If you grew up watching the Power Rangers battle against evil alien villains week after week, Go! Go! Loser Ranger! turns that classic formula on its head. In this dark manga/anime series, the heroes known as the Dragon Keepers are not the noble protectors they seem to be.
The story follows one of the alien Invaders’ foot soldiers, known only as “D,” who decides to rebel against the Dragon Keepers’ corrupt system. But to understand why the Rangers have become the true villains, we need to look at what happened after their supposed victory over the Invaders.
The Dragon Keepers’ Sinister Plan
As the story reveals, the Dragon Keepers actually defeated the Invaders and their Executives within just a year of the alien invasion attempt. With the villains vanquished, the Dragon Keepers should have celebrated protecting Earth. However, they had become addicted to the power, fame, and thrills of being Earth’s greatest heroes.
Their dark solution? Force the remaining Invader foot soldiers into perpetual staged battles for weekly television broadcasts. This let the Dragon Keepers maintain their heroic status and all the privileges that came with it, despite the nonexistent threat.
Power Rangers Turned Authoritarian Regime
To the public, these “Sunday Battles” appear to be the Dragon Keepers valiantly defending the planet from alien attack. However, in reality, it’s become a gladiator-like spectacle, with the Dragon Keepers portraying themselves as heroes while the helpless Invader foot soldiers are enslaved as disposable enemy combatants.
Moreover, as one character observes, the Dragon Keepers are virtually omnipresent in society, with broadcasters fawning over them and their merchandise being pushed everywhere. It has overwhelming echoes of an authoritarian regime, enforced through keeping the public obediently entertained and the Dragon Keepers’ status unquestioned.
Good Becomes Evil Without a Worthy Foe
One of the most compelling aspects of Go! Go! Loser Ranger! is how it deconstructs the classic superhero/villain dynamic. When the Dragon Keepers defeated the Invaders for real, removing their counterbalancing force, it opened the door for good to become corrupted without a worthy adversary to challenge them.
A Mirror to Our Celebrity-Obsessed Culture
Beyond deconstructing superhero tropes, Go! Go! Loser Ranger! It also serves as a biting satire of modern celebrity culture and hero worship. In addition, the Dragon Keepers have become intoxicated by public adulation, transforming from selfless defenders into glory seeking celebrity brands willing to do anything to retain their fame and privileges.
Furthermore, in this way, the series holds up a dark mirror to society’s often unhealthy obsession with glamorizing the famous and wealthy, no matter how corrupt or selfish they may be behind their public-facing heroic image. The Dragon Keepers are the ultimate expression of that cynical, hollow realm where truth means nothing and perception is everything.
A Compelling Deconstruction of Heroism
With its morally inverted take on the classic superhero story, Go! Go! Loser Ranger! provides a compelling deconstruction of the very concepts of good, evil, and heroism. By having the celebrated heroes become the true villains, the rangers turned out to be evil, it challenges us to look beyond the simple binaries of most superhero tales.
Are the Dragon Keepers’ authoritarian actions ultimately more unforgivable than those of the alien Invaders? The Invaders, at least, had the virtue of being upfront villains. It’s a fascinating premise. It elevates the series beyond being a mere edgy parody anime. The premise allows it to scratch at deeper truths. These deeper truths involve power, morality, and humanity’s need for worthy opponents to be our best selves.
