With hundreds of thousands of copies in print, the best-selling IDW comic book series of all time reaches its senses-shattering conclusion with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin #5, hitting stores on April 27th!
Springing from a lost 1987 storyline by TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, The Last Ronin tells the story of a lone surviving Turtle in a dark possible future, undertaking a seemingly hopeless mission to obtain justice for his fallen family and friends. Released quarterly in a prestige oversized format since the first issue debuted in October 2020, The Last Ronin has taken the comic world by storm, building tension for fans as they await the answer to the ultimate question: Will the Ronin be able to find some measure of peace…or is he fated to meet the same end as his brothers?
“Thirty-five years in the making, The Last Ronin is everything I dreamed it could be and more,” says Eastman. “For the creative team, I feel the epic task of bringing this story to life has truly been our Mount Everest, and with the summit in sight, we sincerely wish to thank all the friends and fans who brought the love and support needed so we could bring this adventure all the way home. From my original partner on this journey, the brilliant Peter Laird, to the unparalleled skills of Tom Waltz, the incredibly gifted Esau and Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, and Luis Antonio Delgado, as well as the rock-solid IDW backbone and Nickelodeon commitment to make sure we had the time to get it right, we’ve given it our best shot, and I could not be prouder of everyone involved.”
“What we’ve enjoyed the most has been working with a legend like Kevin Eastman,” says the Escorzas in a joint statement. “He’s everything you’d expect him to be, but even cooler. We are totally overwhelmed to have been part of a project of this magnitude and have loved to see the fan reaction and the support of all the retailers and collectors around the world.”
“As far back as I can remember, two things were always there: drawing and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Often they went hand in hand,” says Bishop. “What Kevin and Pete did as a couple of crazy self-publishing comic kids shaped the kind of comic creator that I wanted to be and showed me just how much is possible in this medium. The reality now, all these years later, that I’m working with these creators and drawing these characters, absolutely feels like a dream come true. I’d like to thank the fans and retailers for making this one of the biggest TMNT comics since issue #1.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin #5 will be available with two cover variants for retailers and fans to enjoy.
While The Last Ronin’s final chapter brings one incredible narrative to a close, the torch of epic storytelling will be passed to the next huge Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles saga—namely, a sweeping new tale called The Armageddon Game, set within the present day continuity of IDW’s monthly comic book series. The brainchild of longtime TMNT scribe Tom Waltz, working alongside current TMNT ongoing writer Sophie Campbell, the new storyline will be foreshadowed in the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles “Free Comic Book Day” Special, available for free at participating comic book shops on May 7th, and it will officially kick off with June’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Opening Moves #1.
“Being invited to be a part of The Last Ronin has, by far, been one of the most exciting creative experiences that I have ever had, both during my long run on TMNT at IDW and in my overall writing career,” says Waltz. “Everyone helping to bring this project together has been amazing, including so many unsung heroes working their shells off behind the scenes. I couldn’t be more thankful to all of them, nor more appreciative of Kevin and Peter for allowing me to add my own personal mark to this particular TMNT tale that they laid the foundation for decades ago. It’s been a humbling experience, and I fully plan to take everything I’ve learned about epic storytelling and incorporate it into my own opus of sorts, TMNT: The Armageddon Game… Coming soon!”
For information on how to acquire TMNT comics and graphic novels from IDW, please contact your local comic shop or visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you.