TMNT The Last Ronin COMPLETE Comic Set 1-5 W/ Rated Comics Backer

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin (Collections)

by Peter Laird

The Greatest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Story Ever Told. You won't be able to put this down once you pick it up and give it a read. The complete story of The Last Ronin Issue numbers 1-5. Each comic comes individually packaged with its own Rated Comics Backer. You will have an epic and awesome read. It's the TMNT event of 2020! Springing from the minds of TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird comes an epic like you've never seen before! In a future NYC far different than the one we know today, a lone surviving Turtle goes on a seemingly hopeless mission to obtain justice for his fallen family and friends. Kinetic layouts from Eastman, inks from Esau and Isaac Escorza and a thrilling script full of surprises from longtime TMNT scribe Tom Waltz all combine to make this one of the most memorable TMNT stories you will ever read! Oversized in both format and page count, this is a perennial TMNT tale that can't be missed!"

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

250 pages, Comic

First published July 5, 2022

About the author

Peter Alan Laird is an American comic book writer and artist. He is best known for co-creating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with writer and artist Kevin Eastman.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: Poignant fights if villain-light (the foe is fairly blah), no peace of mind, just ties that bind, all weighty, rough and raw.

*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #1-3 ◦ Issues #4-5

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We were always so different. So much alike. I miss my brothers. So much. And I miss my father. More than anything else, I wanted to make him proud. In the end...too little, too late. Story of my life."

I usually don’t do re-reviews of books a little over a month after reading the single issues, but I already had the hardcover pre-ordered at my LCS and it ended up coming a week earlier than expected so this section will mainly be about the quality of that newly released hardcover for those interested in it. I have nothing more to say on the quality of the story itself, so for those interested my full review of the series can be found down below. And after this reread, I still stand by everything I said in that initial review.

As for the OHC (Oversized Hardcover) itself, I was surprised when this arrived, since it’s actually of pretty high quality. It’s one of the better hardcovers I’ve purchased recently, on top of being the most high-quality one IDW has ever printed by far. It makes sense, as this is their most popular book ever, but IDW’s hardcovers usually feel super cheap and have tons of issues (i.e. pages falling out, glue binding coming undone, etc.), so it was nice they actually spent money on this one!

My main problem with recent hardcovers I’ve gotten this year (i.e. Batman Reptilian, Static Season One, and Strange Adventures) is there is always a cover break between issues, and believe me, I get why companies (mainly DC) do this, but it’s still super distracting and messes up the reading experience for me. I’ve always stated hardcovers like this should just have a cover gallery in the back and print the issues one after the other, so thank you IDW for doing exactly that with this book. Each issue flows into the next seamlessly, with the reader being able to tell when the next issue is up by title cards at the start of each issue.

The book starts with an introduction from Robert Rodriguez, and finishes with an afterword from Kevin Eastman. Both of those are good, but Kevin Eastman’s is clearly the better of the two since this project was years in the making for him and he takes the time to thank his collaborators for their hard work over the years. There’s also a cover gallery in the back featuring all of the main covers and a select few variants. I do wish they had a couple more variants and extras printed in here, like some of the sketches from the Design Archive issue, but this is still great.

I would recommend stretching the spine before reading the book itself though, especially since the spine is sewn together and not glued. Sewn binding is better than glue any day of the week, but you don’t want to mess up your nice binding either by not breaking it in properly, so just stretch it out like you would any omnibus. The book itself is about half an inch taller than the other IDW TMNT Hardcovers, but it also doesn’t seem to have problems with pages falling out like those OHCs did. I’ll update this review if that at all changes though. The only negative I can think of is the slight gutter loss, but that isn't too big of a deal saying there aren't tons of splash pages throughout this.

This hardcover is an easy recommendation for longtime fans of TMNT, and worth buying at cover price for said fans. Fans of the IDW ongoing should also pull the trigger on this hardcover. It’s done by the same creative team and looks great next to the other TMNT OHCs, even if it’s half an inch taller than them. Newcomers should be able to find something enjoyable out of this book, but maybe wait for a sale before diving into this one if you are more on the fence about the Turtles. Either way, this is a fantastic hardcover collection that is well worth any TMNT fans' time at the $30 cover price.

DISCLAIMER: This spiel above was written after having reread the series again in the newly released hardcover.

The original review can be found below:

In a future NYC far different from the one we know today, the last surviving Turtle goes on a seemingly hopeless mission to obtain justice for his fallen family and friends. Spanning decades, Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird finally reunite on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle comic to explore what exactly happened all those years ago to set the Ronin on this quest for vengeance, as horrors of the past are slowly revealed and we begin to discover what happened to lead to this nightmarish future. Will the Ronin be able to find some measure of peace, or is he fated to meet the same end as his brothers?

The main talking point (i think?) about this story is that, as I mentioned before, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird reunite (kinda?) to tell a TMNT story they have been waiting to share for years, and thankfully it is actually good. For those who aren’t aware, Eastman and Laird had a pretty bad falling out years ago and stopped speaking to each other for a while. It wasn’t until that Netflix show “The Toys that Made Us” that they finally got back on speaking terms, and at some point, Eastman decided to revive one of their lost pitches for an, and I quote, “Limited Edition Hardcover Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles GN”.

