10 Lord Zedd Quotes That Power Rangers Fans Need to See

Summary

• Zedd’s triumphs and defeats redefine him in the BOOM! Studios Power Rangers comics, making him more than a one-dimensional villain.
• Zedd transforms his incompetent minions into the Dark Rangers using the powerful Chaos Crystal, nearly securing world domination.
• Through various story arcs, Zedd’s complex character is explored, showcasing his past, victories, defeats, and enigmatic quotes.

Lord Zedd has etched himself in the history books as one of the most diabolical forces that the Power Rangers have ever faced. Ever since making his debut in the three-part opener of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers season 2, “The Mutiny,” Zedd has given the Rangers some of the toughest challenges they would ever face.

It’s no wonder that Lord Zedd remains such an essential part of the franchise to this day, becoming a prominent part of the comics. The Power Rangers comics published by BOOM! Studios have notably expanded upon Zedd’s origin story and redefined him as more than a one-dimensional villain. The comics have revealed that he was once known as Zophram, and was a longtime former friend to Zordon when they were on Eltar together. In addition, the comics have showcased Zedd in his most shocking victories, definitive defeats, and most of all, his most wicked moments. Ever the wordsmith, some of the most terrifying and enigmatic quotes from Lord Zedd are featured in these comics.

10 “You are merely tinder for the fires of time…”

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #55 by Ryan Parrott, Moises Hidalgo, Igor Monti, Sabrina Del Grosso, and Ed Dukeshire

After one too many defeats at the hands of the Power Rangers, Lord Zedd decides to finally fight fire with fire. Using a recharged version of the Chaos Crystal that gave Tommy Oliver his Green Ranger powers years beforehand, Zedd is able to transform Goldar, Baboo, Squatt, Finster, and a Putty clone of Rita Repulsa into the Dark Rangers. Fueled by the all-powerful Chaos Crystal, the usually infantile and incompetent minions manage to overwhelm the Rangers, bringing Lord Zedd the closest he ever comes to world domination.

If not for the emergence of Matthew Cook, the new Green Ranger, the world would be lost to Lord Zedd. Before his defeat, Zedd takes the opportunity to gloat about his pre-determined victory atop a rooftop. “All your hopes and dreams … nothing but sparks and dust,” he says while peering down upon helpless civilians. “You are merely tinder for the fires of time … and it’s taken me far too long to set you ablaze.” These are the words of a man who is not only confident that he’s won, but confident that his win is long overdue. Zedd is ready to punish everyone in his path for delaying the victory he feels he deserves.

9 “You’ve lost. Just fall.”

Justice League/Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #1 by Tom Taylor, Stephen Byrne, and Deron Bennett

The first issue of the crossover between the Justice League and the original Power Rangers team kicks off with a bang as Lord Zedd invades the Command Center, blowing his way through the doors. Only Zack Taylor, the Black Ranger, is present to defend Zordon and Alpha. Zedd’s forces prove too overwhelming for him to handle. Almost immediately after Zack morphs into action, Lord Zedd declares, “You’ve lost. Just fall.”

A Power Ranger never gives up, but the effort seems so futile in this scenario that Lord Zedd suggests surrendering, practically out of pity. It’s almost bone-chilling because this is a Lord Zedd who is so in control that he doesn’t even take complete delight in winning. His tone suggests he thinks it’s pathetic to see Zack even trying to win a losing battle. It’s like watching a sports team try to fight back when they’re down 50 points at halftime.

8 “…I am NOT Rita Repulsa.”

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #40 by Ryan Parrott, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Walter Baiamonte, Daniele Ienuso, and Ed Dukeshire

This issue marks Lord Zedd’s first proper introduction into the continuity of the main comics, officially debuting and replacing Rita Repulsa as the main antagonist against the Rangers. After banishing Rita Repulsa, Zedd makes it clear that he will not settle for constant failure from his henchmen in the same way that Rita did in the past. The pep talk that he gives his henchmen to usher in this new era on the Moon Palace is more than just a monologue or even a lecture. It is a warning.

