Michelangelo Had To Become The Last Ronin

Michelangelo, one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, might seem like an unconventional choice to be the last surviving Turtle in a dystopian future. However, the writer of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, Tom Waltz, recently explained in an interview that Michelangelo was the perfect choice to play the role of the Last Ronin. According to Waltz, the creative team behind the miniseries chose Michelangelo because he was the least likely Turtle that readers would expect to take a dark turn.

The five-issue miniseries of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin recently concluded, depicting Michelangelo’s adventures in a bleak future dominated by oppressive forces. In the comic, Michelangelo witnessed the deaths of his brothers and Master Splinter in the war against the Foot Clan, which prompted him to become the Last Ronin, seeking revenge against those who killed his family. Michelangelo joined forces with April O’Neil and her daughter Casey Jones Jr. for one final battle against the Foot Clan.

In a recent interview with CBR, Tom Waltz, the writer of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, discussed his collaboration with Kevin Eastman on an outline from Peter Laird that had been in development for over 30 years. When questioned about the selection of Michelangelo as the TMNT’s Last Ronin, despite his reputation for being more light-hearted and carefree than his brothers, Waltz explained that the contrast between Mikey’s past and future made him the ideal candidate for the role. Additionally, Waltz stated that Michelangelo was the least expected Turtle to take on the mantle, which added to his appeal.

Waltz’s reasoning for choosing Michelangelo as the Last Ronin was excellent, as he turned out to be the perfect choice among the brothers. It was a full-circle moment to have Michelangelo as the last surviving Turtle, as he was the first TMNT hero to be drawn and the final one to survive the battle against the Foot Clan. It was a poetic conclusion to an epic tale.

As noted by Waltz, Raphael and Leonardo were predictable choices, while Donatello would have been too technical to survive, a role already being filled by April. Thus, Michelangelo was the most entertaining and compelling choice, as he harbored a newfound darkness following the loss of his brothers and Master Splinter. Revenge was a characteristic that had never before been seen in Michelangelo’s character.

In the interview, Waltz explains that Michelangelo had to be the Last Ronin due to his journey, which was filled with heartbreak. It exemplified the grimness of the future and how losing his family transformed Michelangelo from a jovial prankster into the Last Ronin, driven by a need for revenge against the Foot Clan. Therefore, choosing Michelangelo as the final surviving Turtle in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin was the correct decision.