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TMNT: The Last Ronin
- Writer:
- Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird
- Artist:
- Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, Esau Escorza, Kevin Eastman
- Letterer:
- Shawn Lee
- Cover Artist:
- Esau Escorza, Isaac Escorza, Kevin Eastman
- Publisher:
- IDW Publishing
- Price:
- $29.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-06-29
- Colorist:
- Samuel Plata, Luis Antonio Delgado
The 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series kicked off Turtlemania. The Heroes in a Half-Shell became household names as kids everywhere enthusiastically shouted catchphrases while playing with the action figures and video games and dressing as the four mutant brothers while enjoying some delicious pizza. Master Splinter's sons were known for silly fun, but before the lighthearted approach took over the planet, the Ninja Turtles made their debut in a 1984 comic book that had a darker tone with more bloodshed: Mirage Studios' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.
Now, IDW Publishing has returned to the Ninja Turtles' original tone in TMNT: The Last Ronin, a five-issue limited series featuring a story by TMNT co-creators Eastman and Laird, script by Eastman and Tom Waltz, pencils and inks by Esau Escorza, Ben Bishop, and Isaac Escorza, layouts by Eastman, colors by Luis Antonio Delgado (with assistance by Samuel Plata and Ronda Pattison), and letters by Shawn Lee.
After a brutal ambush that presumably killed all of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and their allies, the Foot Clan is victorious. Karai's son -- and Shredder's grandson -- has taken control of New York and turned it into a high-tech authoritarian landscape patrolled by cybernetic troops. But there's one thing the descendant of Oroku Saki doesn't know: One Turtle -- the Last Ronin -- is still standing and vows to finish the war between families once and for all, at any cost.
First and foremost, this is a review of the hardcover collection, which means the reading experience is extremely different from the single issues' delayed publishing schedule. This series features the violent and emotional deaths of several fan-favorite characters. So some readers might appreciate having a relatively long wait between issues, allowing them to properly reflect on what they've read. With the hardcover, you're experiencing the action-packed and fast-pasted story all at once, experiencing the death of beloved characters back-to-back. Now, that's not a bad or good thing -- it's an entirely subjective experience -- but it's one that's worth noting because of the unique way the single issues were released and the strong emotional connection many readers will have to the story. Then again, who's saying someone has to read the hardcover in one sitting? You now have the option to experience this tale at your own leisure.
Whenever a comic features multiple artists, there are understandable concerns about it being a jarring experience as the pages jump between different styles. Thankfully, The Last Ronin utilizes multiple artists to represent different time periods and settings, so there's no jarring jump between styles during a single scene (as far as this reviewer can tell, at least). Seeing new interior pages from Eastman -- even if they are limited -- is such a joy and really enhances the experience, letting the full history of the turtles sink in further. The Escorzas and Bishop do the script justice, filling the pages with action choreography that's exciting and impactful while also delivering on the more heartfelt and human moments in this dark story. Meanwhile, Delgado, Plata, and Pattison's colors perfectly complement the tone of the tale, whether it's the glow of the neon lights in the city, an explosive clash in the subway, or the grimy sewers. Last but not least, Lee's lettering is easy to follow and does an effective job emphasizing the passion behind what the characters are saying, properly bringing the more heated and personal moments to life.
The hardcover collection looks and feels great. It really is an obvious purchase for any TMNT fan, but the collection could've used more bonus content. It features a two-page introduction by Robert Rodriguez, a one-page afterword by Eastman, and a cover gallery. These are all wonderful additions (especially reading Eastman's letter after the ending), but for a story this significant to fans of the franchise, it seems like a missed opportunity to not include an extra look at character designs, concept art, process pages, and other fun behind-the-scenes material to celebrate this story that was 30 years in the making.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is a love letter to the roots of the franchise and The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, Lynn Varley, and John Costanza -- elaborating on the latter could lead to some small spoilers, but the inspiration and appreciation for the other hit from the '80s are clearly there. The Last Ronin is full of fan service for people who loved the original Ninja Turtles while also remaining accessible to fans who missed out on the original era. Whether you've been a shell head since day one or a newer fan following IDW's ongoing series, The Last Ronin hardcover deserves a spot in your comic collection.