Hello everyone! For those of you who have been following the Power Rangers saga since its explosive debut in 1993, you might be surprised to hear that after 31 years, all assets from the franchise are headed to auction. That’s right, Hasbro is liquidating the entirety of Power Rangers via Heritage Auctions in November 2024.
Bounding Into Comics reached out to Heritage Auctions for clarification, and they confirmed that the “All Power Rangers Auction” will feature items spanning the entire history of the franchise. So, if you’re a fan with a couple of bucks, you’re in luck!
Now, how did this epic auction come to be? Let’s take a trip down memory lane. Power Rangers has been a rollercoaster ride of popularity and controversy since its inception. Initially targeted at young boys, the show faced criticism from concerned parents worried about kids reenacting the martial arts seen on screen. Despite these challenges, Saban Brands brought the show to the global stage.
The origins of Power Rangers date back to the 1970s when Stan Lee of Marvel Comics fame and Margaret Loesch of Marvel Productions visited Japan to oversee the Japanese Spider-Man television show. During their visit, Stan saw “Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan” and believed its action and humor would be a hit in the U.S. Although their initial attempt to produce an American adaptation failed due to concerns over violence, the idea would not be forgotten.
Fast forward to 1990, when Loesch became the founding President and CEO of the Fox Kids Network. She met Haim Saban, who pitched a pilot called “Phantoms,” merging Japanese action sequences with American footage. This concept eventually evolved into “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” and the rest is history.
Power Rangers has had its ups and downs, including two feature-length movies and numerous TV series. The franchise even went to space with “Power Rangers: In Space,” which was intended as a grand finale but ultimately led to more seasons.
In 2003, the Walt Disney Company acquired Power Rangers, producing “Power Rangers: Ninja Storm” as their first season. Despite attempts to revitalize the franchise, interest waned, leading to the more mature “Power Rangers: RPM” season, which dealt with themes like death and human experimentation.
Saban Brands repurchased Power Rangers in 2010, aiming to appeal to both nostalgic fans and a new generation. This effort led to mixed results, especially with the “Neo-Saban Era” seasons like “Power Rangers Samurai” and “Power Rangers Ninja Steel.”
Hasbro acquired Power Rangers in 2018, but their tenure has been tumultuous. Despite revitalizing the brand with “Power Rangers: Beast Morphers” and “Power Rangers: Dino Fury,” Hasbro faced internal challenges and declining market interest.
Now, the franchise’s fate is sealed as Hasbro prepares to auction off over 900 lots in the first-ever all Power Rangers auction. This signals the end of live-action Power Rangers on TV and the big screen, as Netflix has also backed out of a collaborative reboot.
However, there’s a silver lining for fans. Boom! Studios still holds the Power Rangers comic book license and has no plans to relinquish it. Additionally, the Japanese Super Sentai series, from which Power Rangers derives much of its action footage, continues to thrive. Fans can enjoy these series with subtitles, and TokuSHOUTsu on YouTube airs previous Sentai series for free.
As Power Rangers bids farewell, there’s hope that the transforming hero genre in the USA will expand and rise to new heights. Stay tuned to see how this legendary franchise continues to influence and inspire future generations!
