Everything Old Is New Again — Reviewing ‘TMNT: The Last Ronin II — Re-Evolution’ #1

Four mutated turtles trained to fight, clad in colorful vestments, and carrying signature weapons have risen to protect New York. They’re not the turtles that you know though. A new era demands a new generation of heroes.

The fight that began with the return of the final original turtle continues with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution #1. This next chapter in the potential TMNT future reunites Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Esau & Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, Luis Antonio Delgado, and Shawn Lee.

Right from the moment they were briefly introduced in the first TMNT: The Last Ronin series, I’ve been anticipating seeing more of this new generation of turtles. It’s noted in my reviews for the follow-up sequel/prequel series, TMNT: The Last Ronin – The Lost Years, I wanted more of them over the Mikey flashbacks.

Well, here we are and it’s time to see how well it delivered.

I can say happily, this delivered.

We’re firmly in the future — even further ahead — and the young teenage turtles are a delight. Personality traits that are similar to the originals, but wholly their own. I love the choice to have them all using a variety of the original turtle weapons rather than each relegated to one weapon. It’s a neat beat that speaks to them being the new generation and reflecting but changing from their predecessors.

Waltz and Eastman continue to grow this future and add to the universe. New issues, new characters, and plenty of callbacks to the past. Plenty of action alongside very character-rich segments speak to what has always made the Turtles so compelling: a family story with trappings of superheroes.

Once more there are numerous artists on hand, tackling different sections of the story.

The Escorza brothers, Esau and Isaac, handle the bulk of the issue. Such a dynamic style that has roughness baked right into everything. Allowing the tough nature of this world to shine through while also allowing it to have fluidic energy. Characters have great detail, and their expressions and body language are perfectly clear. All that roughness spreads into the depth on display as the world around them feels old, worn down, and suitably vast.

Bishop gets to dip into the past as well as the present for his handful of pages. It’s so great how his style has its signature flavor but is similar enough that one can breeze through the issue without a jarring change. A bit more smoothness is found but the same inherent roughness and darkness permeates every page. Current-day pages with the young Turtles getting to be themselves, bantering, and hanging in their secret lair are so good.

What could top them? Well, that would be the full-page spread montages that Bishop crafts which showcase the history of the Turtles & the Foot Clan — and the feud that took so many lives. A perfect way to catch the readers up that shows and tells, but feels natural. Chiefly because the framing device is the Turtles, who have telepathic connections, telling each other the story of their family line.

Delgado bridges both art styles together with colors that feel heavy and washed out, but still able to bring vibrancy in the right spaces. Just those aforementioned montage pages showcase the range that Delgado has. From a stark yellow filter to black and white with splashes of red (bloody red) alongside a page that is full of bright colors. Hitting those classic and modern vibes at the same time, in just the right way.

Capturing Turtle voices is something Lee is a master at by now. That’s because he handles so many TMNT-related books. Finding ways to highlight emotions and personality in every word. Flashing little flairs of creative energy when it comes to how to visually present all of this dialogue. Characters have a ton to say and share in this issue and it falls to the letterer to find the best way to not let it overwhelm. A simple feat for Lee, who allows it all to spread through the pages unencumbered.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution #1 is now available from IDW Publishing.