TMNT Last Ronin

TMNT: The Last Ronin is one of the most popular and acclaimed comic book series of recent years. It tells the story of a dark and dystopian future where only one of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has survived. In this blog post, I will give you an overview of the series, its origins, its themes, and its impact on the TMNT fandom.

The Origins of The Last Ronin

The Last Ronin is based on an original idea that TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird had back in 1987, shortly after the success of their first comic book series. They envisioned a story where one of the turtles, wearing a black mask and wielding all four weapons, would seek revenge on the Foot Clan for killing his brothers and master Splinter. However, they never got around to writing or drawing the story, and it remained in their files for decades.

In 2020, Eastman and Laird decided to revisit their old concept and collaborate for the first time in many years. They teamed up with writer Tom Waltz and artists Esau & Isaac Escorza and Ben Bishop to create a five-issue miniseries that would bring their vision to life. The series was published by IDW, which has been producing TMNT comics since 2011.

The Story of The Last Ronin

The Last Ronin is set in the year 2040, in a New York City that has been taken over by the Foot Clan and its ruthless leader, Oroku Hiroto, the grandson of Shredder. The only surviving turtle, who is revealed to be Michelangelo, has been living in hiding for years, haunted by the memories of his fallen family. He decides to embark on a suicide mission to infiltrate the Foot headquarters and kill Hiroto, hoping to end his pain and honor his brothers.

However, things don’t go as planned, and Mikey is captured and tortured by Hiroto’s forces. He is rescued by an unlikely ally: April O’Neil, who has also survived the Foot’s onslaught and has been leading a resistance movement against them. Along with her daughter Casey Marie Jones (named after her late husband Casey Jones), April helps Mikey recover from his wounds and gives him a new purpose: to fight for a better future.

As Mikey continues his quest for vengeance, he also learns more about what happened to his brothers and how they died. He discovers that each of them had a different fate: Leonardo was killed by Hiroto himself in a brutal duel; Raphael was betrayed and murdered by his former friend Casey Jones, who had joined the Foot; Donatello sacrificed himself to save April and Casey from a bomb; and Splinter died of old age, leaving Mikey alone.

Mikey also encounters other familiar faces from his past, such as Karai, who is now Hiroto’s mother and the leader of a rival faction of the Foot; Baxter Stockman, who is now a cyborg working for Hiroto; and Jennika, who was once a human ninja turned into a turtle by a blood transfusion from Leonardo. He also meets new allies, such as Jonesy, a young hacker who helps him infiltrate Hiroto’s tower; and Hiroto’s son Yoshiro, who rebels against his father’s tyranny.

The series culminates in an epic showdown between Mikey and Hiroto at the top of the Foot tower, where Mikey finally avenges his brothers by killing Hiroto with Leonardo’s katana. However, he also suffers a fatal wound in the process, and dies peacefully in April’s arms. In his final moments, he sees his brothers’ spirits welcoming him to join them.

The series ends with a hopeful epilogue, where April reveals that she has been raising four new mutant turtles with Yoshiro’s help. These turtles are named after Mikey’s favorite artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael Sanzio, Donatello Bardi, and Michelangelo Buonarroti. They are trained by Jennika and Jonesy in the ways of ninjutsu and honor their predecessors’ legacy. The series ends with the four young turtles shouting their trademark catchphrase: “Cowabunga!”

The Themes of The Last Ronin

The Last Ronin is a story that explores themes such as family, loss, grief, revenge, redemption, hope, and legacy. It shows how Mikey deals with his trauma and loneliness after losing everything he loved. It also shows how he finds new meaning and strength in his friendship with April and her daughter. It also shows how he faces his enemies with courage and determination, even when he knows he has nothing left to lose.

The Last Ronin is also a story that pays tribute to the history and evolution of the TMNT franchise. It references various elements from different incarnations of the turtles, such as their original comic book origins, their 1987 animated series, their 1990 live-action movie, their 2003 animated series, their 2012 animated series, and their 2018 animated series. It also features Easter eggs and nods to other pop culture icons, such as Batman, Star Wars, Blade Runner, and more.

The Last Ronin is also a story that challenges and subverts the expectations of the TMNT fandom. It reveals Mikey as the last surviving turtle, which is surprising given that he is usually portrayed as the most lighthearted and fun-loving of the four. It also shows how Mikey changes and matures over the years, becoming darker and more serious, but also more compassionate and heroic. It also shows how the other turtles met their ends, which are tragic and shocking, but also fitting to their personalities and arcs.

The Impact of The Last Ronin

The Last Ronin has been a huge success for IDW and the TMNT franchise. It has received critical acclaim from fans and critics alike, who have praised its story, art, characters, and tone. It has also sold very well, becoming one of IDW’s best-selling titles ever. The first issue alone sold over 130,000 copies1, making it the highest-selling single issue in IDW’s history2. The series has also spawned various spin-offs and merchandise, such as action figures, posters, t-shirts, and more.

The Last Ronin has also inspired a video game adaptation, which is currently in development by Paramount Global. The game will be a third-person action role-playing game that will follow the story of the comic series. It will be aimed at an older audience and will feature a darker and more mature tone. The game will be similar to Sony’s God of War titles in terms of gameplay and style3.

The Last Ronin has also influenced the future of the TMNT franchise in other media. A new animated movie is in the works by Nickelodeon and Netflix, which will be based on the 2018 animated series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The movie will feature a time-traveling plot that will bring together different versions of the turtles from across the multiverse4. The movie will also feature elements from The Last Ronin, such as Mikey’s black mask and all four weapons5.

The Last Ronin is a remarkable series that has redefined the TMNT franchise for a new generation of fans. It is a dark and gritty story that honors the past while looking forward to the future. It is a story that shows how one turtle can make a difference in a world gone mad. It is a story that proves that cowabunga never dies.

To celebrate the Last Ronin, in November of 2023 NECA will be releasing a limited collector figure - 7" Ultimate Raphael which you can purchase for your collection here.

Happy Collecting!