Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin Review
The five-issue comic book miniseries, ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin’ is a near masterpiece. Released in October 2020 and ending in April 2022, the Last Ronin takes a look into the future for the turtles. Written by both Kevin Eastman and Tom Walts, this comic series tells the tale of the last of the remaining Ninja Turtles.
Set sixteen years into the future one remaining Ninja turtle seeks revenge on Hamato clan one final time. The Last Ronin is broken down into five issues. Part 1: Wish for Death, Part 2: First to Fall, Part 3: Fight or Flight, Part 4: Blood in Snow, and Part 5: the Last Ronin. Each issue follows the story of the remaining turtle. The reader is taken down a wild ride through loss, depression, revenge, and the importance of family. We are introduced to some new faces as well as future versions of familiar faces.
The Last Ronin amplifies the dark and grittiness that the Ninja Turtles have been known for which is something that makes this comic stand out. Each battle between characters is gruesome with body parts being severed and many foot clan casualties. Each issue in the miniseries is packed with action and great story telling that will make you want to keep reading. Each battle is designed masterfully by the artist. There are sequences where the reader feels as if they are there watching everything unfold.
For those who are skeptical about reading a Ninja Turtles comic with only one turtle, do not worry. Eastman and Walts write this story in such a great way that the Turtles always feel like they are still there. They are gone but the remaining turtle is still in the mind of the Last Ronin. As well as flashbacks that include the turtles. There may be one turtle left but the way this story is told makes it feel as if they are not gone.
It is really interesting to see where the future takes the Turtles after growing up with them. For those who are a fan of the Ninja Turtles, this comic miniseries is a great read. With only five issues it may be quick, but it is packed with brutal action and great story telling. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is a must read.
