Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin - Lost Years

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin (Collections)

by Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Ben Bishop (Illustrator)

Das heißersehnte Prequel zum Bestseller-Comic »Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin«!

Die Zeit vor dem ultimativen Showdown in New York, in dem der Dunkle Turtle blutige Rache an den Mördern seiner Familie nahm, war lang und entbehrungsreich. Geleitet von seinem unstillbaren Verlangen nach Vergeltung und dem alten Tagebuch seines Meisters, reiste der Letzte Ronin nach Japan, durch Asien und Europa, bevor er schließlich in seine Heimat zurückkehrte. Welche Kämpfe musste er auf seinem Weg bestehen? Welche Prüfungen wurden ihm auferlegt? Und welche Lektionen konnte er daraus ziehen?

Kevin Eastman und Tom Waltz kehren in ihr aufregendes »Ronin-Verse«zurück, um endlich zu erzählen, was vor »The Last Ronin« geschah! Gemeinsam mit Ben Bishop und SL Gallant enthüllen sie die Vergangenheit des Ronin und zugleich die Zukunft der nächsten Generation der »Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles«!

Beinhaltet die komplette Miniserie »The Last Ronin – Lost Years« sowie das »TMNT: Lost Day Special«.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Comic Book, Fiction, Comics Manga, Adventure

208 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 2023

About the author

Kevin B. Eastman is an American comic book artist, co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I was worried as I didn't think it would measure up yo the original Last Ronin story. I am very glad to be wrong. The story takes place in the past and the present. It was a great idea to change the artists/art styles for which time period the book is talking about. On a personal note, I love the more brutal fighting in this book.

In the present, April is guiding her daughter and grandkids in both the way of life, history, the city, and the way of the ninja (though Casey handles the physical training).

In the past, a grief stick and haunted Michelangelo starts his own journey. He will endure pain, friendships, family, and devastating loss again and again. Watch him make the transition from vagabond to Ronin.

I can not imagine this will be the end of the Ronin-verse. I am told there is a game, but there needs to be another book/series as well. Will the legecy continue from the lessons of the past? The book finishes with a varient cover gallery.

[Sud666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

TMNT- The Lost Years works as a prequel/sequel to TMNT-The Last Ronin.

In the Last Ronin we run into Michaelangelo as the last Turtle and his quest for vengeance against the Foot Clan. This is the story of Mike's journey traveling around the world trying to deal with the death of his loved ones. During this time he will come across a dangerous warlord known as Death Worm. The search for this mysterious man will take Michaelangelo into the proverbial heart of darkness. But it will also prepare him to return to NYC for the events of the Last Ronin.

A really interesting and good story about the travels and adventures of Michaelangelo. Much like the Last Ronin, the story is dark and violent. The artwork is really good throughout. I also enjoyed how "Splinter's Journal" was drawn by Eastman in the old art style.

Now why only 4 stars? There is a lot of useless "filler" material that revolves around Casey and April Jone's daughter. Apparently she thinks she's a ninja master now and is training 4 turtles of her own. Two are female, two are of different colors than green and one is even overweight. Awesome. No, I was being sarcastic. I despise these hack-job woke versions of characters and they are annoying and painful to deal with. I expected better from Kevin Eastman but anything for a buck eh? I view the final "The End..For Now" with the 4 woke turtles not as a promise but more as a threat of bad storytelling and hack job characters being passed as good when its merely a vehicle to keep the checks coming.

So in entirety the Last Ronin books are a great way to draw to a close the long running series of TMNT. Dark, violent and tragic it harkens back to the original style and tone. The Teenage Woke Turtles? Hard pass.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prequel zu TMNT - The Last Ronin. Wir lernen wo Michelangelo in den vielen Jahren vor The Last Ronin war. Die Geschichte springt zwischen seiner und der New Yorker Perspektive um April O'Neil, der Tochter von Casey Jones und die sehr jungen Turtle Kindern hin und her. Im Verlaufe der Geschichte geht es um Rache, Splinters Lehren und die Namen der Turtle Kinder.
Sehr gut gezeichnet, es gibt immer wieder Querverweise zu The Last Ronin, die Lesereihenfolge ist also nicht zwingend festgelegt.
Zum Einstieg in das Ronin-Verse kein absoluter Hammer, aber ein guter erster Eindruck für düstere, sehr blutige Turtles.

[Vinicius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Não é tão bom quanto o primeiro encadernado de o Último Ronin, principalmente porque já sabemos o desfecho da história, já que a proposta aqui é contar o passado do Michelangelo até seu confronto contra o Hiroto, portanto o impacto dos acontecimentos são mais contidos.

Esse encadernado trata de duas histórias, sendo uma delas marcadas por tragédias, luto e redenção, enquanto que a outra trata de esperança elegado.

No que tange a história do Michelangelo, vemos todo o sofrimento e angústia que ele passou após perder sua família e seus amigos. Ele passou por diversos países, reencontrou sua força, mas também passou por momentos em que ele pensou em desistir. É bem triste ver a tartaruga mais comédia das 4, se tornar um Ronin. Claro que o desenvolvimento é bem feito e a evolução do Michelangelo é extraordinária, mas o custo é bem triste.

Enquanto acompanhamos esse passado, também temos a April, sua filha e as novas 4 Tartarugas vivendo o legado deixado pelas antecessoras. É bem divertido ver que os ensinamentos que a sensei passa às novas Tartarugas é baseado no diário do Splinter e nos ensinamentos do Michelangelo, bem como a April se utiliza dos momentos em que viveu com as Tartarugas.

Isso é bem interessante, pois ao mesmo tempo que buscamos um paralelo entre as novas Tartarugas e as anteriores, também vemos as novas como únicas, com características interessantes.

