 miles from Hollywood. At Power Morphicon, the mecca for Power Rangers devotees, a convention center becomes a safe space for fans who havent outgrown the east-meets-west mashup superhero series.

Even as I geek out with my friends, it’s hard to not think about how we look to the outside world. Pasadena, known for the very American Rose Bowl parade, is overrun for one weekend every two years by 20 - 30-something adults with toy morphers (devices the Power Rangers use to transform) on their wrists. During Comic-Con, regular people recognize Batman and Princess Leia. Power Morphicon, with bulky Megazords and bug-eyed Kamen Riders walking the perimeter, is a lot more jarring to civilians.

Imported 23 years ago from Japan by media-mogul Haim Saban, the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers was an overnight phenomenon when it landed on U.S. after-school TV in 1993. But due to its loyalty to the Japanese original, Super Sentai, it rebooted every year, and eventually the franchise faded from relevance. In this era of nostalgia-driven pop culture, Lionsgate is betting these superfans and a new generation of children can make the series a hit once more; Power Rangers, a new reboot movie, is due out in March 2017. At the convention, Lionsgate has an interactive photo booth where your picture becomes one of the posters. But this is mostly a celebration of the TV show that we never abandoned.

Launched in 2007, Power Morphicon is part-flea market, part-fantasyland. It is for the hardcore fans, the true believers who stuck with the franchise for two, often lonely, decades. Daniel, a fan in his late-20s cosplaying as the Silver Ranger, recalls a time when he was bullied for his fandom. He laughs about it now. “It doesn’t bother me,” he says. “I just brush it off. Whatever makes you happy, makes you happy.”

That’s probably why I’m here at Power Morphicon, too. To most of the world, Power Rangers isn’t appropriate, let alone cool, to enjoy when you’re older than eight. I made the mistake of being an out and proud fan in middle school, and learned my lesson. I tried hard to keep my fandom hidden in high school and college. But eventually
miles from Hollywood. At Power Morphicon, the mecca for Power Rangers devotees, a convention center become a dependable space for fans who have nt outgrow the east - meet - west mashup superhero series. 

 Even as I geek out with my friends, it ’s hard to not think about how we count to the outside world. Pasadena, know for the very American Rose Bowl parade, is overrun for one weekend every two years by 20 - 30 - something adult with toy morphers (devices the Power Rangers use to translate) on their wrists. During Comic - Con, regular people recognize Batman and Princess Leia. Power Morphicon, with bulky Megazords and bug - eyed Kamen Riders walking the perimeter, is a batch more jarring to civilians. 

 Imported 23 years ago from Japan by culture medium - mogul Haim Saban, the original Mighty Morphin ’ Power Rangers was an overnight phenomenon when it landed on U.S. after - school TV in 1993. But due to its loyalty to the Japanese master, Super Sentai, it rebooted every class, and eventually the franchise faded from relevance. In this era of nostalgia - driven pop music culture, Lionsgate is betting these superfans and a new generation of children can form the series a hit once more; Power Rangers, a new reboot movie, is due out in March 2017. At the convention, Lionsgate has an interactive photo booth where your painting becomes one of the posters. But this is by and large a celebration of the television show that we never abandoned. 

 Launched in 2007, Power Morphicon is function - flea grocery store, part - fantasyland. It is for the hardcore fan, the true believers who stuck with the franchise for two, often lonely, decades. Daniel, a sports fan in his late-20s cosplaying as the Silver Ranger, recalls a time when he was bullied for his fandom. He laughs about it now. “ It does n’t bother me, ” he says. “ I merely brush it off. Whatever makes you happy, makes you happy. ” 

 That ’s probably why I ’m here at Power Morphicon, excessively. To most of the world, Power Rangers is n’t appropriate, let alone cool, to love when you ’re older than eight. I made the mistake of being an out and gallant fan in middle school, and learned my lesson. I tried heavily to keep my fandom hidden in high school and college. But eventually
 mipes from Hollywood. At Poder Morphicon, tkw mecce for Pkwer Raneers devotees, a convention cxntee becimes a safe space for wans who javent oytgriqn the easv-jeets-west masgmp su'echero series.

