Last year, Boom! Studios launched their gritty reboot of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers with the help of comic writer Kyle Higgins, who also wrote DC’s Batman: Gates of Gotham. Still centering on our favorite group of super-powered teens fighting against evil forces, this shift in tone helped flesh out more serious story lines such as the identity of Lord Drakkon, the evil ranger wreaking havoc with his zord-like machine called the Black Dragon.

“We’re balancing world-ending stakes with teen high school drama, in a crazy multitude of locals,” Higgens told Nerdist. “Power Rangers has always been screaming to be a team superhero comic.”

And now, the rangers must team up to fight one of their own…sort of. In issue #11, which is out now, it’s revealed that Drakkon is an alternate version of Tommy Oliver from a dystopian future who rules Earth with an iron fist. Who saw that coming?

For those who might be upset by the big reveal, Higgens points out that this isn’t a reshash of the ‘90s series.“We’re doing our own thing, pushing the legacy of Power Rangers forward while trying to stay very respectful of what’s come before. We love Power Rangers as much as you do, and every choice we make is coming from that place. Even when we create alternate timelines where the bad guys conquered everything ,” he added.

How do you feel about this? Were you surprised to find out Drakkon’s true identity? Let me know in the comments!

Image Source: BOOM! Studios