The first two pages for said pitch are actually available to read for anyone who grabs the Director’s Cut of this story’s first issue, and it is a treat. It’s WILDLY different from the final product we got here, with it being set 30 years after a confrontation between Raph and Splinter that ended with Raphael beating the shit out of Splinter, who then goes to die in Japan as the turtles end up going their separate ways until they are called back together by April and Honeycutt, who has been warned of impending doom from a dying Casey Jones. Obviously, some elements stay in from that, but this story as a whole was clearly overhauled drastically.

And just a warning for those wanting to read this for Peter Laird’s involvement, don’t get your hopes up too much, as he was barely involved in the creative process besides giving the team his blessing to look at his outline from ‘87. Peter Laird sadly isn’t all that into either TMNT or comic books in general anymore, hence why his only input in the story was his insanely detailed pitch, so Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz, the duo behind the first 100 issues of IDW’s TMNT ongoing series, ended up coming up with a reworked story using elements from Laird’s pitch. I will admit, it does suck Laird doesn’t script anything here, but it’s still so great seeing the two creators of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the same book again, even if Laird’s input was minimal at most.

The Story and Art:

Eastman & Waltz script all five issues and they are joined by a plethora of artists, with Esau Escorza & Isaac Escorza handling the pencils and inks, Ben Bishop helping on fill-in pages, coloring handled by Luis Antonio Delgado and Ronda Pattison, with Samuel Plata helping on colors when needed, and as always, Kevin Eastman handling layouts. Eastman also does both the pencils and inks for certain sequences that I won’t spoil here, and it’s awesome to see his work in a Turtles book again. It helps that it’s all very well done and fits perfectly within the context of the story. The rest of the art is fucking incredible too, with tons of detail filling up every single panel. Action scenes are spaced out nearly perfectly, as everything is easy-to-follow, and the artists make good use of this being a Mature Readers only series. None of the violence is anything too graphic, but it definitely earns its mature rating through its brutal action scenes.

The first and last issues deal entirely with the dystopian future, while the middle three issues chronicle how each of the other turtles and allies met their fate in the past. They are all gut-wrenching deaths that will be sure to crush long-time fans of the series, and each one feels like the proper way each of the turtles/allies would go out. I have seen some discussion that the turtle's deaths were “weak”, but they furthered the plot in a meaningful way, made sense in regard to how each turtle acts, and thankfully aren’t too gratuitous. I think they were fine but to each their own. The future NYC that is depicted is also pretty awesome and well-thought-out, with the Design Archive and Director’s Cut for #1 actually detailing how the creative team came up with all this. My favorite part of this future has to be all the weird-ass Mousers that come from it, as they are some of the wildest versions of those creatures I have ever seen. The artists do an amazing job with rendering each one, and everything I said about their work in the last category still stands. Eastman's layouts are great and all, but this story works so well because this team of pencilers and colorists are doing an incredible job of bringing this dystopian NYC to life.

Gripes:

While I love this book, it isn’t perfect by any means, with my two main criticisms being the release schedule of the individual issues and the main villain. I can’t deny that the constant delays didn’t take the steam out of this book, because they did. It took close to two years for 5 issues to come out, but thankfully the series manages to live up to the hype of said wait, for me at least. I know some who feel this book kinda just landed flat when it should have been something bigger, and that's completely fine to have that opinion, but I do think the hardcover coming out soon will change things up for some. Reading this all in one go is definitely the best way to experience this story. The main complaint I have with this whole book is the villain, Oroku Hiroto, grandson of Shredder and son of Karai, as he really isn’t all that strong of an antagonist. I mean, he gets the job done and makes the most sense in the context of the story, but he just can’t match the heights of other TMNT rogues like Shredder, Krang, or even Rat King.

I think the best comparison I can make is this character is very similar to Neil Kandy (Kandy Welding Co. dude) from El Camino: A Breaking Bad movie. Just like Hiroto, Neil gets the job done as the antagonist in the sense that he is the next logical foe for our protagonist to face off against, and he admittedly works fine in the context of the story and does in fact have a fucking sweet final showdown against Jesse Pinkman by the end, but he just isn’t nearly as engaging as someone like Lalo Salamanca, Gus Fring, or even Jack Welker and his Neo-Nazi gang. Like he works well enough, but he just didn’t have that extra oomph that really makes a villain memorable and enthralling. And that’s all Hiroto Saki was: just okay, like Neil from El Camino. Like Neil, Hiroto makes sense as the next logical foe for the Ronin to fight, and also does end up having a fucking sweet final showdown against the Last Ronin, but that’s about all he was good for. Hiroto’s monologues were pretty corny and just too much at times, with one is issue #3 specifically that made me roll my eyes a bit. You can tell they are going for a cross between King Joffrey from Game of Thrones and Commodus from Gladiator, but he just isn’t nearly as compelling as either of those characters and just comes across as a crazy asshole drunk on power.

