R-Rated sequels and prequels to TMNT: The Last Ronin already percolating in Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz's heads

TMNT: The Last Ronin cover — (Image credit: Esau Escorza/Issac Escorza (IDW Publishing))

So it turns out the people who grew up on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles like the grown-up, R-rated take on them with the new series TMNT: The Last Ronin. And although there are still four issues to come of this hit limited series, writers Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz already have ideas for several sequels, prequels, and even a new origin story.

"Not gonna lie - Kevin and I are already talking about this very thing," TMNT: The Last Ronin co-writer Tom Waltz told Newsarama's Grant DeArmitt. "It's like 2011 all over again - we've started a new TMNT universe and we are psyched up, motivated, and itching to do more given the chance!"

The Last Ronin began as a germ of an idea between Eastman and his TMNT co-creator Peter Laird over 30 years ago but was filed away and mostly forgotten. As Waltz explained to Newsarama recently, Eastman remembered the idea in 2018 and brought it up to Waltz as a potential project after they wrapped up their 100-issue run on IDW's main Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title.

"Like Frank Miller and The Dark Knight Returns, we hope The Last Ronin is an evergreen TMNT tale that fans will read forever as a cherished standalone tome," Waltz continues. "But I've also let IDW and Nickelodeon know that Kevin and I have sequels and prequels (including a new origin tale) bouncing around in our skulls."

TMNT: The Last Ronin has become a bit of a sensation among fans and retailers, with the first issue selling over 150,000 copies, with more on the way. This dark, mature R-rated version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has outsold the main TMNT title IDW Publishing, and in just five weeks has become the highest-selling single TMNT in decades.

"We'll just have to wait and see if there's a demand from readers and retailers for expanding this universe once The Last Ronin is all said and done," said the writer. "For now, I just want to sincerely thank everyone who's jumped on board so far from the bottom of my heart. You all rock!"

TMNT: Last Ronin #2 (of 5) goes on sale on January 27, 2021.

Check up to speed with all the new TMNT comics, graphic novels, and collections in 2020 and beyond.

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)