Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin has become one of the most successful and influential stories in the franchise's history.
Originally published by IDW in 2020, the dark, future-set tale follows the last surviving Turtle as he wages a one-man war against the Foot Clan in a dystopian New York City.
Since then, the story has spawned multiple follow-ups, including The Lost Years and The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution,. In July, a new comic series titled Training Day will hit shelves.
But now, while the planned R-rated live-action film version was canceled by Paramount last year, The Last Ronin is being adapted across other media.
A newly released novel adaptation, The Last Ronin: A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Novel, reimagines the bestselling graphic novel as a prose story aimed at longtime fans. Written by Erik Burnham and featuring original black-and-white illustrations from the Escorza Brothers, the book expands on the original comic but with a noir-inspired tone.
Per Abrams Books, it “reimagines the bestselling Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles graphic novel in an action-packed noir novel, perfect for fans who grew up with the Turtles.”
Now, to celebrate the release, Polygon has shared an exclusive excerpt from the novel, offering fans a look at how the story translates from comic panels to prose. The adaptation follows the same core premise as the original graphic novel, centering on a lone surviving Turtle seeking revenge in a dystopian, futuristic New York City.
Related:Â Paramount Changes ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Name After 42 Years
In addition to the new book, a brand-new trailer has also been revealed at this year's Summer Fest. Developed by Platinum Games and published by Paramount Games Studio, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is an AAA action-adventure game.
Watch the new trailer below:
There's no release date for the game, but this should please fans who have been convinced that the project, which was announced in 2023, had also been shelved.
The Last Ronin remains a unique entry in the TMNT franchise. While co-creator Kevin Eastman and collaborators have often described it as being closest to the original '80s Mirage Comics continuity, the story has also been embraced by many fans as a spiritual continuation of the darker tone established by the 1990 live-action film.
That connection became even more interesting earlier this year when original April O'Neil actor Judith Hoag confirmed she had been approached about appearing in the now-canceled live-action adaptation, suggesting the project may have incorporated elements of the 1990 movie continuity.
Meanwhile, outside the Ronin-verse, Paramount continues to explore new directions for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles across film, television, animation, and entertainment.
Will you be picking up The Last Ronin novel? Let us know in the comments below!
