Written by Ronnie Gorham
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin #3 continues to unravel the past with an uncertain future insight for Michelangelo, the last surviving ninja turtle. The last issue saw the truce between the Foot Clan and Hamato (Splinter) clan broken. Also, we were introduced to a new character, April O’Neil’s daughter, Casey Marie Jones. With evil forces working around the clock to see Mikey and April’s demise, is there a glimmer of hope left for them?
The Last Ronin #3 opens with a history lesson from the past, showing Oroku Hiroto’s (Shredder’s grandson) first rise to power at the tender age of sixteen. The most pivotal panel moment of this momentous occasion was Hiroto himself ordering peace between the Foot Clan and Hamato clan. That, of course, doesn’t last as the book does a time jump to the present where we see Hiroto ordering Martial Law on Michelangelo and anyone brave enough to be an ally to the lone turtle. What ensues is a fantastic back and forth journey to tell one of the greatest TMNT stories of Kevin Eastman’s career.
Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman do another great job at reeling readers into the heap of this chaotic tragedy. Waltz and Eastman shine brightest when it comes to pacing. The book never feels confusing or that there’s too much information given during a flashback or present panel moment. What readers can expect from this issue is a glimpse of what happened to Casey Jones, April O’Neil, and the other three turtles. But what will mess your mind up forever is how Fugitoid is involved.
In terms of the artwork, Esau and Isaac Escorza’s gritty and in-your-face pencils continue to be a force to be reckoned with. They added some great detailed distinctions between the past and present moments of the story. The raw emotions that Esau and Isaac can capture on every character’s face are mesmerizing. You can truly feel the pain and hardships Mickey, April, and even Hiroto have gone through.
TMNT: The Last Ronin #3 provides some much-needed backstory that readers will enjoy. The book has been a fun and thrilling ride and I can’t wait to see what they have planned for the next entry. The writing and illustrations continue to be amazing and don’t disappoint. Make sure to support your local comic shop and snag yourself a copy today.
