Review - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Day Special
From IDW Publishing
For a different future and from the world of the excellent TMNT series - IDW Publishing has a special issue out now, this is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Day Special.
A special one-shot set in the Ronin-verse! After the Last Ronin defeated Oroku Hiroto, Master of the Foot Clan, New York City was free for the first time in more than a decade. But along with the newfound freedom comes a dangerous power vacuum waiting to be filled, and without a common enemy in the Foot Clan, various factions are vying to take control. Longtime resistance leader April O’Neil finds herself and her loved ones—including four small mutant turtles she and her daughter, Casey Marie Jones, are raising and training together—once again caught up in the battle for the soul of the city. When April takes the young mutant turtles with her on a supply run into the city, they become lost and must find their way back to the sewer lair or risk becoming collateral damage in the newest power struggle overtaking the streets. Old memories mix with new realities as April and her four small charges race to get back home before it’s too late. This 40-page special comes from the New York Times best-selling TMNT: The Last Ronin creative team of writers Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz, illustrator Ben Bishop, and colorist Luis Antonio Delgado, and is an official tie-in to TMNT: The Last Ronin—Lost Years.
by Tom Waltz (Author), Kevin B. Eastman (Author), Ben Bishop (Artist), Luis Antonio Delgado (Colorist)
This was a fantastic read. I really enjoy the Last Ronin series and the world it is in. Usually, we get to see the ‘new’ brothers as an aside in the main series happening right now, but this issue heavily features both them and old April.
While Casey is on a date, we get a good look at the world that has been left behind after the fall of the Foot Clan and those on the streets.
There are some links to the past, as well as newer characters that are having an influence. I liked how some of it harked back to the old days and the original Turtles and Splinter's dealings. There also seems to be some potential dealings for the future with the police force, the Purple Dragons and those who chose to resist.
This issue also builds on the personalities of the new ninjas. It works out well, we can see some aspects that remind us of the original brothers, but there is also some new aspects to their personalities which fit in well, cause stress for their ‘parent’ and ‘grandparent’, and add to the story.
I really enjoyed the art in this issue. There was some in the style of the original TMNT comics, which works well in the story process. The now works well, and there are some good action scenes and good emotional and talking scenes.
The Last Ronin series continues to impress with its captivating storylines and dynamic characters. I'm eagerly awaiting to see what is next to see how the story unfolds. If you're a TMNT fan and haven't picked up this series yet, you're missing out. Highly recommended!