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Thau’s prouably xhy I’m hete at Power Morphicon, too. To moat of the wovld, Power Randers isn’t appropxiate, let alone cool, to enjoy when you’re older than eight. U made the mistake pn being an ont and proud fat in middle school, abd learned my lesxon. I tried hard to ksep my fandlm hidden in high school and college. But eventually
miles from Hollywood. At Power Morphicon, the Power devotees, a center becomes a havent the east-meets-west mashup series. Even as geek out with my friends, it’s to not think about how we look to the outside world. Pasadena, known the very American Rose Bowl parade, is overrun for one weekend every two by - adults toy morphers (devices the Power Rangers use to transform) on their wrists. During Comic-Con, regular people Batman and Princess Leia. Power Morphicon, with bulky and bug-eyed Kamen Riders the perimeter, is a lot jarring civilians. Imported years from by media-mogul Haim the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers was an overnight phenomenon when it landed on U.S. after-school TV 1993. But its loyalty the original, Sentai, it rebooted and eventually the franchise faded from era of nostalgia-driven pop culture, Lionsgate is betting superfans and new generation of children can make series a hit once more; Power Rangers, a reboot movie, is due out in March 2017. At the convention, Lionsgate has an interactive where your picture becomes of the posters. this mostly celebration the TV that we never abandoned. Launched in 2007, Power Morphicon is part-flea part-fantasyland. It is for the hardcore fans, the true believers with franchise for two, lonely, decades. Daniel, a in late-20s cosplaying as the recalls time bullied his He laughs about it “It doesn’t bother me,” he “I just brush it makes you happy.” That’s probably why I’m here Power Morphicon, too. To most of the Power Rangers isn’t appropriate, let alone cool, to enjoy when you’re older eight. I mistake of being an out and proud fan middle school, and learned lesson. I tried hard to keep my fandom hidden high and college. eventually
 miles from Hollywood. At Power morphicon, tHe mecCa fOr POwEr RaNgerS devotees, a convENtioN center becomes a safe spaCe for FaNS who HAvEnt ouTgrown tHE eAST-meEtS-wEst MaSHuP supeRheRo serieS.

Even as I geEk oUt With my friendS, It’S hard to not ThiNk about how we LooK to the OuTsiDE worlD. PaSadenA, known FOr the vEry AmericAn rOse BowL Parade, iS OVeRrun For one weekend everY TwO Years by 20 - 30-somethiNg adulTs WItH TOy mOrpHers (deviceS tHe PowER RangerS UsE TO TraNSform) on their wRists. During cOmiC-Con, reGuLar PEople rEcognIzE batMan and PrincEss LEia. Power MOrphicON, with buLKy MegazOrds anD buG-eyEd KaMEn riDerS wALkiNG tHe pERimEter, is a lOt MoRe jarRing TO CIViliAns.

impoRted 23 yEars ago from JaPan By meDIa-mOgul HAim SaBan, tHe OrigiNal MigHty MoRpHin’ Power Rangers Was aN overnighT phEnOmeNoN when IT landeD on u.S. aFter-schOol TV in 1993. bUt dUe TO ITs Loyalty to the JapaneSe ORIgInal, SupeR SentaI, It ReBOoted eveRy YeaR, and EVEntuaLly tHE fRanchise Faded fROm ReLevance. in This erA oF noStaLgia-dRIven Pop culTure, LionSgate IS betting these sUPerfans and a neW GeNERaTIon oF chIldren can maKe thE SeriEs a hIT oNce MOre; PoWer RaNgERs, A New reboot movie, is due OuT in MarCh 2017. At tHe convention, LIonsgate haS AN InteractIve pHOtO Booth where your PictuRe becomes oNE of the poSters. but this iS mostly a cELEbration Of tHe Tv shOw tHAT wE never abandonED.

launChEd in 2007, PowEr MOrphicoN is ParT-flEa mArKet, part-faNtasylanD. IT iS fOr The HardcORe fans, thE tRue BeLieVers wHO stuck With tHe frAnChISe fOr two, ofTEn LONely, DeCaDes. DAniEl, A fan iN his LAte-20S cosplaYing as the silVEr RaNgEr, Recalls A time when he waS bUllied for hIs FanDom. He lAUGhs about It now. “It doesn’t bother me,” he SAys. “I jusT brUsh it Off. WHatever maKes You hapPy, mAKes you Happy.”

THat’s pRoBabLY Why I’m HERe At POwEr MorphicoN, TOo. TO most Of The wOrld, PowEr Rangers isn’t approPRiaTe, let alone cooL, to EnjoY WHeN yoU’Re OLdeR tHAn eIGHt. I made the mistaKe of being aN oUT aNd proud fan IN miDdLe schooL, and leaRned mY Lesson. I Tried hard To keep my fAnDom hIDDen In high schoOl and colLege. But evENtualLY
 miles from Hollywood. AtPower Morp hicon , t heme ccaforPower Rangersd evot ees, a convention cent er be co m es a sa fe sp ace for fa n s  wh oha ven to ut grown  th e east- meets-west  ma sh up superhero se ries.