[Terry Rudge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was always going to struggle to meet the expectations and dizzy heights set by the previous book but this was still great

The art work is incredible and the story is dark and cuts deep.

In truth, didn't give a toss about the non Michelangelo sections

However the main story really was a beaut

[Rahul Nadella · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the end of the day, The Last Ronin was always going to be a tough act to follow, and while there are some undeniably intriguing storyline threads being introduced (or reintroduced) here, the basic question of is this series really necessary? Then the ending sets the stage for the next generation of Ninja Turtles with Casey Marie Jones continuing Michelangelo's legacy in a powerful way. The story told here hardly feels essential to The Last Ronin saga, and while it's hardly a terrible read, most will probably be better served by waiting for the proper sequel.

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ronin-verse is lots of fun, full of potential, and even more winks at iconic characters and how things are in the future. There's a great balance between story-telling, action, violence, and humour, and hopefully, things will only get more exciting going deeper into this universe.

[Matthew Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this step back into The Last Ronin’s world. The way this was written was emotional, thoughtful, and exciting. The art throughout was great also, especially the pages done by Eastman that reminded me of his earliest Turtles pages.

[Brinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What?!! That’s what I’ve been missing out on? I read TLR about a year ago and loved it, and now that I’ve finally gotten to Lost Years, what?!! That’s was so good. So complex!!! I loved it!!! I am so excited for Reevolution.

[Adam Kiewel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a great follow up to the original. The flashbacks were interesting and explained a lot, but the future story line was very disappointing.

[Brady Precourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost Years offers a great backstory and fill many gaps in the Last Ronin's story. Lost Years really helps flesh out the Lost Ronin universe and make it better.

[Thaddeus Tuffentsamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice installment to the last Ronin.

This was a combination of prequel and sequel to the original story. While we see what happened with Michelangelo for the last 15 years of his life after his father and brothers died. We also see the next generation of turtles being raised by Casey to become the next defenders of New York City.

It was a good story, and builds anticipation for the next adventures to come.

[Scott Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what happened to The Last Ronin from the timer after his brothers died until when he returned back to New York to finish off the Foot Clan. While in exile, he finds a new enemy to take revenge on.
I wanted to like this much more than I actually did. The story felt a bit forced to me. I'll be interested if the author continues the plot with Casey and the new set of turtles.

[Beyondiego · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ja schade, hier hat man eine großartige neue Geschichte, völlig sinnlos ausgeschlachtet. Pre- und sequel in einem. Mit flashbacks im Sequel und Sprüngen im Prequel. Unschön erzählt, toll gezeichnet. Humor ist mittelmäßig und mit der neuen Turtles Zukunft bin ich auch nicht warm geworden. 2½*

[Benji Glaab · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Tyler Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah… I’m all in on this universe. Give me your best Eastman and crew. However many sequels you have planned I will be sat for them. Never thought I’d love a dark and violent TMNT story but here we are. I had no idea Last Ronin was a thing until I found the collection at Walmart and the same happened to this expertly crafted half sequel half prequel. With scenes taking place in the years before The Last Ronin started and scenes taking place years after The Last Ronin ended. The story is just so good and the world building is incredible! I haven’t been this invested in a world in a long time. Can’t wait to see what they do next, that ending has me so excited.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ronin-verse is fun, and I enjoyed the bouncing back and forth in time approach for the story they were looking to tell, though I wish we could have spent more time with the Next Gen turtles and less with poor woebegone Mikey.

[Tori Tecken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was still really good, but not as good as the first Last Ronin graphic novel. The plot felt a bit more disjointed, less immersive, and less tense.

[Alex English · Rating 2 out of 5]

LOVED the first one. I found this one unfocused and boring.

[Tyler Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️
This was a great accompaniment to the original series, adding additional context and history to Michelangelo's near decade journey becoming the Last Ronin, while also alternating storylines with present-day Casey Marie and Apil training their new turtles. The storyline is quite linear for both, but intertwines nicely. It introduces a new subplot for Michelangelo that treks him all over the globe, seeking out revenge for a new Master he gained. Meanwhile, you see the trials of training 4 brand new, young, unique and stubborn turtles in training. I really enjoyed the story of April's day above ground with the turtles! Much like The Last Ronin, this story had its touching moments along with the vengeful bloodshed and balanced both superbly. It's hard to make the perfect story twice in a row, and this one comes close, but TLR is still my favorite of the two.

[Wouter Dhondt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok. The “then” parts are the better story. Feels like a TMNT - mad max crossover. The “now” parts are painfully lame. I’m guessing they are going to continue with the story but as I didn’t really enjoy the new crew I won’t continue with the last ronin setting. A shame cause I like post-apocalyptic and the darker tone.

Imho, last ronin and this prequel are overrated. I prefer the ongoing IDW series.

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was glad to finally have some history behind The Last Ronin, or should I say leading up to. Gives the other story some added flavor. I think the only thing I disliked about this story was how quickly it was wrapped up. There was no bang only a whimper.

[Larakaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Liked the parts about the next gen tmnt best, didnt need to see what happened to raph before Last Ronin tbh

[Benjamin Kennert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories were pretty dull, but I like the new turtles. Excited to see if these stories continue!

[Hudson Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a solid second chapter into this series. loving it more and more, can’t wait for the next one.

[MannyLikesPie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it a lot however I’m really looking forward to the next part

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty nice.
Excited for the next Generation.
They be cute as hell. Especially Odyn.

[MGS · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prequel story is solid, though the framing device feels like what it is: setting up the next series. Still, the Last Ronin stuff delivers. "No Peace."

[Shiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tortles

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot of the lost years themselves felt thin, cheap, and rushed. The only thing interesting was April and the babies.