Final Thoughts:

Weak main villain and choppy release schedule aside, this is easily one of the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stories anyone can read. Even with its flaws, It’s such a solid story with kick-ass action, well-done emotional moments that will tug on the hearts of many, and an ending that is both satisfying on its own terms while also promising interesting developments down the line. This, as mostly everyone has said already, is the equivalent to Old Man Logan and TDKR for TMNT comics, and I’d recommend it to both old fans of TMNT and those who are new to the franchise. I think there is something here that new readers who have never touched a TMNT book can find some enjoyment out of, while those who have read the Mirage/Image/IDW runs or grew up watching the shows/movies will get potentially even more out of it. I hope this selling insanely well leads to more of these standalone TMNT stories in the vein of something like Black Label that DC has.

Other TMNT Recommendations:

If you are looking for more TMNT stories in a similar vein as this one, I’d recommend Soul’s Winter, Return to New York, or City at War. There also have technically been Last Ronin-esque stories in TMNT comics before, but they are very different from what we got here. The Tales of the TMNT Vol 1. Treasury Edition has an epilogue story to the last issue showing a blind Donatello alone in the future mourning the loss of his brothers, while Jim Lawson’s Vol 2. Mirage run shows a future where a mystery turtle has killed Splinter, and eventually, certain issues of the Vol. 2 run of Tales of the TMNT would show brief glimpses into other possible futures. If anyone wants to read those issues, they are in Tales of the TMNT (Vol 2.) #13-14, 25, 38, 40, 41, 45, 55, 69. And if you want more future turtles, you can check out Michelangelo Christmas Special, Plastron Cafe #1, and Puma Blues #20, which all have some cool glimpses into the future of the Mirage turtles. There’s even a fan comic, TMNT: Odyssey, by Andrew Modeen and longtime TMNT artist Jim Lawson, which is technically a sequel to the Mirage volumes that sees all the futuristic turtles from the Tales I mentioned earlier go on a multiversal adventure together. I haven’t read it in a while, but I remember it being really fun, and it should be available to read online for free to anyone interested.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 1 out of 5]

Set in a dystopian future where a major city is ruled over by thugs, the elderly but legendary hero returns for one last adventure - one last gasp to stand up to evil. Joining him is a young female sidekick, representing the future of justice - can the two of them bring hope to a bleak world? This is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Turtle Knight Returns!

That really is the concept behind The Last Ronin - a hackneyed TMNT version of Frank Miller’s mid-’80s Batman classic, The Dark Knight Returns. They even have a tank-like vehicle in the final act! Oy, it’s such a bad comic. And not for trying - and failing - to ape such a famous book, but because the story itself is so stilted and dull.

I’ve gotta go into SPOILERS for this nonsense guys, so there’s the warning. Really don’t waste your time with this crap though.

Manhattan is turned into a fortress - the walls are to combat the rising sea level, though we actually see nothing of the sort. But why is the US government seeding control of its largest, most iconic city with the most expensive real estate in the country to a Japanese cartoon supervillain??! It’s never explained and it’s representative of the shoddy world-building offered throughout.

The cartoonish supervillain in question is Hiroto, Shredder’s grandson, who does embarrassing things like monologuing in the rain and laughing maniacally to prove what a cliched bad guy he is. If you didn’t get how bad a bad guy he is, he appears in a robe via hologram to the citizens of New York a la Palpatine. Get it - he’s a VILLAIN, duuuuuuhhhh!

Hiroto’s just there for Mikey, the titular last ronin, to defeat because his brothers and father are dead, which we get via flashbacks - unimaginatively, they died fighting the enemies they’ve always fought, but lost to this time, because contrivance. It’s all to force a dark tone that’s never earned - but hey, that’s the tone of TDKR, right?? It really feels like if Zack Snyder were to write a Turtles comic, this would be the laughable end result.

It’s so riveting, reading pages of mindless action as Mikey throws himself at faceless legions of Foot Clan. What a memorable story - Turtles v Foot Clan. Never seen that before. Why did all of this happen - where’s Mikey been for 16 years? Up a mountain, meditating. Bravo. What ingenious storytelling. Golf claps all round.

April O’Neil’s also in this. She can do medical procedures, build anything, and is also an accomplished scientist in this book, all because the totally well-thought-out story needs her to do these things because there’s no-one else to do them. She was a journalist originally, wasn’t she…? Oh but anyone can become a doctor engineer scientist in no time guys, you just gotta move into the sewers and then it all magically happens.

I’m not a big Turtles fan so I didn’t get all the fanservice - like the robot thing at the end - but I remember Baxter Stockman. Another well-rounded thoughtful character… Just kidding. He’s ranting and raving like a mad scientist until he’s not. It really is such a predictable story. Everything you think will happen happens, and in the least interesting ways.

I appreciated the art team showing the different looks of the Turtles over the years, from the gritty mono-colour early years to the more colourful cartoony versions when they became world-famous to the darker, more adult looks they adopt in Mikey’s memory as he talks to them in the present.

The art doesn’t make the book any more compelling to read though and I was never the least bit interested in reading this childishly-rendered story that tries too hard to be dark and adult and falls far short of it because the writers simply aren’t up to the task. Boring and silly throughout, The Last Ronin isn’t just bad but it shows how limited this franchise is too.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good series. It's a return to the dark, gritty tone of the original Eastman and Laird comics. Set in the future, only one Turtle is still alive. We don't know which one at first as he now wears a black mask and carries all his brothers weapons in addition to his own. I like how the surviving brother has went eccentric and talks to his brothers. The story is very action oriented with flashbacks throughout the middle issues detailing what happened to the rest of the Hamato Clan. The only part that was a slight letdown was the villain. He was kind of generic.

