Boom Studios’ Power Rangers comics have built a reputation for mining every era of the franchise, resurrecting Rangers long after their television stories ended and giving them sharper, sometimes darker, second acts. From Mighty Morphin to Zeo, the publisher treats the entire timeline as fair game.
Power Rangers Prime continues that tradition as it races toward its finale, and issue #14 pulls off a deep cut by reintroducing Trey of Triforia, the original Gold Ranger. Trey debuted in the 27th episode of Power Rangers Zeo, “The Power of Gold,” immediately reframing the team’s power hierarchy.
Across a focused seven-episode arc, the mysterious alien warrior became the season’s standout addition, often cited as one of the franchise’s most popular sixth Rangers, second only to Tommy Oliver (Jason David Frank) from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Beyond his three-bodied alien mythology and tragic nobility, the Gold Ranger’s appeal was visual.
Trey of Triforia’s Power Rangers Zeo suit looked sharp, sleek, and unmistakably premium. That iconic design is precisely why his return in Power Rangers Prime has sparked debate. The character is back, but the costume has been noticeably altered and modernized, leaving some fans unconvinced the classic needed fixing.
Power Rangers Prime Updates The Zeo Gold Ranger Costume
Trey Returns As A Mysterious Herald With A Strikingly Different Look
Issues #14 and #15 of Power Rangers Prime bring Trey of Triforia back into the spotlight, but not as the noble ally many expected. Instead, the former Gold Ranger reenters the story as the Herald of the Legion Ravager, an ominous title that signals a dramatic shift in allegiance. The once-heroic warrior now stands in opposition to the Rangers.
That twist alone makes his comeback feel weighty. Power Rangers Prime has leaned into morally gray territory throughout its run, reframing legacy heroes in unexpected ways. Trey’s transformation into a possible antagonist fits the book’s darker tone, treating the Zeo era not as nostalgia bait but as raw material for reinvention.
Trey of Triforia’s new Gold Ranger costume in Power Rangers Prime underscores that approach. The gold remains, but the silhouette is heavier and more armored, with extra plating and sharper lines. The clean, regal look of the ’90s suit has been replaced by something more aggressive.
The updated design also emphasizes the Herald concept. Dark accents creep into the suit, breaking up the bright gold and suggesting corruption or outside influence. His shoulder pads have been sharpened, and he now sports a cape too. Visually, Trey no longer feels like a sixth Ranger standing proudly beside the team. He looks like an invading force.
That change matches the story stakes. With Power Rangers Prime confirmed to end in April 2026 and issue #15 acting as the penultimate chapter, every returning character carries narrative importance. Trey’s reappearance is clearly tied to the final conflict, not just a cameo.
Whether Trey of Triforia is the true final villain of Power Rangers Prime or merely a precursor for an even greater evil remains uncertain. The Legion Ravager looms large, and the Herald title suggests he may simply be the opening act. Still, positioning such a beloved Ranger at the center of the endgame is a bold move.
Even with the controversy over the redesign, the choice feels deliberate. Pulling from one of the franchise’s most popular special Rangers signals that the series is swinging big for its conclusion. It is fan service with purpose, not decoration. At the very least, the return guarantees attention. Trey of Triforia isn’t just back; he’s been reshaped to fit a modern, more intense Power Rangers mythos.
The Zeo Gold Ranger Rocked One Of Power Rangers’ Best Suits
A Classic Minimalist Design Makes The Prime Redesign Hard To Top
Part of the reason Trey of Triforia’s new look in Power Rangers Prime has proven divisive is simple: the original Zeo Gold Ranger suit was already more-or-less perfect. Among dozens of Ranger costumes across three decades, Trey’s design consistently ranks near the top. It looked elite without trying too hard, balancing flash with restraint.
The black-and-gold color scheme of the Gold Ranger in Power Rangers Zeo did most of the heavy lifting. Instead of overloading the suit with shapes and textures, the design leaned into bold blocks of color. The gold chest shield popped, while the black bodysuit grounded everything. It felt powerful, not busy.
Most iconic was Trey of Triforia’s (and, after being transferred the Gold Ranger mantle, Jason Lee Scott’s) helmet. The original Gold Ranger helm featured a sleek black visor and minimalist gold framing, giving it a sharp, almost regal profile. It was instantly recognizable, and its simplicity made it timeless.
Power Rangers Prime has updated several classic suits with small tweaks, and many of those changes have been welcomed. Subtle armor panels or modern detailing helped the Rangers feel contemporary without losing their roots. The Gold Ranger, however, received a heavier overhaul.
Trey of Triforia’s new helmet is where most criticism lands. It features added fangs, layered gold trimming, and more complex shapes. Instead of the clean lines of the Zeo version, the redesign leans into excess. For some fans, it crosses the line from sleek to overdesigned.
That added complexity removes part of what made the character stand out. The original Zeo Gold Ranger suit communicated confidence through restraint. It didn’t need extra ornamentation to sell Trey as powerful. The new version feels like it’s trying harder to prove the same point.
Fan reactions online reflect that tension. Many praise the ambition and darker edge, but others argue that the creative team tampered with something that didn’t need improvement. When a design is already considered one of the best in Power Rangers history, updates become risky.
There’s also the nostalgia factor. For viewers who grew up with Power Rangers Zeo, Trey’s suit represents a specific era of practical yet elegant designs. Changing it can feel like rewriting a piece of visual history.
Still, the debate itself highlights how beloved the Gold Ranger remains to Power Rangers fans. Few costumes inspire this level of scrutiny decades later. Whether fans embrace the Power Rangers Prime redesign or long for the original, one truth stands: hard to top perfection, especially when that perfection already existed in 1996.
- Release Date
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April 20, 1996
- Directors
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Robert Radler, Vickie Bronaugh
- Writers
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Jackie Marchand, Judd Lynn