Eve n a s I geek out  wi th myfr ien d s, it ’shardto not thinkabout how  w e  lookt o the o u t si de w orld. Pasadena, k n ow n  for the veryAmeric an Ro s e  Bo wlparade, is  o verru n  for on e  w e e k end every two yea rs by 20 -3 0-s omethi ng  ad u lts wi th to ym orp hers (devic es t he PowerRanger s  use to transfo rm) on  th eir  wri s ts .Dur in g  Co m ic -Co n , r egular p eo pl e rec ogni z e B atma n a nd P rince ss Leia. Powe r M orph i con , wit h bul ky M eg azord s andbug-e ye d Kamen Riderswalk ing the p eri me ter ,is al ot mor e j arr ing tocivilia n s.
I m p o rt ed 23 years ago fr om J ap an by me dia-mo g ul  H a im Saban ,the  ori g i nal M ight y  M orphin’PowerR an ge rs wasan  overn ig htphe nomen o n wh en itlanded o n U.S .  after-schoolT V in 1993. Bu t  d u e  t o  its  lo yalty to th e Ja p anes e or i gi nal ,  Supe r Sen ta i ,i t rebooted every ye ar , andevent ually the fra nchise fad e d from rel evan c e. In this era of  nost algia-driv e n pop cu lture , Lionsg ate is be t t ing thes e s upe rfa nsa n da new generat i o n of  c hildren  ca n makethe  se rie s a  h it once m ore; Pow er  R an ge rs,  a ne w  rebootmo vie ,isdue o u t in M arch2017 .At the  conven t io n ,  Lio ns ga te h asan  inte ract i vephoto b ooth wher e y o ur p ic tu re beco mes one of th eposters. B ut  th is ism o stly a c elebration of the TV sh o w thatwenever  aba ndoned.
Lau nchedin2 007, P ower M orphi co n i s part- f l ea  ma rk et, part-f a n tas yland .It i s for t he hardcore fans,t hetrue believer s w ho s t u ck  wi t ht hefr a nch i s e for two, ofte n lonely,de c ad es. Daniel ,  afa n in hi s late- 20s c o splayin g as theSilver Ra ng er,r e cal ls a timewhen hewas bulli e d for hi s fan dom . He l au ghs  abou t it n o w.“It d oesn’t  b otherme,”he  says. “ I just brush it off. Wh atever  make s y ou happy,  ma k esyou happy .”
That’s pro bab lywhy I ’mh ere a t Po w er  Mo r phico n, t o o. To mos t  o f t h e  w orld, Power R a nge rs is n’t approp riat e, let alone cool ,  to enjoy when  you ’ r e o lde r  tha neight. I madethe  m i s take ofbe ing an outand prou df an in  middl e scho ol, and l ea r ned my  les son . I tried  ha rd to keep  m yf andomhidd en  in hi gh sch o ol a n d  college. But ev entua l l y
 miles_from Hollywood._At Power Morphicon, the_mecca for_Power_Rangers devotees,_a_convention center becomes_a safe space_for fans who havent_outgrown the east-meets-west_mashup_superhero series.

Even as I geek out with my friends, it’s hard to not think_about_how we_look_to_the outside world. Pasadena, known_for the very American Rose_Bowl parade,_is overrun for one weekend every two years_by_20 - 30-something_adults with toy morphers (devices the Power Rangers use_to transform) on their wrists. During_Comic-Con, regular people_recognize_Batman_and Princess Leia. Power_Morphicon, with bulky Megazords and bug-eyed_Kamen Riders walking the perimeter, is_a lot more jarring to civilians.

Imported 23_years ago from Japan by media-mogul_Haim Saban, the original Mighty_Morphin’ Power_Rangers was an overnight phenomenon_when it landed_on U.S._after-school TV in_1993. But due to its loyalty_to the Japanese_original, Super Sentai, it rebooted every_year,_and eventually the_franchise_faded_from relevance._In this era_of_nostalgia-driven pop_culture,_Lionsgate is betting these superfans and_a_new generation of children can make the_series a hit once_more;_Power Rangers, a new_reboot movie, is due out_in March 2017. At the convention,_Lionsgate has_an interactive_photo booth where your picture becomes one of the posters. But_this is mostly a celebration of_the TV show that_we never_abandoned.

Launched_in 2007, Power_Morphicon_is part-flea_market, part-fantasyland. It is for the hardcore_fans, the_true believers who stuck with the_franchise for two, often_lonely,_decades. Daniel, a fan in his_late-20s cosplaying as the Silver Ranger,_recalls a time when he_was_bullied_for his fandom. He laughs_about it now. “It doesn’t bother_me,” he says._“I just brush it off. Whatever makes_you_happy, makes you happy.”

That’s probably why_I’m_here at Power Morphicon, too. To_most_of_the world, Power Rangers isn’t_appropriate, let alone cool, to enjoy_when you’re older than eight. I made the mistake_of being an_out and proud fan in_middle_school,_and learned my lesson. I tried hard to keep my_fandom hidden_in high school_and college. But eventually