I wasn't familiar with the Escorza brothers' art before, but it was fantastic. Kevin Eastman draws some of the flashback sequences too.

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this book. The hardcover, embossed picture at the front, the story, the different artworks all used at the right time and the action. I have been a Turtles fan since they were released as the Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles. I'm the UK. I do not like every incarnation of them (the Nickelodeon versions I did not like). I loved the bigger badder Ninja version of them. I was slightly disappointed in City at War when I saw this advertised. I thought it looked cool, but I was dubious. Does this deliver? Yes, it does!!!

The war between the Oroku/Foot and Hamato Clans has spanned generations. Now, the last surviving member of the Hamato family had come gor revenge on the lady Oroku and his army. It has been 16 years since the Hamato's were decimated. Making the last survivor a Ronin. What happened to his family? Where has he been? Can he do it alone?

On a personal note, this has always been my favourite Turtle, so I was extra glad he got the spotlight. Though the others also have their moments in the flashbacks. This has become my all-time faverite Turtles story. There are different artists and artwork on display for different parts of the story, and they are blended together perfectly.

The book starts a great introduction by Robert Rodriguez, finishes with an awesome afterwards original creater Kevin Eastman, and a full page cover gallery with varient covers. Which era of TMNT fan you are this is must have. I think every character was done justice. I am a happy fan.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixteen years ago, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had their final battle with The Foot Clan and lost. Now, the last Turtle is back and looking for payback...

I'm not the world's biggest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fan, but I was into the cartoon, the movies, and the Archie books in the late 1980s/early 1990s. People were talking this up on Twitter so I nabbed it.

Aside from some garbanzo spoiling the reveal of which Turtle The Last Ronin was, I enjoyed this quite a bit. Set in a dystopian future where the Foot Clan controls New York, the last of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles connects with some old friends and gears up for the final showdown with Iroku Hiroto, grandson of the Shredder.

The writing by Tom Waltz is poignant for a book about a humanoid turtle walking around kicking ass. I haven't read any of the IDW TMNT books but felt right at home. I felt sadness at the loss of Splinter and the other three turtles and a growing anticipation for the final battle with Iroku Hiroto.

The art by Esau & Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, and Luis Antonio Delgado was moody as hell. It was obviously computer colored but the coloring suited the story very well and wasn't overdone like I find a lot of computer coloring these days.

My only gripes with the book are that I found the storytelling a little awkward in places. There were a few times I had to reread a page or two to figure out what exactly I was looking at. I also thought the final battle could have been a little longer and Iroku Hiroto could have been a little more fleshed out. Overall, it was a great book, though.

Four out of five nunchaku.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO GOOD!

Its kinda like the dark knight returns of the TMNT and I had been looking forward to reading it for a couple years now and it was so worth it, the way the story is told of this lone ninja aka a Ronin and who he is and his history its amazingly well done and the emotional hook is there immediately and then you learn what happened in flashbacks and all, and it makes you cry again how this turtle has lost it all and one final mission to take down his nemesis: Oroku Hiroto and also maybe Baxter stockman and the return of April O'neil and a surprise yet welcoming character.

Its amazingly and its pure action and doesn't stop and also has the emotional moments to keep you hooked like I said and its a big payoff to long time reader of TMNT comics and really gets darker here but ends on such a solid note. Usually stories like this try to leave room open for a sequel but this one is like self-contained and its an epic ending for TMNT! If its the last TMNT story ever told, this is the best one to end one! Just perfect!

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

TMNT: The Last Ronin ist eine Sammlung von 5 Comics, der eigentlichen Erschaffer dieses Universums. In dieser dystopischen Zeit ist NYC ein Polizeistaat unter dem Footclan, beherrscht von einem weiteren Oroku-Clan-Mitglied. Der Krieg zwischen den Clans hat einen letzten Turtle, Michelangelo, zurückgelassen, der als letzter Krieger, Ronin, nach finaler Rache sucht. Es gibt eine Widerstandsbewegung mit alten und neuen Bekannten, die zusammen zum finalen Schlag ausholt.
Düster, dystopisch, traurig, gewaltig.
Als TMNT-Fan sind die Comics eher Neuland für mich und diese anderen Erzähluniversen faszinieren mich. Es ist allerdings wirklich beeindruckend die Originalen Muster zu sehen und die Visionen von Laird/Eastman mitzuerleben.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn!

Not sure what I was expecting but this was much better.

Kevin Eastman and team do an above average job of putting together an “Old Man Turtle” kind of story as we are in the near future but an ugly dystopian sort of setting. One of our favorite mutants is left but he can still talk to his brothers in his mind.

Our protagonist is back in the NYC underground and is looking for vengeance and some resolution. We have some very cool backstory and fun flashbacks and this story is also very readable. Not sure how they divvied up the writing and art tasks but this was solid throughout.

