Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Ronin-verse Reveals New Generation Of Turtles And All New Designs
John F. Trent
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The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Ronin-verse, which launched in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin will continue in a new one shot titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Day Special.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Day Special
At the end of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin #5, Michelangelo sacrificed himself in a final battle against the authoritarian Oruku Hiroto.
However, the final issue of the series also revealed that April O’Neil and her daughter Casey Marie Jones are raising four new turtles.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin (2022), IDW Publishing
RELATED: IDW Announces “Encore” To Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Last Ronin Called “The Lost Years”
These four new turtles would be introduced as Odyn, Uno, Moja, and Yi in the newly released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Years #1.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Years #1 (2023), IDW Publishing
In a press release, IDW Publishing announced the story of these four new Turtles will not only continue in the Lost Years series, but will also continue in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Day Special.
This 40-page special issue is written by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz with illustrations by Ben Bishop and colors by Luis Antonio Delgado.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—The Covers
The press release’s official synopsis details, “In Lost Day, longtime resistance leader April O’Neil finds herself and her loved ones—including the four young 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 New York City.”
“When April takes the turtles with her on a supply run into the city, they get lost and 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,” it concludes.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin–The Lost Years #1 Cover A by SL Gallant
Eastman teased the special saying, “As Tom Waltz and I dig deep into the evolution of New York City post-Last Ronin, the Lost Day tale brings the future of all things TMNT up close and very personal. Buckle up, things are about to get messy!”
Waltz would also hype the series and provide some more details, “The amazing success of TMNT: The Last Ronin has certainly opened doors to new and exciting storytelling opportunities within what we are now fondly calling the Ronin-verse.”
He added, “Lost Years will expand upon some of the Last Ronin’s history that was hinted at in the first volume, while simultaneously pushing forward the new reality that was teased in its epilogue… And within Lost Years, Kevin and I are excited to have the opportunity to join artist Ben Bishop to tell a one-shot tale, Lost Day. The past, present, and future are full of surprises that we can’t wait to share with our readers!”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin–The Lost Years #1 Cover B by Kevin Eastman
He would elaborate on these comments while speaking with IGN saying, “In the five issues of Lost Years, we’ll be covering approximately 16 years, both past (Mikey’s adventures in Asia and Europe) and present/future (basically highlighting the new turtles as they grow from age 3 to age 16).”
“We’ll be filling in important plot/character details during those time periods…while also (hopefully) opening the doors for future tales to be told during the timeframe covered that we’re not able to get to in Lost Years (and/or Lost Day),” he added. “In other words, we’re just getting started!”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin–The Lost Years #1 Cover A by Kevin Eastman and Ben Bishop
Waltz would also address these new turtles and their new unique designs compared to the original turtles, which was shared with Gizmodo earlier this week.
Character designs for the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Day Special #1 (2023), IDW Publishing
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Waltz relayed to IGN, “I will only say that every aspect of the new turtles has been actively/carefully discussed, debated, and agreed upon by all the collaborators involved.”
He continued, “Each turtle will be an individual, with their own name and personality. What those names and personalities are…well, stick around! We’ve got some cool stuff to share with everyone!”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin–The Lost Years #1 retailer incentive by Mike Deodato
Waltz then asserted, “I will admit — it was terrifying at first, creating new turtles like this. But from the very first bit of new TMNT dialogue I typed into my trusty ol’ word processor, I knew in my heart and gut that this is something special…and that the time is right for it.”
“The babies came alive at my fingertips…and even more so when Ben’s first designs started rolling in. They are very real and important to all of us working on the book…and I’m confident they will become that way to old and new TMNT fans alike when they are finally revealed to the world,” he asserted.
Waltz then added, “And…bonus! We don’t have to lose our old turtles in the process. The family’s just getting bigger is all…and it’s been a true honor (and privilege) to be part of the expansion.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin (2020), IDW Publishing
Gizmodo would discuss the new designs with artist Ben Bishop who revealed he originally produced 12 new turtle designs, “I came out swinging with 12 different new turtle designs, from babies to teenagers. Those made the rounds for a week or so while everyone picked out their favorite four. This was a crazy exciting time.”
“Nickelodeon loved the designs, and ultimately we all settled on the four you’ll meet in Lost Years #1,” he explained. “The same goes with Casey Marie and April—there will be separate new designs, each and every issue. I feel really close to those characters now.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin #2 (2021), IDW Publishing
Alongside this Lost Day Special, IDW also announced an expanded Director’s Cut edition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Lost Years #1. This Director’s Cut will “feature never-before-seen supplemental materials from legendary TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, as well as series artists Ben Bishop and SL Gallant.”
Eastman teased, “The creation of the Last Ronin Universe with Peter Laird and Tom Waltz has truly been an amazing journey through and through and one of the best parts has been all the nooks and crannies we left open to go back and explore, given the chance. Lost Years is the first trip back. It has been incredible, and with the Director’s Cut, you’ll get to see a bit more of that world.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Years Cover Outline
The press release specifically details this Director’s Cut will offer “an exclusive look at the concept’s evolution from a speculative draft composed by Eastman and Laird in the nascent days of TMNT’s indie comics era to a New York Times best-selling, internationally beloved phenomenon, as well as the new, expansive universe that has emerged as a result.”
Waltz also indicated the Director’s Cut will feature a number of character and setting designs, “The art designs—both characters and settings—have been a joy to watch unfold, and I couldn’t be happier that our many loyal fans will get a chance to peek at the amazing work being done behind the scenes.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin #1 (2020), IDW Publishing
What do you make of these new Turtle designs? Will you be checking out this new Lost Ronin special?
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