He didn't want the job. Most Power Rangers start their journey with a sense of duty or a colorful "teenagers with attitude" vibe, but Dillon, the Power Rangers RPM Black Ranger, literally drove out of a wasteland and told the heroes to get lost. It was a complete shift for the series. Power Rangers RPM aired in 2009 during a period where the franchise was facing potential cancellation, and that desperation birthed something gritty, weird, and surprisingly deep.
Dillon wasn't just another guy in spandex. He was a cyborg with amnesia, a leather-jacket-wearing loner who was more interested in finding his sister than saving the world from a sentient computer virus. He’s the reason RPM feels more like Mad Max than Mighty Morphin.
The Man Behind the Muscle: Who is Dillon?
Played by Dan Ewing, Dillon is arguably the most complex individual to ever wear the Black Ranger helmet. We first meet him in the "Road to Corinth" pilot, driving a black muscle car through a desert filled with Venjix's robotic "Grinders." He’s got these mechanical implants in his body that he doesn't remember getting. Honestly, it’s a terrifying premise for a kids' show. Imagine waking up and realizing your body is slowly being taken over by the very villain trying to wipe out humanity.
That’s the stakes Dillon lives with every single day.
His character isn't defined by optimism. He’s cynical. He’s prickly. When the other Rangers are busy trying to be "team players," Dillon is usually in the garage fixing his car or brooding over a musical locket. This locket is the only link to his past. It plays a haunting melody that eventually connects him to Tenaya 7, one of the primary antagonists. The revelation that Tenaya is his long-lost sister is one of the most effective "Big Reveals" in the history of the show, mainly because it feels earned through episodes of genuine character development.
Why the Power Rangers RPM Black Ranger Design Stands Out
The suit design in RPM is... polarizing. Let’s be real. Since the footage was adapted from the Japanese Super Sentai series Engine Sentai Go-onger, which was very car-themed and upbeat, the US writers had to work overtime to make the "Wolf Cruiser" aesthetic match the dark, post-apocalyptic tone of the show.
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Dillon’s Black Ranger suit features a wolf motif on the helmet. It looks aggressive. It fits his "lone wolf" persona perfectly, even if the eyes on the helmet are a bit bug-like. His primary weapon is the Rocket Blaster, and his personal Zord is the Wolf Cruiser. When you see that black muscle car-inspired Zord charging through the digital landscape of the series, it carries a weight that the more "toy-etic" seasons lack.
The Invincibility Shield
One of the coolest things about the Power Rangers RPM Black Ranger is his specific power set. Every Ranger in RPM has a "Bio-Field" ability. Dillon’s is the Invincibility Shield. For about five seconds, he can project a golden energy barrier that makes him completely untouchable. It sounds overpowered, but the writers used it smartly. It’s a defensive move for a guy who spent his whole life being attacked by internal and external demons. It also drains him. He can't just keep it on forever, which adds a layer of strategy to the fight scenes that you don’t always get in other seasons.
The Venjix Virus and the Internal Clock
What really separates Dillon from someone like Zack or Adam (the OGs) is the ticking time bomb in his veins. The Venjix virus is actively trying to convert him into a machine. Throughout the season, we see the physical toll. His eyes change. He loses control of his limbs. There’s an episode called "Control-Alt-Delete" where the virus nearly wins.
This wasn't just a plot device for one week. It was a season-long arc about the loss of humanity. Kids watching the show were actually confronted with the idea of a hero losing his "soul" to technology. It made his bond with Summer, the Yellow Ranger, even more poignant. She was the one who saw the human beneath the chrome. Their relationship is one of the few instances in Power Rangers where a romance feels like it actually has stakes, rather than just being a "will-they-won't-they" filler plot.
The Performance of Dan Ewing
We have to talk about Dan Ewing’s acting. Usually, Power Rangers acting is... let’s call it "energetic." It’s theater-style, meant for younger kids. Ewing went the opposite direction. He played Dillon with a quiet, simmering intensity. He used a lot of silence. He used his eyes. He made the Black Ranger feel like a real person trapped in a bizarre situation.
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Ewing’s chemistry with the rest of the cast—especially Ari Boyland (Flynn) and Milo Cawthorne (Ziggy)—is what makes RPM work. The bromance between Dillon and Ziggy is legendary. You have this brooding, indestructible warrior paired with a clumsy, talkative mob-affiliate-turned-hero. It shouldn't work. It sounds like a bad sitcom. Yet, it provides the heart of the series. Dillon acts like he hates Ziggy, but we all know he'd drive into the heart of the Venjix base to save him. (And he basically does).
Misconceptions About the RPM Black Ranger
A lot of people think Dillon was the leader because he had the most screentime. He wasn't. Scott Truman (Red Ranger) was the leader, and that friction was a huge part of the show's dynamic. Scott was the military man; Dillon was the rogue.
Another misconception is that Dillon is "the same" as the Sentai counterpart, Gunpei Ishihara. They couldn't be more different. Gunpei was a former police officer who was a bit of a goofball and obsessed with being "cool." Dillon is a tragic figure in a leather jacket. If you watch the Japanese source material, the tonal whiplash is enough to give you a headache. It's a testament to the RPM writing staff that they could take "funny car rangers" and turn it into a story about the end of the world.
Why RPM Almost Didn't Happen
It’s crazy to think about, but Disney was ready to kill the show. They moved production to New Zealand and slashed budgets. The showrunners, including Eddie Guzelian (who was later replaced by Judd Lynn), decided that if they were going out, they were going out with a bang. They wrote the show for a slightly older audience. They meta-commented on the tropes—like why there’s a giant explosion behind the Rangers when they morph.
Dillon was the anchor for that "edgier" feel. Without the Power Rangers RPM Black Ranger being as cool as he was, the show might have just felt like a cheap knock-off. Instead, it’s now widely regarded by fans as one of the top three seasons in the 30-year history of the brand.
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Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of the Black Ranger, there are a few things you should know.
- The Lightning Collection Figure: Hasbro released an RPM Black Ranger figure in their Lightning Collection. It's one of the better-sculpted figures, capturing Dan Ewing’s likeness fairly well. If you’re a collector, look for the version with the civilian head sculpt.
- Streaming: As of 2026, the rights for streaming Power Rangers shift around, but RPM is frequently available on the official Power Rangers YouTube channel. It is worth a rewatch in high definition just to see the cinematography, which used a lot of "shaky cam" and desaturated colors to sell the wasteland vibe.
- The Comics: Boom! Studios has integrated the RPM world into their massive "Shattered Grid" and "Beyond the Grid" comic events. Dillon doesn't always get the spotlight, but the lore of the Venjix virus (which eventually connects to other seasons like Beast Morphers) is expanded heavily there.
Dillon's story is one of identity. He spent the whole season asking "Who am I?" and "Where do I come from?" only to realize that those questions didn't matter as much as "What am I going to do now?"
He chose to be a hero when his programming told him to be a monster. That’s why, even years later, when people talk about the greatest characters in the franchise, the Black Ranger from Corinth is always at the top of the list. He wasn't just a pilot of a Wolf Cruiser; he was the soul of a dying world.
To fully appreciate the character, watch the "Endgame" two-part finale. Pay attention to how Dillon handles the final confrontation with the virus. It’s not about a big flashy finishing move. It’s about a brother trying to save his sister while his own mind is falling apart. It’s heavy stuff for a "kids' show," and it’s exactly why we’re still talking about it today.
Check out the episode "Ranger Black" specifically for his origin story, and if you're looking for the best crossover, the Beast Morphers episode "Game On" provides some fascinating connective tissue to the Venjix/Dillon era that any long-time fan will appreciate.