“That path only leads to failure,” he utters. “That was Rita’s way … and I am not Rita Repulsa.” There is no better way to begin this new regime at Bandora Palace than with an ominous, threatening warning that seems to chill even the coldest of villains.

7 “All of my demons are returning…and we shall welcome them with open arms.”

Mighty Morphin #1 by Ryan Parrott, Marco Renna, Walter Baiamonte, Katia Ranalli, and Ed Dukeshire

After his defeat in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #55, Zedd is absent for a long time, but he finally makes a grand return in Mighty Morphin #1. Upon his return he utters these words that serve as foreshadowing in ways that not even Zedd can comprehend at the time. His demons do come back to bite him, but not in the form of the Rangers, as fans might expect. The demons from his past prove to manifest in the form of warriors from Eltar, his home world. With Mighty Morphin #1 marking the start of the “Eltarian War” arc, this line foreshadows the reveal of Lord Zedd’s origin as an Eltarian before he lost his skin.

Beyond the foreshadowing, this is also just a defiant way for the Emperor of Evil to return to his kingdom. At this point in time for Zedd, he has accepted the defeat he suffered, and he welcomes the aftermath. He knows his enemies are awaiting his inevitable return, and he’s eagerly anticipating going another round with his opposition.

6 “I am the fire that purifies the universe.”

Go Go Power Rangers #27 by Ryan Parrott, Sina Grace, Francesco Mortarino, Raul Angulo, and Ed Dukeshire

This entry might be cheating because it technically isn’t Lord Zedd who says this. This conversation between Zedd and Tommy takes place in a simulation orchestrated by Saba, the talking sword of the White Ranger. So, in reality, this is a perfect carbon copy of Lord Zedd and what he would likely say if he were actually there. But regardless of whether or not it’s really Zedd himself who makes this declaration, it is an accurate representation of how he sees his role in the universe.

This simulation is part of the trials that Tommy Oliver must endure in order to prove himself worthy of the White Light and, ultimately, worthy of becoming the White Ranger. “Lord Zedd” tempts Tommy with great power, only to be refused. In his rebuttal, Zedd gives a speech about how he exists in an iron-sharpens-iron sense. He tells Tommy that the reason why the future White Ranger is becoming the warrior he is, is because Zedd is so despicable. Zedd burns through anyone unworthy, and those who survive through his embers walk through the fires a little stronger for it. As much as people hate him, the universe needs him, as far as Zedd is concerned at least.

5 “You think me weak?! How weak am I now?”

“Only the Strong” from Trey Moore, Terry Moore, HI-FI, and Jim Campbell in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Annual (2016) #1

First introduced as the antagonist of Power Rangers in Space, Dark Specter is the greatest force of evil in the Power Rangers universe. Lord Zedd’s hatred of Dark Specter is well-documented. Before Zedd was introduced as the original show’s antagonist — before he even became Lord Zedd and was simply Zophram of Eltar — he preached for thousands of years to anyone who would listen to his warnings about Dark Specter. Of course, no one listens until the franchise’s ultimate villain is unleashed in Darkest Hour, when it is too late.

But when Goldar’s brother, Silverback, implies that Dark Specter would make a better leader than him, Zedd unleashes a fury unlike any ever seen before at that point in time. Not one to take kindly to threats, Zedd makes it clear that not only is he no weakling, but he’ll prove exactly how strong he is by making someone else feel small, both verbally and physically. As if his words aren’t harsh enough, Zedd forces Goldar to finish his brother off before hiring his new loyal soldier to “keep an eye on The Witch.”

4 “You think I fear pain?”

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #106 by Melissa Flores, Simona Di Gianfelice, Raul Angulo, and Ed Dukeshire

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #106 is a pretty prolific issue for Lord Zedd. It isn’t just because this is the issue in which he becomes a Power Ranger, but because it’s the issue where Zedd finds a way to reclaim his inner power. In a prior issue, Rita Repulsa uses her newest power upgrade as Mistress Vile to beat Zedd within an inch of his life. His defeat is so intense that he is forced to send a distress signal to the Power Rangers, of all people. Even when they rescue him, he is quite literally a broken shell of himself, injured and his face mask torn off.

