‘Power Rangers’ star makes it a point to come to Lexington Comic Con. Here’s why.
Over the last two years, Jason David Frank has become much more cognizant of people’s eyes.
A man whose fame sparked from behind a mask — he was the original Green Ranger on the 90’s phenomenon “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” — on a daily basis was now face to face with people forced to don their own to help take down a real-life villain, COVID-19. As he interacted with people across the country at comic-book stores in the thick of the pandemic, Frank paid much more attention to what people say with their eyes. Unfortunately, sometimes there wasn’t much to see.
“I see hollow eyes in people and celebrities, and it bothers me so much,” says Frank, who will be at this year’s Lexington Comic and Toy Convention at downtown’s Central Bank Center. “ ... It makes the business bad, because it starts showing who’s there for money and who’s not.”
Frank has always prided himself on being present for and energetic about everything he does, and both traits are never on better display than when he’s on a convention floor. Hundreds of fans wait in line to get a little face time with their hero, and rarely do they leave his booth disappointed. If Frank senses a hint of dismay, he says, he tries to rectify it within seconds, with an extra autograph or an impromptu photo, free of charge. If a family with three children walks up, he might charge for one autograph but hand out signed pictures to all three of the kids. Some con-going celebrities require a purchase to get one on one time with them; Frank doesn’t go for that.
“If you come to my table, whether you get something or you don’t, I want to take care of you,” Frank said. “That’s always kind of been my motto from day one.”
You’d think having been on the regular convention circuit for 10 years would exhaust the 48-year-old actor and martial artist, but he comes across as vigorous as ever about meeting his fans, which number in the millions, based on his social-media following. Frank considers con-going a luxury in juxtaposition to his actual jobs — running his martial arts schools in California and Texas and, most recently, promoting his upcoming feature film, “Legend of the White Dragon.” It’s an action film visually inspired by “Power Rangers” and other Japanese tokusatsu shows that preceded it, but while “Legend” is Power Rangers-like, its tone and intended audience are much older than the 5-to-7 year-old eyes that show is after, says Frank. He’s as well-versed in the differences as anyone; he’s appeared in 236 of the show’s 900-plus episodes, more than any actor who’s portrayed a Power Ranger, and all three movies based on the property.
“Legend of the White Dragon,” in which Mayling Ng (“Suicide Squad), David Ramsey (“Arrow) and mark Dacascos (“John Wick 3”) are set to appear, has finished filming and is scheduled for release in March 2023, and could possibly have one of its first screenings at next year’s LexCon. It’d be fitting, since that’s where Frank somewhat got bit by the “comic con” bug. He’d appeared at some Power Rangers-focused conventions and anime conventions, but the inaugural Lexington show was Frank’s dive headfirst into the comic-con scene. He was the headliner at that show and has attended almost every one of them since.
He considers con promoter Jarrod Greer family. Frank looks forward to talking to Jarrod’s son about shoes when he gets to town; they both collect them.
“He’s a stand-up dude that’ll never do me wrong. And that’s hard to find, stand-up people who honor their word,” Frank said. “Jarrod has always honored his word. ... You don’t forget things like that. He introduced me to a unique world that’s turned into a huge hobby.”
This year’s Lexington Comic Con will be the 10th iteration. It’s a good bet that Frank will draw a large crowd of fans, a good chunk of whom have probably interacted with him before in Lexington. They come not just because he inspired them in their youth as a Power Ranger, but because he continues to do so. As he nears 50, it’s not through fighting evil space aliens but by simply being available in a way that few of his peers are, on social media and during in-person interactions.
Whether that meet-up lasts for a minute or an hour, his focus will be on making it memorable. And in that moment, he’ll only have eyes for you.
“For me, it’s an experience, and it’s not a fake experience,” Frank said. “ ... It’s not just about money. It’s about depositing in your emotional bank account. Just live life like that. Do good things and enjoy that moment.”
Lexington Comic and Toy Convention
When: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, March 24; Noon-8 p.m. Friday, March 25; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, March 26; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 27
Where: Central Bank Center, 430 W. Vine St.
Tickets: $30-$100
Online: lexingtoncomiccon.com
This story was originally published March 24, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
