), fans believed Hasbro had more up their sleeve. And boy did they ever. Tyler, Lamar and (later) Primo talk about the toy news and show news out of Hasbro PulseCon, including the state of the show's relationship with Toei and a heretofore unrevealed 30th-anniversary project that's just wrapping in Auckland. This episode is as spoiler-free as possible as to the new episodes of...