Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is, without a doubt, one of the best things to happen to the Ninja Turtles. Not only did it mark a return to the grittier tone of the original Mirage comics, but it also crafted one of the best “old man hero” stories on the market. It’s also become one of IDW’s best-selling titles, leading to a sequel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution, and a prequel of sorts, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin – The Lost Years. There’s even a video game adaptation in the works. So what else can you do with the “Roninverse?”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin – Training Day #1 answers that question by flashing back to an untold story from the original Lost Ronin miniseries. Set between issues #3 and #4 of said series, Training Day #1 showcases Michelangelo’s attempts to forge Casey Marie Jones into a ninja. It’s not an easy process: while Mikey has years of training with his brothers and Master Splinter to rely on, Casey Marie has only a few days before she and her fellow rebels launch their final assault against Hiroto Oroku. On top of that, Mikey’s still grappling with the literal ghosts of his past, as his brothers continue to haunt him.
Everything fans love about The Last Ronin is present in Training Day. Characters reflect on the past, and how’s it shaped their paths in the future. Mikey’s anger at his brothers’ ghosts is masking the deep grief he’s hiding at the feeling that he failed them when they needed him most. And of course, there’s plenty of brutal action. TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman and longtime writer Tom Waltz have settled into a perfect creative groove at this point, and unlike other miniseries that make a return to classic storylines, this feels like it’s actually adding to the story rather than coasting on past glories.
Case in point: Eastman and Waltz focus on the bond between Mikey and Casey Marie, and how they learn from each other. While Casey Marie learns the ways of ninjitsu, Mikey remembers what drove him and his brothers in their teenage years. The duo compared this dynamic to Rey and Luke Skywalker’s in Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, and I definitely got similar vibes whenever the two shared a scene. Likewise, the moments when Casey Marie trains her generation of Mutant Turtles provide a perfect parallel to the main story.
A new Last Ronin story means the return of Esau and Issac Escorza, whose gritty and dynamic style remains a standout in the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Every motion Mikey makes is fluid yet powerful, showcasing years of training at work. Casey Marie, on the other hand, is stubborn, impatient, and often leaps without thinking, which tends to escalate the story’s events. The sight of Mikey in his last Ronin gear is also a sight to behold, thanks to the work of longtime TMNT colorist Luis Antonio Delgado, who also gives Casey Marie a black-and-purple suit that stands out against New York’s night sky.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the other artists who worked on Training Day. A framing sequence by Ben Bishop features Casey Marie and the second generation of Ninja Turtles, who remain as distinct as ever. New to the Roninverse is Freddie E. Williams II, probably best known for his work on the main Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title. Here, he fills out a day in Mikey’s life that illustrates why he’s so hard on Casey Marie and, by extension, himself. It’s made even more dynamic by splashes of color representing the classic Turtles’ masks, which stand out against the black-and-white background.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin – Training Day #1 builds on the classic story by expanding the relationship between Michelangelo and Casey Marie and delivering an emotional moment in the process. If you love the original Last Ronin or have been wanting more stories in this universe, this is worth picking up.
