Dear Readers:
To any and all who have made it this far, I cannot thank you enough! This is the longest most self contained piece of fiction I have ever written and I couldn't have done it without you. Like our heroes in the story, I had an epic adventure in writing this and I hope you did too. I also wanted to say that this wasn't just my story, but all of yours too. I want to acknowledge everybody who contributed supporting characters, ideas for plots, weapons and equipment, or general ideas about the series overall. This was truly a team effort.
Everyone who followed, favorited, and/or left reviews, thank you too. As much as I loved writing this, I'll be honest, penning a complete series was very challenging and grueling at times, but your comments and encouragement are what helped get us through. That said, I'd love to hear any final thoughts or feelings on the series as well as any other questions you may have about the story... whether it's about the plot, the characters, or whatever. Feel free to ask anything! I'm more than happy to discuss it.
Looking forward, I'm going to be taking a nice long break before getting back to work on my other series, Power Rangers Oceania. That series is set in Hawaii several years after Vanguard so it's quite possible that some of the heroes from this story may show up later for a visit.
Oh, and before I forget, I'm also going to set up a fun little poll on my profile about your favorite characters from this series. Totally optional, but feel free to check it out! As we like to joke in my hometown: Vote early, vote often!
To get back on point, this was my grand experiment of seeing if I could take elements that make Power Rangers work for Western audiences and combine it with the things that make Super Sentai work for Japan.
A major inspiration for this story came in part from the Sentai series, Tensou Sentai Goseiger which was the first time that an angelic motif was ever used for its heroes. Even if classic Angels vs Demons can sometimes be a bit controversial in Western media, I thought Saban not using the angelic theme in Megaforce was a terrible wasted opportunity!
I wanted to prove that it was possible to make an entertaining Adventure-Drama while still using the imagery and moral elements of Judeo-Christian lore in a respectful but non-religious way. Admittedly, some of the imagery and themes leaned slightly toward Roman Catholicism, but I wrote what I was most familiar with. In a way, I suppose you can consider this the Western answer to what Goseiger (and Megaforce) could have, and should have been.
In writing this, I also wanted this story to take Power Rangers a step further by grounding it in world history. At its core, Power Rangers is supposed to be fun, uplifting, and heroic. But that doesn't mean that it can't have mature or thought-provoking moments either. When balanced with some dark elements, threatening villains, and genuine human drama, it makes a Power Ranger victory all the more satisfying in my mind.
Finally, I wanted to emphasize how significant the themes of understanding one's own History and Identity are. Whether we care to admit it or not, history affects all of us. It shapes who we are today, and helps us understand where we are going in the future. In the story, each of the Rangers had ties to their ancient counterparts, but understanding that tie also helped them to be their own person and forge their own destinies as well.
If this series at least makes you take a moment's pause to think about your own place in the grand scheme and aspire to greatness like the Rangers, then I consider my job done. Thanks again everyone, and God bless you all.