Power Rangers' New Dragonzord Is Every 90s Kid's Dream Come True

Power Rangers' Dragonzord just got a mind-blowing makeover, as the iconic Zord gets an upgrade by uniting with another '90s mega-franchise.

From its first appearance in Episode 21 of the '90s television show Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the Dragonzord - the Green Ranger's mecha - has been a fan-favorite. However, as a result of its inability to combine with the newer and more powerful Thunderzord class of Power Ranger battle-bots, the Dragonzord faded into disuse - that is until a recent and unexpected upgrade from an unlikely source.

In Ryan Parrott, Dan Mora, Raul Angulo, and Ed Dukeshire's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5, the Dragonzord finds a new lease on life as the Dragon Turtlezord, a new super-powered mecha that is the dream crossover every '90s kid wanted. In the comic, the Dragon Turtlezord is the result of modifications and additions performed on the original Dragonzord by the Blue Ranger Billy Cranston and TMNT's Donatello. Specifically, the new mecha combines the strength and abilities of the Power Rangers' original Dragonzord with Metalhead, Donatello's mechanical ninja warrior.

With the Rangers and Turtles facing increasingly overwhelming odds, in the third issue of the crossover series, Cranston and Donatello begin experimenting with different combinations of the Power Rangers' Power Coins and the mutagen that transformed the Turtle brothers into the Heroes in a Half Shell. They also try out various technologies that each teenage hero team normally works with. As a result, the two are able to develop more than a few advances that help them even the odds against Rita Repulsa, Krang, and the Casey Jones' evil Ranger X.

Cranston and Donatello are also able to craft a new morphing device that allows Shredder to transform into the newest version of the Green Power Ranger with control over the original Dragonzord, since Tommy's new dragon-mutant form can't play his Dragon Dagger. The Dragon Turtlezord is the most impressive result of their collaboration, especially in resolving the previous inability of the Dragonzord to combine with other advanced Zords - a necessity given that the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was created using footage from Toei Studios' Super Sentai series, and was therefore limited by however that show chose to depict the Zords.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5 has been a masterclass in giving fans of both properties exactly what they want, including human and ranger forms for the Turtles, ninja makeovers for the Teens With Attitude, and even the Mighty Mutant Power Rangers. However, the final issue of the series gives the Dragonzord an epic upgrade, allowing it to fuse with the giant Metalhead mecha - a perfect combo which echoes the Green Ranger's loner attitude, creating a unique fusion with a single other Zord rather than making it part of a larger gestalt.

The Dragonzord is a symbol of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' 90s fame, and so to combine it with a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles character is a tribute longtime fans never thought they'd get - the comic also ends by setting up a third installment in the crossover, meaning even more inventive fan-service wonders are sure to come soon.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5 is available now from BOOM! Studios and IDW Publishing.

Marcel Green is a writer for Screen Rant's Comics and Anime Sections.