Tomorrow sees the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin–Lost Years #1, the first issue of a new miniseries that serves as prequel to IDW recent smash hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, an “Old Man Logan” approach to the latter years of your favorite heroes in a half shell. To accompany that series, IDW has announced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Day Special, a one-shot that will “straddle both the past and the future of the Last Ronin universe.”
The 40-page special issue, available in May, is by writers Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz, illustrator Ben Bishop and colorist Luis Antonio Delgado. The story will be told from the point of view of April O’Neil, as she and her daughter raise for new mutant turtles.
“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,” Eastman said. “Buckle up, things are about to get messy!”
Here are the details from IDW:
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.
“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,” said Waltz. “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!”
In addition, IDW plans to release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin—Lost Years #1, Director’s Cut in April, which will feature supplemental material:
For fans hungry for more insight into the creative process behind Last Ronin’s runaway success, Lost Years, Director’s Cut offers 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.
“Just like with TMNT: The Last Ronin, there is a ton of development work taking place on Lost Years that is just as entertaining and exciting as the story being told in the comics,” said Waltz. “In particular, 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.”