TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE LAST RONIN – TRAINING DAY #1 (IDW Publishing)

We return to the world of The Last Ronin with this brand new One-Shot from the super popular universe. Casey Marie is training a new batch of Ninja Turtles, and this makes her mother Dr. April O’Neil-Jones reminisce of when Casey was trained by Michaelangelo, The Last Ronin.

TMNT: The Last Ronin – Training Day #1 - Written By Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz – Art By Ben Bishop, Escorza Brothers, & Freddie E. Williams II - Colors By Luis Antonio Delgado - Letters By Shawn Lee - Edited By Jake Thomas -Published By IDW Publishing

Credit: IDW Publishing

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

As Casey Marie starts training a new batch of Ninja Turtles in the methods of Master Splinter. Her mother, April O’Neil-Jones, sits back and remembers when Casey was trained by Michaelangelo and even sees the parallels in the training method. We then go back to Casey’s training, and the hard times she gave Mikey. She didn’t start off as the star student, more like the pain in the ass one. However, through conferring with the ghosts of his brothers he puts together a final effort to get through to her. This comes just in time as the stuff hits the fan with the Foot Clan and the Synja. Casey and the Last Ronin’s backs are against the wall and that’s just how Mikey likes it.

WRITING:

This one-shot brings us back into the world of The Last Ronin in a way that feels both familiar and fresh. Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz do a strong job of using this story as a bridge between what came before and what could be coming next. The idea of Casey Marie stepping into the role of Sensei for a new generation of Ninja Turtles is already a great hook, but the issue becomes even stronger when it turns that setup into a reflection on her own training. Instead of simply showing Casey as someone who has already earned her place, the story reminds us how much she struggled to get there and how much patience, pain, and persistence went into shaping her into the fighter and leader she is now.

What works especially well is that Casey is not written as the perfect student from the start. She is stubborn, angry, difficult, and at times a real pain for Mikey to deal with, which makes her growth feel more believable. Her journey toward becoming a full-on ninja and a hero of the people has more weight because the story lets us see the rough edges first. Mikey’s training style also carries a lot of emotional power because it feels rooted in everything he learned from Master Splinter and his brothers. Even when he is frustrated, he is still trying to pass on something bigger than fighting skills. He is passing on discipline, heart, responsibility, and the legacy of the family he lost.

The scenes where Mikey confers with the ghosts of his brothers add another meaningful layer to the writing. Those moments keep the larger tragedy of The Last Ronin present without letting it overwhelm the issue. They show that Mikey is still carrying his family with him, not just as grief, but as guidance. That makes his final push to get through to Casey feel earned, because it is not just one teacher trying one last lesson. It is the entire legacy of the Turtles finding a way to reach the next generation. Eastman and Waltz also do a nice job of building tension as the story moves toward the conflict with the Foot Clan and the Synja. By the time Casey and the Last Ronin have their backs against the wall, the issue has already done the emotional work to make the action matter.

My favorite touch, though, is still the way the story is framed through April O’Neil-Jones. Having April watch Casey train a new batch of Turtles while remembering Casey’s own time under Mikey gives the issue a strong emotional spine. It comes from a mother’s point of view, but not one that is overly soft or blinded by pride. April remembers the struggle, the attitude, and the hard lessons right along with the victories. That perspective makes the uplifting moments hit even harder because they feel honest. When the proud mama side of April comes through, it feels earned, and it gives the one-shot a heartfelt quality that makes it more than just another action-heavy return to this universe.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this one-shot is stunning and captures the world of The Last Ronin perfectly. Ben Bishop, the Escorza Brothers, and Freddie E. Williams II give the issue a look that feels gritty, emotional, and full of energy from beginning to end. The backgrounds and settings fit the story incredibly well, whether the issue is focused on quiet training moments or larger action scenes. There is a worn-down feeling to the world that immediately reminds you this is still the darker future of The Last Ronin, but the visuals also leave room for hope because this story is about a new generation learning how to carry the legacy forward.

The character designs are another major highlight. The new Turtles have a fresh and exciting look that makes them feel like their own team instead of simple copies of the original brothers. At the same time, Michaelangelo’s Last Ronin design still carries that familiar weight and sadness that made the original story so powerful. He looks seasoned, battle-worn, and haunted by everything he has survived, but there is still enough of Mikey in the design to remind you of the heart underneath all that pain. That balance is important because the story needs him to feel like both a legend and a teacher, and the artwork nails that perfectly.

The fight sequences are energetic, fast, and really kick ass. The action has a strong sense of motion, so the punches, kicks, weapons, and evasive moves all feel sharp and impactful. Nothing feels stiff or hard to follow, which is important because the issue has to balance training, flashbacks, and full-on combat. The artists make those shifts feel smooth, keeping the reader locked into the momentum of the story. When things get intense with the Foot Clan and the Synja, the pages bring the kind of chaos and danger you want from a Last Ronin story, but they never lose the emotional thread underneath the action.

What really helps the artwork stand out is how much of Casey Marie’s emotional struggle comes through visually. You can see the frustration and anger in her face early on, and that makes her feel like a real young warrior who is fighting herself just as much as she is fighting anyone else. As the story moves forward, that expression starts to change. The anger does not simply disappear, but it becomes more focused. You begin to see determination, confidence, and drive taking over, and that visual progression makes her growth hit harder. The art does not just tell us Casey is changing; it lets us see that change happening right on the page.

Check Out My Review of TMNT #19

Final Thoughts:

TMNT: The Last Ronin – Training Day #1 does a great job of returning us to the world of The Last Ronin. As one of the most popular parts of the greater TMNT Universe there is always an added pressure to the storytelling. This one-shot doesn’t just meet expectations, but it exceeds them in a lot of ways due to the emotionally relatable story. Hopefully we will get more from this particular part of the world in the future. But if not, this one-shot definitely hits the spot and scratches that Last Ronin itch.

FINAL GRADE: 9/10

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