Story: Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, Tom Waltz
Script: Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman
Page Layouts: Kevin Eastman
Pencils / Inks: Esau + Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, Kevin Eastman
Color assistance: Samuel Plata
Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado
Publisher: IDW
Release Date: May 26th, 2021

CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR IDW’S TMNT: THE LAST RONIN #1 and #2

The Last Ronin contains a number of plot developments best experienced unspoiled. Don’t read this review unless you’ve read issues #1 and #2 of The Last Ronin.

IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is shaping up to be Eastman and Laird’s magnum opus. The Last Ronin functions as both an homage to the Turtles’ gritty beginnings and a prime example of what has made the Turtles a staple of popular culture for going on four decades. Issue #3 continues the use of flashbacks to show us how the Turtles and their friends were decimated and how NYC became a Foot-controlled dystopian hellscape. In this issue Michelangelo is finally caught up on what April has been up to in the Turtles’ absence.

PREVIOUSLY

After failing in his mission to kill Oroku Hiroto Michelangelo woke up in the care of April O’Neil.

Michelangelo was taken by surprise when introduced to April’s daughter Casey Marie Jones. The two shared a moment, bonding over a mutual interest in martial arts. But Michelangelo rebuked Casey Marie when she attempted to enlist herself into Michelangelo’s mission of vengeance against Hiroto and the Foot Clan.

April has been keeping Michelangelo in the dark while he recovers from his injuries.

PLOT

In issue #3 of The Last Ronin we learn about the tragic circumstances of April and Michelangelo’s last time together. The treachery of Baxter Stockman has everything to do with the fate of the Turtles’ friends and family.

We learn the fate of Professor Honeycutt and how April came to possess the head of the Fugitoid in The Last Ronin #3. Leonardo and Casey Jones’ final moments were spent hopelessly outnumbered. Donatello and Splinter have been missing for years as they were en route to Japan when the Turtles’ lair was attacked.

In response to Michelangelo’s attack, Hiroto is cracking down on the residents of NYC. Martial law is declared in an effort to root out Michelangelo.

Michelangelo is finally brought up to speed with what April and Casey Marie are up to. April has been busy.

ART

Issue #3 of The Last Ronin features the same creative dynamic as previous issues. Layouts are by Eastman. Main story pages are by the Escorza brothers. Flashback sequences are by Ben Bishop. Michelangelo’s, and now April’s, solo flashbacks are entirely by Kevin Eastman. It just works. I welcome the variety.

The character designs seem to just get better and better. The tactical gear depicted throughout The Last Ronin feels so legit. Ben Bishop is quickly becoming one of my favorite TMNT artists. His handling of the action sequences in issue #3 is stellar.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I keep expecting somebody who’s presumed dead to show up alive. There are too many unverified deaths. But what do I know? I have not been able to predict any of The Last Ronin’s plot developments. I have no idea what’s going to happen.

Issue #3 of The Last Ronin is a solid entry to the series. A few of Casey Jones’ jokes didn’t really land and that’s about the biggest complaint I can muster. The flashbacks are nothing but loss and hardship. The main storyline is full of grief. But April has been preparing.

I can’t recommend The Last Ronin #3 or the rest of the series enough. I look forward to issue #4, scheduled for release August 11th, 2021.

9.6/10