The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been around for 38 years and are going as strong as always. However, The Last Ronin might be the best story yet from TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. With the help from writer Tom Waltz, artists Esau & Isaac Escorza and Ben Bishop, The Last Ronin is an end to the Turtle world while in the style and writing from the early Turtle days.
In a future, battle-ravaged New York City, a lone surviving Turtle embarks on a seemingly hopeless mission seeking justice for the family he lost. What terrible events destroyed his family and left New York a crumbling, post-apocalyptic nightmare? All will be revealed in this climactic Turtle tale that sees longtime friends becoming enemies and new allies emerging in the most unexpected places. Can the surviving Turtle triumph?
The Last Ronin is an original idea from many years ago from the minds of co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The story they wanted to tell at the end of their time with the Turtles. The duo enlisted the help of Tom Waltz to create a gritty and action-packed story that delves deep into the darker side of the TMNT universe.
While the story is rock solid, the artwork stands strong. With glimpses of Kevin Eastman artwork that we have all come to expect in the Turtles, but also great main artwork by the Escorza Brothers. However, the standout artist in this series has got to be Ben Bishop. His line work and over style works so well in the world of the Turtles. He might be one of the best to ever draw the heroes in a half shell. The big thing is that all the different artwork and colors from Luis Antonio Delgado blends together seamlessly over the entire series to create a visually stunning experience.
The Last Ronin is not a typical Turtles book, the creative team delves into complex themes such as loss, betrayal and redemption. The story is dark and gritty just the original Mirage stories were meant to be. The storytelling by Eastman, Laird, and Waltz is masterful, keeping readers on edge with unexpected twists and turns that leave them eagerly anticipating what would happen next.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is not your kids version of the Turtles with dark and gritty themes with plenty of action. The storyline is engaging and the artwork is tremendous. This five-part series is one of the best to come out of the Turtles world and cannot wait for more from this storyline and creative team.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin collected edition hardcover is available at bookstores everywhere from IDW Publishing.
TMNT: The Last Ronin HC Preview
