MMPR Lightning Collection (MMPR Black Ranger + Dragon Shield) // Review
With most toy releases these days, there are often retailer-exclusive toys intended to get collectors into those specific shops. Hasbro in particular has been taking advantage of this concept, with exclusives to Wal-Mart, Toys R Us (RIP), Target, and even Walgreens, all receiving some special Transformers figures in the last decade. It looks like Power Rangers: The Lightning Collection will be no different, as both GameStop and Walgreens have received their own exclusive figures from this line.
In this case, the Walgreens exclusive Mighty Morphin’ Black Ranger with Dragon Shield, retailing for approximately $20.
In one of the more obscure moments to be continually turned into a figure, this represents the time Tommy the Green Ranger shared his Dragon Shield with Zach the Black Ranger. This happened in episode 60 of the show (An Oyster Stew) and happened for maybe 10 minutes in on-screen time. However, it makes for an awesome sight, and proof that the Green Ranger’s style fits almost any Ranger.
For clarity, this scene comes from the new Japanese footage filmed for Power Rangers, commonly nicknamed “Zyu2” for being a second season of Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger footage. It does not have a Japanese counterpart in Zyuranger, so it’s weird that the figure has also been done in the Japan-only SH Figuarts line as well.
The packaging for this Ranger fits the style Hasbro has chosen for the Lightning exclusives. Rather than plain white, the box is primarily black with yellow highlights. This is striking and pops against the other characters on the shelf. Like with other releases in this line, the packaging is not crammed with text, instead of going with smooth minimalism and a few pictures.
The sculpt for this figure is incredible. Much of the figure has already been used before in the Green Ranger and Red Ranger with Dragon Shield exclusives (GameStop and SDCC, respectively). This is not usual for Hasbro, who does this with Transformers all the time, and it works since the Power Rangers outfits all share the same overall design scheme. However, the heads, Mammoth Axe, and the belt are all specifically to the Black Ranger from the first season of MMPR. While the differences are subtle, they make for a massively striking figure assembled.
The paint job seems better on the sample obtained. While the Mammoth Axe is still missing some detailing, the blade gun is lacking most of its detail paint, and the diamond of the Dragon Shield was poorly outlined… these are ultimately minor gripes. It should be noted that we had to shuffle through all six figures found at the same Walgreens to find one that did not have major paint issues. Again, quality control seems to be an issue for the Hasbro team. Beware in purchasing these online, if only for that fact.
Accessories are strangely chosen in this case. The Mammoth Axe has both gun and blade modes, with the handle having a sliding piece to make them each mode. There is also a part effect featuring a massive cannon blast, but no effect option for the more commonly used axe. The Black Ranger also comes with two extra hands: one fist and one karate chop. The blade blaster is also included, but only using the gun form. This does look strange in the holster, and it looks like the standard releases of MMPR Pink and Red also have this quirk.
This is the one place that the figure does pale in comparison to the Figuarts incarnation, however. The Figuarts version does come with no less than 4 sets of hands, a much better detailed Mammoth Axe, and multiple versions of the blade blaster. It is, however, skinnier in proportions and much more expensive.
So far, this is the only way to obtain the MMPR Black Ranger for the Lightning Collection line. If you’re desperate enough, a clever fan can skip off the Dragon Shield with a pair of scissors, part shaving, and paint to make the standard version. As it doesn’t cost any more than standard, and no pieces are missing or unpainted, this would work… aside from the armbands molded into the future. Hence the part shaving. Hasbro will likely release a regular Black Ranger a year or so from now. It’s up to you if this is something that needs to be in your collection.
Frankly, though, it is a home run of a figure from Hasbro, minor quirks aside.
