Interview with an Icon: Jason David Frank

I was only a toddler when Mighty Morphin Power Rangers premiered in 1993 and I’m proud to say they were my first memory of superheroes. I know, as a comic book lover and reviewer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and X-Men would have been prime candidates, but the truth remains that teenagers with attitude and recycled Japanese footage shaped my childhood more than any other television show. The five original rangers each had varying levels of appeal to my young mind, but when Tommy Oliver appears as the Green Ranger, the entire dynamic of the team changed forever. I loved Jason David Frank’s portrayal of the character as he grew into the White Ranger and later the Red Ranger, but lately the martial artist turned actor has had some major developments take place that are well worth diving into.

This past month I attended the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, where I was able to meet Jason and several other stars of the hit television show. During his panel he agreed to give Comic Crusaders an exclusive interview to discuss his past and present successes, which I must admit turned me into a giddy child once again. After the FANTASTIC panel highlighting the Valiant Digital project Ninjak vs the Valiant Universe, my scheduled interview was unfortunately postponed and the rest of the weekend didn’t work out. However, true to his word, JDF contacted me and was able to donate a half hour of his time to our site. Since it is a video call, I apologize for any quality issues. (By the way, I’m the tiny box in the bottomÂ right corner)

From the interview, you can probably guess that Jason is a caring and genuine guy who seriously gets immense joy out of giving back to the fans. It’s not about fame or money, but about making connections with people. From my experience, he is a top-notch role model not only in his celebrity but as a businessman, a Christian, and a person in general. You know what they say about never meeting your idol because you’ll always be disappointed? Well, there are surely exceptions to that rule and this is one of them. He and his assistant Nicole were kind and understanding and accommodating, all for an interview that meant a great deal to me yet offered little in return benefits for them. It was truly a pleasure, privilege, and dream come true for me.

And for the record? The new footage of Ninjak vs The Valiant Universe I saw at C2E2 was very impressive. The scene with Colin King and Roku was great, but the first appearance of Bloodshot was definitely my favorite. JDF kicks major butt and his nanobots are put to the test. I’m really excited for the premiere of the six-episode event later this year online. Watch the trailer below!

For the opportunity to learn martial arts from JDF himself, CLICK HERE!Â

CLICK HERE to go to his Instagram page!

CLICK HERE to follow him on Twitter!

CLICK HERE to like his Facebook page!

Also, to see more from JDF and Bat in the Sun on Superpower Beatdown,

CLICK HERE to see the White Ranger vs Mortal Combat’s Scorpion and

CLICK HERE to see the Green Ranger vs Street Fighter’s Ryu!

Author Profile

Robert Anderegg

Robert joined Comic Crusaders in 2016 as contributor, but has been an active online voice through social media for almost ten years. His hobbies include reading and collecting comics, attending theme parks, making music, and driving his wife insane. Deadpool and Nightcrawler are his two favorite superheroes, and while his preference is Marvel, he dabbles in every major and indie label in the comics community. He graduated from UTPB in 2013 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is currently seeking employment in that field. A southern boy at heart, he currently resides in the Midwest.