The year 2022 was a rough one for long-time fans of the Power Rangers. Jason David Frank, who played Tommy Oliver in the franchise, passed away at age 49. He played a central role in the series, first appearing as the Green Ranger in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and continuing to be a central member of the team several seasons forward, as well as making cameo appearances in future iterations of the series.
With his continued role in the franchise, he took on numerous Ranger forms. These forms often derive from different power sources, as Tommy has lost and regained his powers various times throughout the show. The one thing that remained consistent was that under the helmet was the man who embodied what it meant to be a Power Ranger, always willing to put himself on the line for others. Here are where his iconic forms stand.
8 Zeo Ranger 5 Red
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Tommy Oliver would take up the mantle of the Red Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo: the sequel series to Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. This form was granted by the power of the Zeo Crystal, which the Rangers had to rely on after their powers were destroyed.
The design of this outfit features solid red, with white around the neck and shoulders, bordered by a gold pattern resembling computer circuitry. The helmet features a large, black star as the visor, matching the shape of his Zeo crystal fragment.
7 Turbo Red
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Through the events of Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, the Rangers would receive new powers and zords inspired by cars and jeeps. And with that, Tommy would gain an interest in vehicles and racing.
Tommy’s ranger form features a visor modeled after the front grill of his zord, a cherry red race car. On his chest is a yellow trapezoid bordered in black, echoing a car’s headlight. What makes this iteration of Tommy notable is that it would ultimately be his final major role in the series (for the moment). He would pass the torch of Red Ranger to his successor, a young baseball player named T.J., who saved his life.
6 White Ninja Ranger
In season 3 of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the team loses their powers and zords in a battle with Rita Repulsa’s evil brother, Rito Revolto. This drives the Rangers to embark on a dangerous quest out in the Desert of Despair to seek Ninjor, a being who could restore their powers.
Ninjor would grant these rangers the abilities of the ninja, including Tommy Oliver, who would sport a new ninja outfit, with a gold emblem upon it with the symbol of the falcon. This new form would grant him control over the Falcon Zord, which can combine with both the Ninja Megazord and the Shogun Megazord. This suit exists not only in the main continuity but also in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie, except its powers are found on another planet.
5 Dino Thunder Black Ranger
After his time as the Red Ranger in Power Rangers Turbo, Tommy Oliver retires from ranger action. While he does appear in Power Rangers: Wild Force in the episode “Forever Red,” he would not take on a more active role in the franchise until Power Rangers: Dino Thunder, in which he is a teacher at Reefside High, as well as a mentor to the new team of Rangers.
Through the power of the black Dino Gem, Tommy is back in action as the black ranger, sporting a helmet modeled after a Brachiosaurus. His new ranger form grants him a sword, the Brachiostaff, and the Brachiozord, which acts as a mobile hangar for the other rangers’ zords. The black Dino Gem also grants Tommy the power to turn invisible.
4 Mighty Morphin White Ranger
Fans of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers were sad to see Tommy Oliver leave as the Green Ranger, so they were elated to see him return as the White Ranger. This form is not derived from the same Super Sentai iteration as Mighty Morphin’, Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger, but rather another incarnation called Gosei Sentai Dairanger.
In this Ranger form, Tommy became the official leader of the team. Tommy would sport a white suit with gold accents, as well as a talking scimitar named Saba. Along with the new ranger form comes the white tiger zord, which has both a beast and humanoid form.
3 Lord Drakkon
Boom Studios’ Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comic book explores new territory by both expanding upon Ranger lore and telling original stories with new foes. One villain, in particular, would send an earthquake through the comic and the Power Rangers franchise: Lord Drakkon.
Drakkon is an evil version of Tommy in the comic’s Shattered Grid arc. In his universe, he continued to serve Rita after the spell controlling him was broken. With Rita, he succeeded in conquering Earth. Evil Tommy would eventually betray Rita, and combine the powers of both the Green and White Ranger coins to create his ultimate Ranger form, which bears traits of both costumes. Jason David Frank would play Drakkon in live-action for the teaser trailer for this event.
2 Mighty Morphin Green Ranger
The Green Ranger was Tommy Oliver’s very first ranger form, and his most iconic. Rita Repulsa brainwashes Tommy to make him the vessel for the Green Ranger powers, which give him his instantly recognizable gold chest plate and Dragon Dagger, which he uses to summon the Dragon Zord, a metallic Godzilla-like machine.
The Green Ranger became one of the Rangers’ most challenging foes, who bested them at almost every turn. They broke Rita’s spell over him and invited him to join them. He would be a valued asset to the team and become an important fixture throughout the history of the Power Rangers franchise.
1 Plain Old Tommy
No matter the costume, the person underneath is what makes the Ranger. Tommy Oliver embodies what it means to be a Power Ranger, always putting himself on the line for his friends, even battling Goldar without his Ranger Powers. He is always eager to pass on his knowledge to others, whether it be teaching Martial Arts at the Youth Center, or teaching a new generation of students in High School.
Tommy also shows people that it is not too late to change. There is one point in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers where he has to retrieve the powerful Zeo Crystal, which only those who were pure of heart could handle. As he struggles to wield it, flashes of his time as the evil Green Ranger come to remind him of his past. He fights through them and successfully retrieves it. He chooses to be a better man, which everyone has the choice of doing every day.