Good times.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

"The Last Ronin" series is a gripping and thrilling addition to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, offering a darker and more mature take on the beloved characters. Set in a dystopian future where only one turtle survives, (no spoilers) this tale dives deep into themes of loss, revenge, and the burden of legacy. The storytelling is both thrilling and emotionally resonant, with dynamic artwork that brings the intense action sequences to life. Fans of the Ninja Turtles will appreciate this fresh and compelling interpretation, while newcomers will find a captivating entry point into their world. It's a must-read for anyone seeking lots of action and depth in their graphic novels. -George B., SPL Teen Volunteer

[Corey Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. The story, the art, characters and more.

To be honest this probably would've gotten a 4 star for me, just for the idea. I mean, all they had to say was, "a tmnt adventure set in the future" and boom, I'm sold. But wow, the final product was absolutely amazing.

I really enjoyed how everything felt like a mystery. Who is the last ronin? What happened to the rest of turtles? And, so on. We get to see a series of flashbacks that slowly unfold until we get to see the bigger picture. Some of the flashback are presented in the classic art style. Which I thought was a nice touch.

It's dark and gritty, heavily action based. Which in my opinion every tmnt book should be like. And of course with this dramatic tone, the art goes with the story like peanut butter and jelly.

If your new to the tmnt world, you might be wondering if you would be able to just jump in to this. And to that I say, yes and no. As long you have a familiarity with the characters (Casey Jones, April, Fujitoid, etc.) you should be fine. But I recommend reading the older stuff anyways, because they are great.

I highly recommend.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Ninja Turtles story, but not terribly original to be perfectly honest. In the vein of The Dark Knight Returns, a post-apocalyptic superhero tale in a cyberpunk future... It's been done before yet it can't be denied that this sort of thing is very entertaining.

Can see why so many say it's the ultimate Turtles tale, a culmination of the such of the lore that came before. So fun for fans, and it's also an easy read for casual fans. It almost doesn't even matter which continuity "counts", and there have been many with these characters, just know that it's an evil future and only one mutant is left to fight the final battle...

Also helps that co-creator himself Kevin Eastman is the writer, who even illustrates some of the flashbacks which is very nostalgic for fans of the early original works. Extremely worth reading

[Michael Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a number of years since I've read a Ninja Turtles comic. I wore out the trade volumes of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's original run as a kid back in the 80s, but didn't touch another Turtles book until the incredibly disappointing Image Comics reboot in the mid-90s under a new creative team. Thanks to Netflix, though, my kids are discovering the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for themselves and wanting my wife and I to introduce them to the movies we grew up with. I decided after so many decades away, it was time to re-familiarize myself once more.

The Last Ronin is a perfect blast of nostalgia, and it feels apiece with the Eastman and Laird stuff I grew up with. For pretty good reason, too, it turns out. Back when they were working together in the 80s, they crafted this storyline as the end for their then-brand-new creations. Reminiscent now of titles like Old Man Logan, The Last Ronin is set several decades down the road, in a dystopian future, where only one Turtle remains and has sworn vengeance against the man who slaughtered his brothers - Oroku Hiroto, Shredder's grandson. While it may not be the most unique and original premise ever nowadays, Eastman and co-writer Tom Waltz certainly give it plenty of heart and darkness to ensure it packs a lot of oomph.

As with their first issue, this "last" Ninja Turtles story is dedicated to Jack Kirby and Frank Miller, and you can feel their fingerprints in the Turtles's mutated DNA. This is their Dark Knight Returns, and much like their original 80s run, there's a downright Miller-esque grittiness on each and every page that belies the more well-known, kid-friendly overtures of the Ninja Turtles in popular media. What the heck was it with Hollywood in the 80s, anyway? Taking all these very much not at all aimed at children properties and turning them into pop culture icons? Neither Robocop and Rambo were meant for the kiddos, but both somehow had their own cartoons and action figures! Ditto the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which certainly sounded kid-friendly until you cracked open the book and found yourself surprised that they were violent warriors far more interested in ending the blood feud between their Master Splinter's Hamato Clan and the Oroku's Foot Clan than they ever gave any kind of a damn at all about pizza and cracking wise.

The Last Ronin is, plain and simple, a samurai revenge story. And quite a melancholy one at that. Eastman and Waltz make you feel each loss, and the passage of each year. It's awfully depressing to see so many of these characters you grew up with suffer and die tragically, over the span of decades as the Oroku's reopen old feuds in order to wipe out the mutants. Sad, but all the more effective for it. Fair warning, by the way, if you do let your young, impressionable kids read it, be prepared to have to explain what seppuku is!

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin collects issues 1-5 of the IDW Comic series written by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz with art by Esau and Isaac Escorial, Ben Bishop, and Kevin Eastman.

In a dark future New York City is ruled over by Oroku Hiroto (The grandson of Shredder) and The Foot Clan. Out of the shadow appears The Ronin, the last of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who will do anything to avenge his fallen brothers.

The Last Ronin is very dark and reminiscent of the original Mirage series. This book doesn’t have your usual Turtle’s hijinks and comedy and the fighting action is brutal. While I really liked the story, I felt the middle dragged and was a bit repetitive. The main villain is also a bit weak and generic and it would have been better to see Shredder at the end. The art is strong throughout with Eastman even providing some flashback scenes.

The hardcover edition is nice. It is presented with oversized art, thick pages, and sturdy sewn binding. This will be a book that you will be able to reread many times and not fear it falling apart.

