The following contains spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin -- The Lost Years #1, on sale now from IDW Publishing.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin -- The Lost Years is how it acts as both a sequel and prequel. The Last Ronin focused on Michelangelo seeking revenge for his dead clan, hunting down Shredder's grandson, Hiroto, in New York. It led to a brutal war, which ended with the evil empire burning.
Sadly, Mikey died too, but the future was bright with April O'Neil and her daughter, Casey, caring for four new turtles. Now, Issue #1 (by Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, S.L. Gallant, Maria Keane, Ben Bishop, Shawn Lee and Luis Antonio Delgado) details the years after, with these babies training under Casey. While they have completely new identities moving forward, there are still nods to the original TMNT squad.
TMNT's Yi is a Donatello Pastiche
Yi is found helping her brother, Odyn, as he complains about a stomach ache. Although Odyn gets flak from another sibling, Yi upholds her compassionate and caring nature. She eventually asks for April's permission to go to the garage with a wrench and help out. Casey chides April's decision to let the exuberant Yi go, citing she'll destroy items, but April doesn't mind. This habit nods to Donatello, who was always breaking and fixing things. This implies that Yi may end up becoming a weapons and tech expert down the line.
TMNT's Odyn is a Reflection of Michelangelo
Mikey was definitely the runt of the pack, coming off as juvenile and like a baby at times. It was why Splinter and Raphael had to often discipline him, However, Leonardo encouraged his brother, which is remixed in how Yi aids Odyn. Interestingly, he doesn't seem interested in fighting, just like Yi, which explains why they're so close. Thus, it feels like Odyn is indeed a new spin on Mikey, leaving fans wondering if he'll become a liability like Mikey was in his early days.
TMNT's Uno is a Darker Version of Leonardo
Uno is the light-green one bullying Odyn about his weight. Despite his bad attitude, Casey still respects him. This hints that Uno might be the leader as he's agile, fit, and practicing tai chi while throwing verbal barbs. Clearly, he's the prodigy of the group, having no problem working on his own.
It's a dark spin on Leonardo, who was Splinter's best student, but one who actually showed compassion and empathy. Leo uplifted his brothers against villains like Krang, unlike Uno who comes from a place of ego. This is a huge change of pace because the old Turtles had a strong leader. Uno, on the other hand, feels like a flawed diva in the making, who'd want full respect without earning it.
TMNT's Moja is a Raphael and Jennika Remix
Moja initially pokes fun at how Odyn is always hungry. However, he turns on Uno for taking these jokes way too far. They end up pushing each other around, affirming that Moja is the female Raphael. After all, he didn't like anyone who picked on Mikey, except for himself. This similarity could possibly set the new turtles up for a petty rivalry.
Just like Raphael, Moja is hot-headed and a loner. While Moja is incredibly similar to him, she is also a spin on the female turtle Jennika, a strong, no-nonsense fighter. Ultimately, this teases a conflict down the line with Moja and Uno fighting to see who's the alpha, paying homage once more to Leonardo and Raphael.