 This article is about a/an event in Power Rangers in Space, the last installment in the Zordon Era.
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Zordon's Energy Wave, or most commonly referred to as the Z-Wave,[1] was an event that occurred in "Countdown to Destruction" in Power Rangers in Space. It depicted the release of a powerful evil-eradicating energy wave following Zordon's death at the hands of Andros, which he initiated by destroying the wise wizard's energy tube with his Spiral Saber. Upon the Z-Wave's release, it spread across the known universe and purged it of the United Alliance of Evil, which at that point, had conquered the entire universe with the help of Dark Specter and Astronema.
Background[]
Zordon's origins can be traced back to his home planet of Eltar, where he had waged war against Lord Zedd. However Zordon was sealed into an energy tube by Rita, while Zordon sealed Rita and her forces into a dumpster. After arriving on Earth, Zordon prepared for an inevitable attack from Rita by forming the Power Rangers, who would stand against Rita's forces for three years. Eventually Earth was attacked by the Machine Empire and Divatox and her crew, both forcing the Rangers to upgrade their gear as their enemies became stronger. At the same time, the overarching United Alliance of Evil led by Dark Specter ultimately integrated Rita, Zedd, Mondo, and Divatox into their ranks, becoming the main antagonistic faction for the Space Rangers, who were formed after the Turbo Rangers relentlessly chased Divatox into outer space.
Around this time, Zordan had already returned to Eltar during the Turbo era to help fight the wars on his planet. However he was ultimately captured by the United Alliance for Dark Specter had intent to absorb him. However due to his ongoing conflict with the Space Rangers, Zordon was hidden away out of sight, with his disappearance having already reached the ears of the Rangers, as he was actively being searched for by the Phantom Ranger and the Blue Senturion.
Ultimately as Andros uncovered the identity of Astronema, being his younger sister Karone, their conflict ultimately led to Astros making it on board the Dark Fortress in an attempt to bring his sister back to the side of good, while discovering the hidden Zordon in the process. At this point in time, the United Alliance of Evil had already conquered the entire universe. With no other solution left, Andros destroys the energy tube holding Zordon on his suggestion, releasing a powerful energy wave that would eradicate all evil in the universe and restore peace.
Overview[]
The following villains were affected:
- Rita Repulsa was purged of her evil and purified into a human. She later regained her magical powers and became the Mystic Mother.
- The evil essence that was purged from Rita was accidentally gathered by Billy Cranston and Alpha 8, who took over the latter's body as Robo-Rita. Robo-Rita was eventually vanquished by the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.
- Lord Zedd was purified into a human, shedding him of his evil.
- A new version of Zedd from before he was purified was brought into existence in the present day by Reaghoul's necromancy, where he came into conflict with the Dino Fury/Cosmic Fury Rangers.
- Divatox was purified into a human, shedding her of her evil.
- Astronema was purified back into her humanoid form Karone, and also got brought back to life.
- Finster was also purified although this was only seen in a graphic novel.
COMIC STORY- Power Rangers: Soul of the Dragon - Ecliptor was disintegrated and reduced to sand.
- Elgar was disintegrated and reduced to sand.
- King Mondo was disintegrated and reduced to sand.
- Queen Machina was disintegrated and reduced to sand.
- General Havoc was disintegrated and reduced to sand.
- Goldar was disintegrated and reduced to sand offscreen
- An enhanced clone of Goldar later appeared in Beast Morphers as "Goldar Maximus".
- All of the Foot soldiers and monsters were disintegrated and reduced to sand.
Note that not all of the Machine Empire and Cogs perished in this event, and that Dark Specter and Darkonda had both already destroyed each other in a conflict shortly before the wave was released. Lokar also survived the wave having resided in the Talos Dimension along with Scorpina, who had been banished there by Rita Repulsa earlier. 
COMIC STORY- Power Rangers: Soul of the Dragon
It is never seen or explained what happened to the serving characters, but as they are not seen again they were either purified or reduced to sand:
- Mama D
- Squatt
- Baboo
- Rito Revolto
- Prince Sprocket
- Klank & Orbus
- Prince Gasket
- Princess Archerina
- Rygog
- Varox
- Porto
- Master Vile
- Key Monster
- Doomstone
- Somnibot
- Video Vulture
- Adrian
- Inciserator
- Ghost of Darkness
- Wizard of Deception
- Hate Master
- Count Dregon and his followers
- Dark Specter's Messenger
Post Z-Wave[]
In the aftermath of Zordon's death, several groups of villains appear in future seasons of Power Rangers. However, the series has been able to avoid contradicting the effect of the energy wave on past villains by either never using them again or giving those who survived entirely different roles (as seen with Rita Repulsa, who would go on to become the Mystic Mother in Power Rangers Mystic Force). Every villain who has debuted since the Z-Wave was either explicitly created after the Wave or was trapped in some way that may have protected them from the Wave's effect.
The wave is referenced in Power Rangers Dino Fury when a version of Zedd prior to his purification is created, though it was also mentioned that since Zordon is gone, the wave could not be used again to stop him like before.
24 years after the Z-Wave, Billy attempted to find Zordon's scattered particles in the universe at Cranston Tech's hidden Command Center; however, he instead collected Rita Repulsa's evil side, which escaped and took over the body of Alpha 8. 
TV STORY-Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always Later Bajillia Naire attempted a plan to create inverse of the Z-Wave by enchanting Lord Zedd's power and then sacrificing him in a similar manner to Zordon. The Cosmic Fury Rangers managed to prevent the plan from being completed by convincing Zedd to renounce his new powers. TV STORY-Power Rangers Cosmic Fury
Notes[]
- In Power Rangers Beast Morphers, Goldar's fate was revealed; he was destroyed before being revived by Evox and Scrozzle. Jason surmised he was almost certainly destroyed by the wave. TV STORY-Grid Connection
- The term "Z-Wave" was originally created by the fandom. Its in-universe use began in Power Rangers HyperForce then subsequently in Power Rangers: Soul of the Dragon and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always.
See Also[]
- Benevolator - A device created by the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers that attempted to turn the Evil Space Aliens good in the alternate universe series, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return.
References[]
Footnotes[]
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