The is the first Turtles book I have read in many years and it definitely makes me want to get back into the IDW Turtles series. I had read up to issue 55 and it was fantastic. The TMNT were one one of the first superhero groups I became obsessed with due to great Saturday morning cartoon series and the original live-action movie (Which still holds up incredibly well today). It’s great to see the Turtles still doing well today and evolving to meet the needs of this generation’s kids. Cowabunga forever!

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

EPIC. Absolutely epic.

We all know about the four ninja turtles and their master, Splinter. In this tale, set in the future, only one remains. He's on a mission to avenge his family, and he's got nothing but vengeance to live for. It's gonna get wild.

I honestly loved everything about this. I never expected to be as emotionally invested in a comic book as I was in this one. Naturally, with only one turtle left, we need to discover what happened to the others and it is an emotional ride, my friends. One particular image from this series will stick with me a long time.

The artwork just works so well with the story. Story and art really complement each other and the colouring is particularly symbolic. I found it so easy to follow that I was able to really lose myself in the story. This series has officially upped the bar for me with comics.

Absolutely brilliant read, and one I'll be recommending for sure!

[Gohnar23 (hiatus but still reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5️⃣🌟, "and everyone died, the end"

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

#697 Read & Reviewed in 2025 🧊🏔️
Date Read: Thursday, December 25, 2025 ☃️🌨️
61th read in "Its TIMEEEE!!!!! (to read more books)" December ❄️⛄

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODYYYYYYYYY🛷❄️🦌🌲🎄🔔🎁🔔🎄🛷❄️🌲🔔🎄 (the reading never stops tho hahahahaha)

And this is my first ever comic book!!! (Wow geez, the guy who has already read over 1000+ written books in his life has never even touched a single comic book before.. (and you'd be correct hahaha).

Now this book truly disturbed me. It actually made me learn something about myself. I mean I can literally handle ANYTHING but like nuh uh, you DO NOT kill of three of my four baby bois 😭😭😭 like whyyyyy. I don't get disturbed that much from books cuz I don't know anything about the character but in this one, there's no character introduction needed, everyone adores the ninje turtles, everyone loves them (they so cute) but especially for me who's ACTUALLY a TMNT fan who has watched almost every single media of it EXCEPT for the original comics:

the emotional imfact of this — fucking HURTS.

7 FILMS (most of them were horribly written), 5 TV SHOWS (all well written), 1 SHITTY LIVE ACTION REMAKE (no one likes live action like are u serious) AND THE 1 VIDEO SERIES (that is somehow not considered to be a tv show idk why).

Of all the time that i spent alongside my precious turtles i see them in this comic, i read them in this book and what? they're fucking DEAD!??!??!?!??!?!?! except for ONE???!?!!??!

It was quite something when you get to hypothesize on who you think is the last ronin is but when thinking about it even for just a second, If you look at this through a writing perspective, It's pretty obvious who the last ronin is, like just one look at the 4 ninja turtle's personalities you can already guess who the last one standing is, the one who'd have the greatest emotional impact and the greatest character development for this "final book"

For the actual story tho...i mean it's good, it's simple, there's a distinct plot to follow and there aren't really that many plot holes and poorly executed characters. We follow the last ronin as he makes his journey to finally defeat shredder and the foot army (cuz ofcourse somehow they're still not defeated after 40+ years of the tmnt franchise existing, how the hell are they still not defeated 😭😭😭) and just reminisce on the fact that literally all of his brothers are DEAD. And soon enough he will also die cuz like be for real rn, this is supposed to be the END of the turtles, be really expect the last one to also survive? Heck naw. So there is absolutely no hope for everyone. The turtles are now just dead, fully dead, this is their "and all of the main characters died" moment. And i can't move on from that.

This book is supposed to be the last and final installment in the tmnt franchise. It was supposed to be the canonical END of the entire saga. That's why literally just from the synopsis itself — "3 of em ded, here's the last one, ✨Named The Last Ronin✨"

This book actually had the "It ends with us" treatment because of how sold out everything is and this basically just boomed in sales. Instead of being the final installment in the original comic series, being the final comics to be made by the original authors as ppl ... Pretty much don't buy comics anymore absolutely BACKFIRED and instead — somehow revived the tmnt comic series. So I know that the author's just went 'ok You know what, This book isn't actually that canon at all, it takes place in another universe, up to you if you want it to be canon or not" And I'm just like okay I see what you did there 😏😏😏 like I literally see what you did there, all so you can make more comics in thes franchise but at least — more comics amiright 😆😆😆.

So for this being my FIRST EVER COMIC BOOK EVER READ. Ok i applaud 👏👏👏, congrats i actually picked something good as the first introduction to comics (idk if GenderQueer or Heartstopper is considered comics but like not really though???? Comics has this distinct unique style and Heartstopper is just...i mean u kow what heartstopper looks like already everyone's familiar with it (⁠｡⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠｡⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠♡)

Spice Level 🌶️: 0️⃣,
Vibe ☘️: dying
Who'd Like This ❓👥: tmnt fans duh

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wondered if I would have liked this more if I was caught up in the hype of it. It almost felt like two or three different ideas for a story mashed into one, like they wrote the first two issues, and then had to pivot for the later ones and those delays. It almost comes off like a poor man's Dark Knight Rises, I got a lot of Miller in here. It's more neat as a concept than a actual story, it's pretty too the point.

