It’s that time of year again. The yearly convention circuit is in full swing and the second big convention of the summer is nearly here. That’s right – we’re talking about San Diego Comic Con, arguably the largest convention in the world for anyone who watches superheroes on television, the movies, or reads about them in comic books. Each year fans of various properties get hopeful glee in their eyes as they anticipate news for their favorite brand.
The same anticipation lies in wait for Power Rangers fans. The brand is three months in full control of Hasbro – both on the airwaves and on the toy shelves – and fans are eager to see what their new plastic overloads have in store for them. Just how many figures will they reveal in the Lightning Collection? Will there be a Lightning Collection Megazrd or a morpher? What kind of surprises will be shared for Power Rangers Beast Morphers and beyond?
While we wait for those questions to be answered we have come up with a wishlist – broken in to three categories – and we’ll explain each one in detail. Without further ado – here is our San Diego Comic Con 2019 Wish List!
Things We Can Almost Guarantee
The items in this list are pretty self explanatory. There are some things you can notch in this category simply because it is a foregone conclusion it will be at the show.
- Power Rangers Beast Morphers Fall Assortments
We hesitate to call this a “Wave” because we did receive a case refresher that included Roxy from the first assortment. Was that a new wave? Or just a case revision with a new figure? Hard to say and another article for another time. But we’ll likely see characters like Evox, Drilltron, Red Ranger Fury Mode, Gold Ranger, Silver Ranger, and more. We’ll get more “retail ready” looks at the different Zords and Megazords (Beast Racer, Beast Hauler, Beast Chopper, etc.). You’ll also see the roleplay items and probably our first in-person look at the Striker Morpher for the Gold and Silver Ranger.
- Power Rangers Lightning Collection Figures Wave 2
We’ve known the contents of this wave since December thanks to Amazon listings. We’ve seen the Beast Morphers Red Ranger on display at Toy Fair and with official press photos. Reports out of the “no photos” Australia Toy Fair stated that Magna Defender has a cloth cape and that the Mighty Morphin Pink Ranger looks incredible. The lack of any official photos for the rest of the figures in this wave seems intentional. We wouldn’t be surprised to have them out and waiting in display cases on Preview Night.
- Miscellaneous Licensed and Other Items
We’re looking at you Micro Morphers Assortment 2! We have official packaging images but seeing the lineup in hand and on display is a given. There is bound to plenty of other licensed items on display that will release sometime in Fall.
Things That Are Likely
The items listed in this category cannot be guaranteed because we’ve been fooled before (looking at you Bandai 2017). But at the same time we like the odds of seeing these either in a panel or in person.
- Power Rangers Lightning Collection Figures Wave 3
In the past we’ve been given information for figures coming out nearly 12 months in advance. Whether Hasbro continues that trend or not has yet to be seen. The biggest difference between Hasbro and Bandai is that Hasbro doesn’t have to beg for retail space. That means it isn’t as likely for Hasbro to have to change an assortment to meet retailer comfort. Or does anyone else remember the last assortment of Bandai’s Legacy figures was supposed to come with an Alpha-5 Build a Figure?
- Brand New Items
Could we get a line of nothing but Legacy-like morphers? Or maybe we get an expansion of the Lightning Collection in to Megazords. Or maybe something else entirely that we have no idea what it is! Either way, Hasbro loves to surprise and they love to please, and we await whatever surprises they have in store.
Don’t Count On It
Another easy to decipher category. This is stuff that we just don’t feel has a chance at being at the show this year.
- Anything for the next movie
Seeing as we don’t have a release date, nor any information on a writer, director, or a producer, there’s no reason to believe anything new movie related will be at the show. Totally possible to get information on one of those listed prior but nothing other than a name here or there.
- Anything for the last movie
This is an article in and of itself but you shouldn’t expect any merchandise from the previous movie. The Power Rangers 2017 Movie is part of Lionsgate – which Hasbro nearly bought a year or two ago – and Hasbro has already stated they have partnered with Paramount for the next movie. Thus any merchandise for the previous movie will only work as promotion for a competing studio’s movie. That and we are not 100% certain of the rights for the characters and story elements of that movie (though they likely belong to Lionsgate).
- The next Power Rangers television show
Power Rangers Beast Morphers still has all of 2019 and then all of 2020 before we would get a new television show. The idea for this year is to promote the heck out of Beast Morphers. That doesn’t mean a secondary show couldn’t be announced (like a special or an animated feature) but the “show after Beast Morphers” won’t be discussed.
The PwrRngr.com Wish-List
The following are items that we personally hope to see at the show. We have no idea beforehand if any of these will happen but we are hopeful. Enjoy the list!
- Expansion of the Lightning Collection
We want Megazords and Morphers and we want them now! It would drum up even more excitement for the older fans and the collector community to know we are getting even more collector-oriented merchandise.
- Lightning Collection Figures Waves 3 and 4
As many of us are adults we like to live on a budget. It would be nice to know how much money we need to save for future figures. But more important than that it would spark a ton of conversation and excitement in a fan base already bored due to the summer hiatus and a lack of exciting toys (because we bought them all in April).
- Announcement of a Power Rangers special
We call it a “special” because we don’t know what else to call it. Whether it be an animated feature or a special streaming live-action series (please be geared towards older fans) we are begging for more content to devour. We don’t think this will happen yet (maybe 2020 or 2021) but this is our wish-list and trust me – we’re wishing.
- Surprise Exclusives
This may not be the accurate term for what we’re thinking. But Hasbro has, at times in previous shows, showed off a brand new toy during their product panel only to announce to fans that the items is available right now online. For Power Rangers when they announced the Lightning Collection Goldar they also added it was available to pre-order later that day at GameStop.com. But imagine the fever if a figure like the Ranger Slayer or Lord Drakkon was revealed and also available to purchase at the same time. Secret – we’re hoping they do that for Wave 2 of the Lightning Collection figures.
- Announce the Dino Team-Up Special in Beast Morphers
You made your exclusive figures the Jason two-pack. You’ve held back the Zeo Gold Ranger in Battle For the Grid for a reason. What better way to announce that it is happening than to bring Austin St. John on stage at the panel to officially announce his return to Power Rangers in the second season of Power Rangers Beast Morphers. Also have a costume of Zeo Gold at the booth because I’m selfish and my feelings matter.
San Diego Comic Con 2019 has the potential to be the most exciting convention for Power Rangers in years (excluding Power Morphicon as they always reveal the new cast). And while we know not everything on our wish-list is going to happen we’re still holding hope for at least for a few of them. And in less than a week – we’ll know. See you at the show.
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