By Kris Markl — Comic book readers can be a loyal and consistent bunch. For some, the same characters and titles remain always on their pull lists, riding the waves of the continuing infinite storylines. But every so often, there comes an event or story that shakes the metaphorical table and changes the game. For example, Jonathan Hickman’s House of X/Powers of X ushered in a completely new era for the X-Men franchise in 2019. DC Comics shook up their entire publishing line in 2011 with the New 52.

On a much smaller scale, The Last Ronin has had a similar impact for the TMNT comics. The current IDW Publishing TMNT series, which began in 2011, has been widely praised by fans of the franchise for consistent and continual high-quality content. Even so, when The Last Ronin #1 arrived on shelves in October 2020, it smacked the audience around, setting the fandom on fire (in a good way). Boasting a writing team of Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and Tom Waltz with the artistic army of Eastman, Ben Bishop, and Isaac and Esau Escorza, The Last Ronin reads like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles magnum opus.

What Is The Last Ronin?

The fact that a five-issue limited comic book series can have a massive impact on a long-running IP is astounding. Modern audiences often binge an entire series in a matter of days, or even a single day in some cases. Yet, the slow trickle of releasing the individual comic book issues that make up this story over a nearly two year period may be part of Ronin’s path to success and acclaim.

The series has created a buzz amongst readers that are starved for the latest development in the story, almost feeling reminiscent of an era that is perhaps long gone, where we have no choice but to contemplate a story as we wait for the next chapters to come. It all feels a bit like appointment TV, like when a season finale leaves a giant cliffhanger lingering for the summer, just played out through a comic with a patient release schedule.

But what other elements of the book make it a must-read? At first glance, an outsider may liken it to something like Old Man Logan, a story in which an aged, grizzled veteran hero is on his last leg against a seemingly insurmountable foe set in a dystopian future. That comparison with The Last Ronin, however, is a surface value reading.

Logan/Wolverine has remained a perpetual loner throughout his history, with of course steady participation with the X-Men, yet even within the team, Logan remains prickly and somewhat isolated. Others have drawn comparisons to Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns and, while that is certainly more valid (Frank Miller was, after all, a major influence on the Eastman and Laird as they were creating the early Turtle’s comics), an aged Bruce Wayne’s character is very similar to that of a Logan. Batman has long been the dark and brooding vigilante of the night, his bonds with the other members of the Bat Family more sporadic than his personal angst.

The Last Ronin, by comparison, features an aged version of Michelangelo, which is an important distinction when you start comparing this story to books like Old Man Logan or The Dark Knight Returns. The simple premise that Michelangelo — the fun-loving, naïve, eternally-optimistic party dude — would be the last surviving member of the TMNT family, irrevocably changed by the murder of his brothers, his father, and closest friends, is fascinating. While Logan and Bruce’s stories remain relatively steady with their ideas and their angsty tones throughout their respective publication histories, The Last Ronin instead delivers a radical shift in character development for Mikey. Long gone is the effervescent positivity of his youth, as he becomes the reluctant sensei for the upstart, spunky Casey Marie Jones (daughter to April and Casey).

The Last Ronin Creators and Characters

Adding to the mystique and excitement around the series is the inclusion of both TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, as the inspiration for The Last Ronin comes from an unused idea that the two generated in the 1980s, a time period that ushered in many of the formative ideas for the franchise. It should come as no surprise that this series likens itself to the original mood and motif of the darker and more mature Mirage Comics, as it was originally planned out by Eastman and Laird before the success of the cartoon and the tone of the property permanently shifted. While Laird, who has remained semi-retired for quite some time, is not directly involved with the creative process of The Last Ronin, he did give his blessing for the rest of the team to move forward with the project.

Also at the heart of this series are the core themes of legacy, honor, and tradition. Michelangelo, as the last surviving member of his family, is determined to avenge the deaths of his father and brothers at the hands of the new leader of the Foot Clan: Oroku Hiroto, the son of Karai and grandson of Saki/Shredder. Hiroto has turned into a megalomaniacal despot, bending the whole of New York City to his rule. The comparisons to Kylo Ren are undeniable here, the grandson who believes that his commitment, as well as his skill and abilities, strongly supersede that of his infamous and iconic grandfather.

Casey Marie perfectly encapsulates these ideals as well in her own way. Much like her father before her, she takes to the streets to enact vigilante justice in favor of the everyday people suffering under Hiroto’s maniacal rule. She has inherited the quick wit and intelligence of her mother April, at times much to April’s chagrin. But perhaps the most fascinating development of Casey (and maybe even the series as a whole) is her augmented abilities, which were passed down genetically after her parents’ long-time exposure to their mutagen-empowered pals.

This all adds up to an entertaining cast of characters that each bring their own contributions to this story. It’s important, too. As good as the concept of a future Michelangelo being the last turtle standing is, the supporting cast is a big part of what elevates this comic into something truly special, creating the effect we discussed earlier where each new issue feels like an event.

This is all easy to look back on now, with this storyline basically at its end. The Last Ronin #5 - the finale of the series - is set to be released on April 27, 2022. The anticipation for how the story and these characters will be resolved has Turtle fans captivated. Will Mikey be able to avenge the loss of his family and simultaneously take down the evil empire that Hiroto has built? What will become of these characters after the final blow is landed? Built on the hard-shelled backs of fascinating character growth and development, time-tested themes and motifs, a heart-wrenching storyline and incredible visuals, The Last Ronin delivers in every way, giving us a new TMNT classic to read in real time.

Order The Last Ronin:

• The Last Ronin Hardcover (set for release on July 5, 2022)

Where to start with TMNT comics in 2022

Kris is an educator by day and a podcaster by nights and weekends. He co-hosts a weekly nerd/pop culture podcast called The Nerd Byword and can also be heard as a contributor of mutant-centric madness on the glorious podcast X of Words, hosted by the one and only Ashley Alleyne.