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was entertaining, a nice throwback to the early days of the TMNT. The story might lean a little to much on hitting the nostalgia emotion. The flashbacks to a time when the turtles had allies was kind of weird, like armies backing them for all the good it did. The main story was a basic Samurai / Ninja revenge story. It was a good read.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first TMNT comic I've read and I last saw the TV show in the 90s, so I wasn't sure what I was getting into. Fortunately, The Last Ronin is an Elseworlds tale, not part of the main TMNT continuity that has presumably been accumulating since 1984. So, it was easy enough to hop on board.

With more attachment to the characters, though, I might have had stronger feelings about the book's conceit: all but one of the turtles are dead, as is Splinter. Shredder's grandson reigns supreme over New York City. The last remaining turtle ("The Last Ronin") takes it upon himself to complete his sibling's quest, come (s)hell or high water.

There's plenty of darkness in The Last Ronin - blood, guts, and seppuku included. I appreciated the adult flavor of the comic after my last TMNT experiences were so kid-friendly. I didn't appreciate the multiple timelines and repeated shifts from Then to Now with few clues as to when "Then" or "Now" actually take place. The plot, ultimately, is pretty straightforward with few surprises, but it largely satisfies. Not a bad place to dip into TMNT if you're interested.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one caught my eye when it popped up on a best of something related to graphic novels, and, having totally missed it when the series ran or when the graphic novel was published, my reaction was the same: gee, that's exactly the kind of thing I'd want to read during the holiday/end-of-year gift book reading binge, so I ordered it (and my spouse wrapped it ... and then, OMG, how did you know that was exactly what I wanted?!?!?!) ... and, then, of course, I read it, and...

I enjoyed it... and

I found it a splendid bookend to the first TMNT graphic novel I purchased more than three decades ago (NO WAY is it almost four decades!?!?!).... and

It's very much an epic tale in the way that the best stories ... myths ... legends ... are in that, it covers a lot of time (with more than a healthy dose of flashbacks and contextual reveals), it covers a lot of ground, it introduces new characters as it closes the door on (and remembers, doffs the hat to) old, familiar characters, it vacillates along the spectrums of despair to hope, love and hate, ... and cannot escape loss, endings, and rebirth, life anew....

As self-contained, short-run, serials (converted to graphic novel form) go, it's a nicely constructed, fully engaging, entertaining, and, ultimately, gratifying reading experience.

Sadly necessary warning/disclosure: this is not your Saturday morning cartoon feel-good comedy that's all about the pizza or the ubiquitous happiness and light version of TMNT. Nope, it's a return to TMNT's gritty roots, where katanas are for killing, the stakes are high, and life is “nasty, poor, solitary [c'mon, it's a Ronin saga!], brutish, and short....”

[Sud666 · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a young child in the 1980s, I was fascinated by the new comic TMNT. Eastman and Laird's work would soon become very famous. This fame would cause friction and lead to their breakup. Decades later, Eastman and Laird got back together to tell the final part of the story. This is the Last Ronin.

I really enjoyed this GN. The story is dark and set in a dystopian future NYC where the Foot ninja clan rules all. We follow Donatello, the last Ninja Turtle, as we learn about the tragic history of the team and how the Foot clan came to rule. We then see how the Last Turtle will fight with the remnants of resistance to finally kill the leader of the foot clan and end this long war. No more spoilers.

What made this story so good is the grim nature of the tale. The original TMNT comics were dark and violent, this channels the same vibe. From the shocking deaths of the Turtles and Master Splinter to the untold devastation that would occur to the lives of Casey and April, and to the city of New York.

The dark tale ends with an epic final battle and I feel that the TMNT story is finally finished. While the story itself is excellent, I also really enjoyed the artwork of the team of artists. A wonderful style that really accentuates the story. I also enjoyed the small parts where the flashbacks are done in the original Eastman and Laird style. Well done! From the art to the coloring to the story-this one hits on all fronts and is a great "finale" to this series.

If you're a TMNT fan then this is a must-have volume. Kudos to Eastman and Laird for this excellent GN to end the story.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

My video review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG1tC...

But if don't want to watch it, this is a GREAT TMNT comic. With a couple of pacing issues aside, this is a excellent final storyline for most of our heroes, great art, and well worth reading for long time fans and new fans alike. A 4.5 out of 5.

[Rory Wilding · Rating 5 out of 5]

IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin serves as a coda of sorts for the Mirage comics, which will delight that particular fanbase. Based on an unused idea by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird from decades ago – hence making it the first IDW title crediting Laird’s participation – the story takes place in a future, battle-ravaged New York City, controlled by the Foot Clan, where a lone surviving Turtle embarks on a seemingly hopeless mission seeking justice for the family he lost.

Please click here for my full review.

[Sjgomzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I’ve never been a huge Turtles fan but I loved everything about this book. Great writing, great artwork, and it was absolutely heartbreaking at times. Perfect ending too!

[Gerald Larocque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowabunga! If you thought you knew the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, think again! The Last Ronin takes our beloved heroes on a dark, gritty journey that's as thrilling as a midnight pizza run.

