WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin #2 by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, Tom Waltz, Esau, Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, Samuel Plata, Luis Antonio Delgado and Shawn Lee, on sale now.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been iconic characters ever since their introduction to the comic book scene all the way back in 1984. Becoming a household name is no easy feat, but the Turtles have made it look that way with their acrobatic rooftop brawls and laid back attitude. Unfortunately, the future doesn't look nearly as bright as the better part of their career, and the world of The Last Ronin is undoubtedly one of the darkest that any of the heroes have been through yet. As harsh as the environment is, it does get better with time, especially when you get nothing but stronger in your old age.
Michelangelo has been through hell and back more than once since the fall of the Splinter Clan so many years ago. Not only has he braved foreign elements high in the mountains during his self-imposed exile, he pushed through the toxic waters and cybernetic Foot Clan ninjas surrounding and stalking New York City in his quest for vengeance. Cybernetic soldiers were simple enough for Mikey to dispatch, but a horde of Mousers led by one his own size were enough to take him out of the fight, almost permanently. After narrowly escaping the pursuing Foot, Michelangelo was rescued by a curious stranger after passing out. When he wakes, Mikey is back in his old lair and greeted with a friendly face, even if it is a bit worse for the wear.
April O'Neil isn't the only one looking a little rough around the edges, and she is happy to tell Michelangelo as much when they finally get the opportunity to catch up. While April makes them breakfast, she remarks on his attempt to take down Oroku Hiroto, Karai's son and current leader of the Foot. Michelangelo isn't happy that he failed to kill Oroku, but he and April are both glad he survived. Mikey admits that he isn't sure how that happened, saying that the fall he took would have killed him in his youth. He's right, of course, though April can see exactly why he pulled through, and Michelangelo would too if he stopped to look in a mirror once in a while.
April tells Michelangelo that his mutation has clearly progressed, though it's understandable that Mikey himself hasn't noticed the change. He's bigger than before, stronger, and healing faster than ever. The Turtles became far more than what they began as when first exposed to the mutagen ooze that originally transformed them, and while the Turtles have traveled through time on plenty of occasions, they've never really taken a dive into their own physiology or how it could progress. The fact that Mikey's mutation has only continued bodes well for him going forward considering just what it is that he's up against, though it also opens up the possibility of a deadly encounter down the line. If Michelangelo isn't the only elder mutant prowling the city, he could be staring down another fight he just can't win.