Gone is the uber-confident and regal Lord Zedd of old, replaced by a defeated and injured prisoner at the mercy of his greatest foes. But he starts to find his old self again while in captivity at Promethea. One too many taunts from the soldier guarding him convinces Zedd to remind this human just how much he’s “lived,” “thrived,” and ultimately survived the worst horrors. He won’t stand for a mere human downplaying his accomplishments, and he reaches through the laser grids of his cage. After his lifetime of agony, the pain of these bars is nothing, and Zedd chokes the life out of his captor before making his escape.

3 “Promises between men like us are meaningless”

Mighty Morphin #13 by Ryan Parrott, Marco Renna, Walter Baiamonte, Sara Antonellini, Katia Ranalli, and Ed Dukeshire

This issue sees Zedd conspiring with an old friend from Eltar named Zartus, the Supreme Guardian of Eltar and main antagonist of the Eltarian War arc. The former Zophram warns Zartus not to underestimate the Power Rangers. Zartus tries to promise otherwise, but Zedd reminds him that “promises between men like us are meaningless.” What makes that first line so interesting is that it paints Lord Zedd as someone who, unlike Zartus, knows he’s a villain. Most evildoers try to justify their actions, but Zedd is fully aware that his deeds aren’t just. That doesn’t stop him from partaking, and even enjoying, the fact that he’s committed to such atrocious misdeeds.

Truthfully, this entire interaction is littered with quotable lines from Lord Zedd, especially when Zartus insinuates that he won’t be as easily defeated as Zedd has in the past. In response, Zedd makes it clear that if Zartus was brave enough to threaten him in person instead of using a hologram, this interaction would turn out very, very differently. He is also fully aware that, if Zartus somehow manages to succeed in taking down the Power Rangers, then Zedd will be the next one he comes after. Zedd is clearly not worried about this, though, and ends the conversation with a mocking farewell: “Happy hunting, old friend…”

2 “You call yourself Empress of Evil? You have been defeated by infants! You are not fit to destroy a cockroach!”

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Saga #3 by Don Markstein, Steve Stiles, John Heebink, Aaron McClellan, Joseph Allen, John Clark, and Gary Leach

This is a rare instance on this list of an entry that is not from any of the Power Rangers series published by BOOM! Studios. Instead, this lost ’90s relic is something of an adaptation or recap of the earliest seasons of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, justified in-story as Zordon ensuring that the legacy of the Rangers is all recorded and available in Alpha 5’s memory banks. The third issue recalls Lord Zedd’s arrival at the Moon Palace, where he immediately makes his brutal presence known to Rita Repulsa.

The sequence makes it clear that Zedd refuses to be defeated as easily or frequently as Rita has on a week-to-week basis. Moreover, unlike Rita, Lord Zedd will absolutely not tolerate failure. He immediately punishes Rita for her lack of consistency by imprisoning her and taking her place as the Emperor of Evil once he determines that the Empress of Evil is “unfit to destroy a cockroach.”

1 “…I was never that man.”

Power Rangers #16 by Ryan Parrott, Francesco Mortarino, Christian Prunesti, Raul Angulo, and Ed Dukeshire

When he was still Zophram, former Supreme Guardian of Eltar, Lord Zedd was a proud mentor, confidante, and most of all, friend to Zordon. That all changed when the conniving Eltarian Zartus drove a wedge between them with his lies, convincing Zedd for eons that Zordon betrayed him. Once the truth is revealed, the two former friends battle Zartus in the present to vanquish him once and for all. Despite still being on opposite sides of good and evil, Zedd and Zordon develop a new appreciation for each other, with Zordon wishing he could turn back time to turn Zedd into the Zophram he used to be.

What’s so bittersweet about this moment is that Zedd doesn’t think that he was ever the good-hearted man that Zordon remembers him to be. Even worse, there’s a chance that he could be right. While feelings of betrayal and jealousy sparked his turn to evil, perhaps it merely nudged forward the inevitable. Perhaps Lord Zedd was always destined to play the opposing force to the Power Rangers.