From the moment I cracked open this graphic novel, I felt as if I were transported to a post-apocalyptic New York City. The art is so brilliantly detailed that it practically leaps off the page—brace yourself, as this isn't your typical slice of pie; this director's cut edition is topped with a generous layer of emotional cheese.

The storyline explores themes of loss and redemption while still managing to make you scream at the top of your lungs, "Turtle Power!"

Of course, it wouldn't be the Ninja Turtles without some of those classic '90s one-liners. Let's just say The Last Ronin is packed with more snappy comebacks than a pizza joint during the lunch rush. Honestly, seeing how our childhood heroes matured (or not—looking at you, Mikey) is both heartbreaking and beautiful.

It's not all fun and games in the sewers anymore. Grab yourself a slice of pizza, dive into The Last Ronin, and fire off your favourite quotes from the movies because you're in for a blend of nostalgia and a good time!

I'll leave you with a quote from our lone hero himself, Michelangelo: "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

One could call this TMNT: The End if they so choose. I am glad I read prior the first 7 issues of TMNT in a tpb before reading this to set up all the characters involved. A story of vengeance featuring very fine line and detailed artwork Esau Escorza & Isaac Escorza along with Ben Bishop. OG creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird work the story along with Waltz and Eastman shares script duties with Tom Waltz. Eastman even supplies his classic Turtles art in flashback passages throughout the GN and the widescreen type presentation felt like I was watching a movie at times.

[Димитър Цолов · Rating 5 out of 5]

Изданието е просто наслада за очите и пръстите - в разкошен голям формат, с твърди корици и мека обложка, която внимателно съблякох, както подобава при интимен контакт 😝 Сюжетът се оказа доста по-мрачен от историите, с които обичайно свързваме четиримата цапнати в устата мутанти. Много, много харесах!
💚 🐢

[Michael J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I read this at one sitting. I collected the individual issues, and after the delayed and infrequent release dates took the wind out of the sails, I decided to hold them and wait until I could read the entire story. Glad to see this released in a quality hardcover edition, which is the version that TMNT die-hards should treasure.
Although the comic series isn't finished, this puts a nice bookend on the end of the original four TMNTs (except for the little twist in the epilogue) in a satisfactory fashion.
The art was premium quality and the story was compelling, if not a little predictable. What made it work for me were the interactions between long-running TMNT family members (Casey Jones, April) with Mikey and his developing mentor relationship with April's ambitious daughter.
UPDATE: JUNE 2023
P.S. . . . Some spoilers below, so don't read unless you already know this story . . . . . .
I read this for the second time in preparation for a book club meeting, this time in the premium quality hardcover edition which really enhances the great coloring job on this book as well as the finer details of the art.
I had less trouble this time picking up on the transitions between current events in the apocalyptic age and flashbacks to earlier days of the TMNTs. Still, I think this could have been handled a little more distinctively for first-time readers. Also, while I clearly remember seeing the details of the deaths of Raphael, Donatello, and master Splinter - - I can't recall the specifics of how Leonardo passed away. I'm not going to read this for a third time, but did I miss that? I just learned how I missed it. The death of Leonardo and Casey Jones occurs over two panels in Issue #3 and is not played out like the others were.
This was certainly a grittier, grimmer TMNT story compared to many of those that have been published over the past decades. The Last Ronin reminded me of the days when my son and I were reading the original black-and-white Mirage Studios comic books. We had 40+ issues. I would definitely put The Last Ronin among the Top 5 All-Time TMNT Storylines.

[✔️ JAVI ®️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

6'5/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐


“Hay personas, criaturas, maestros, guerreros, héroes y leyendas.
Tu padre... el maestro Splinter, fue todas esas cosas...”

En mi infancia daban la serie de las tortugas ninja y me gustaban. Estaban bien para la época y mi edad. Aunque habían otras series que me gustaban más. El problema es que no supieron crecer conmigo. El argumento siempre me ha parecido juvenil y bastante limitado.
En este cómic se da un salto importante. Un argumento más adulto. Un único superviviente para vengar la muerte de sus hermanos. En esta aventura ya no está el equipo al completo. Solo ha sobrevivido una y tendrá que acabar el trabajo de sus hermanas. Y aunque no me parece un cómic tan bueno, como a la mayoría de la comunidad, si que lo he disfrutado por parecer un final a las aventuras de las tortugas. Con los momentos épicos que acompañan a los finales.
Un cómic muy recomendado por la comunidad... aunque a mí las expectativas me han ido en contra.

[Colin Gooding · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the Ninja Turtles as a kid, to the point where my favourite colours are still Orange and Green, because Mikey is my guy.

I was really excited for the new movie and went to see it with my daughter, but I ended up just thinking it was alright. It did get me hankering from some more TMNT though, and when I saw recently that they are going to make a video game based on The Last Ronin, I decided to finally check out this lauded comic book.

I just thought this was alright too though. I haven't read the original comics, so the turtles to me are mostly light-hearted and bouncing jokes off each other, and this story is certainly not that! There are some sections that are really neat (like the black & white flashback pages that harken back to the old drawings) and I like the concept of the story in theory, but overall it felt a bit slight to me and nothing really landed for me like I thought it should.