TMNT writer Tom Waltz reveals the potential alternate names for new turtles in LAST RONIN II

Back in 2020, IDW printed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, a 5-issue miniseries primarily based on an outdated story define conceived by TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. In the vein of Dark Knight Returns, Last Ronin is ready in an alternate dystopian future and finds Michelangelo, the workforce’s regular occasion dude, as the final remaining turtle on a quest to avenge his household. The miniseries was a smash hit spawning not simply motion figures however even a online game adaptation. So it didn’t come as a shock that IDW introduced a sequel miniseries, The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution, specializing in the new technology of Ninja Turtles teased at the finish.

During New York Comic Con, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Last Ronin II co-writer Tom Waltz to debate how and the total inventive workforce concerned with Re-Evolution plan to prime the first Last Ronin miniseries.

Taimur Dar: The Last Ronin: Lost Day Special one-shot just a few months in the past launched some new characters like the present chief of the Purple Dragons, Jigsaw, in addition to others like Tinker Smith and detectives Frank Corbin and Richard Miller. Can we assume they’ll be taking part in an element in the upcoming The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution miniseries?

Tom Waltz: Yes. We invented these characters for Lost Day with the intent that they are going to make a reappearance in Re-Evolution. Initially [with] Jigsaw, we have been taking part in with the thought of him being Hun however as we began writing the story, we realized this was a new character. Ben [Bishop] got here in with some cool designs like the synthetic arm and he had this army look. I had this entire different story for this man. As his persona modified, it straight affected a few of the storytelling that we’re going to do later. That’s the way it’s at all times occurred from the starting. One factor will result in one other that we weren’t anticipating. My favourite of these characters is Tinker Smith II. We undoubtedly have plans for her in the story. Corbin and Miller is a humorous factor as a result of they’re characters who’ve appeared in different iterations of the Turtles. Both characters have appeared in the IDW ongoing collection. They’re simply this working gag of those two unhealthy cops. If you take a look at the names, it’s an homage to those two creators that we’ve actually appreciated. That being stated you can be seeing them once more in Re-Evolution.

Dar: I can’t resist asking the inspiration for having Tinker Smith’s favourite film be Tommy Boy?

Waltz: The huge purpose I wished to do it’s as a result of I like Tommy Boy and in the story she says how she has these actually good recollections of watching it along with her dad. It’s a film that I might watch with my children and you’ll simply watch it over and over. It’s consolation meals. You’re at all times going to snicker. I additionally wished to point out how regardless that she has points blaming April for her father’s loss of life, she’s nonetheless a very good individual at coronary heart. It gave me a chance to have “Fat guy in a little coat,” which is a cue for Uno to select on Odyn. But Tinker involves his protection and says, “He’s not fat. He’s a big cuddly tank.” It put Uno in his place and it was a pleasant second for Odyn. Ben Bishop nailed it when he drew it. The largest query at the time was if we may have that scene as a result of we didn’t know if we may do it legally. But it turned out it was okay. I assumed it was a scene solely I might get however you’re one amongst many who’s stated they love that Tommy Boy second. So I’m glad we put it in there.

Dar: As you talked about with the IDW ongoing collection, it’s fairly spectacular how a lot you’ve been in a position to mine from the total TMNT franchise. For occasion, Darius Dun and the Street Phantoms from the Fast Forward cartoon I by no means anticipated to see once more. For Re-Evolution, are there any acquainted characters and ideas from different media that may seem in the Last Ronin II miniseries?

Waltz: We discuss that always however I don’t assume we’ve settled on anyone particularly. The largest factor for us is that if we try this it’s to service the story. Like I stated, once we thought we have been bringing Hun in that was a pleasant callback to the different variations. But we realized Hun didn’t actually serve this story as a result of it is a completely different character who can play an entire completely different position [but] nonetheless working with the Purple Dragons. During the run of the IDW comics we’ve at all times referred to as it, “cherry picking.” Like you stated, there’s simply such a plethora of characters to select from that you simply by no means run out.

It’s humorous you introduced up Darius Dun. For me, I used to be the one who wished to carry in Darius and was disenchanted with what occurred. Right once I felt that he was getting fascinating, we killed him. And it bothered me as a result of I used to be simply beginning to get into the groove writing him. He was beginning to really feel like our Kingpin character. We had a fortunate alternative once they determined to do the second Turtles/Ghostbusters crossover. They wanted ghosts so this was our probability to redeem ourselves a little bit with Darius Dun and produce him again. Erik Burnham and I sat down and introduced him into the story. An enormous a part of that was simply because I used to be disenchanted that he had such a fast exit from the collection.

Dar: From the covers, we all know that the new technology of turtles wield all the signature weapons of the unique turtles. What led to that call versus giving them completely different and distinct weapons?

Waltz: That was very deliberate. In Master Splinter’s journal and what Mikey was speaking quite a bit about in the unique Last Ronin is this concept of being a well-rounded warrior. You can’t depend on simply the one weapon or type. In The Lost Years miniseries that was one thing Master Yip was additionally telling Michelangelo when he was coaching with him. You can’t grasp your weapons until you grasp your arms first. We felt when Mikey got here again to New York, he could be coaching Casey [Marie Jones] in all these completely different types and weapons. It appeared to make sense that that will be how she would practice her college students to be. They ought to be capable to wield all these weapons. We hinted that every turtle favors a weapon. We see Yi favors the bo employees like Donatello. Odyn has the nunchucks. Uno has katana. And clearly Moja has the sai. We wished to point out that Mikey’s coaching mattered to Casey and she or he took it to coronary heart in order that her college students may use all these weapons too but additionally pay homage to her grasp. It opens up storytelling alternatives that we’d not have had in any other case if that they had a selected set of weapons.

Dar: By now the which means of the names of the new turtles has been revealed. In this web age, it wasn’t too laborious to determine all the names imply “one” in a unique language however there’s an precise deeper significance. What was the inspiration for that?

Waltz: The names have been one thing we took very critically and took a very long time. There have been numerous completely different concepts that everyone threw out. We method we circled to the one idea was, I used to be speaking about my time in the Marine Corps and boot camp. I advised Kevin, “When you’re in boot camp, you don’t really have a name. They call you recruit. You don’t even have a rank and you have to earn your rank. If you want to be Private Waltz, you had to pass boot camp. The whole point of boot camp is to break everybody down and turn you into a cohesive unit and then discover your individuality coming out of that. But you’ve got to learn how to work together as one. Kevin heard that and thought it as interesting. He said, “They would be one team and #1 in Casey’s heart because she was their mother figure too.”

The subsequent day Kevin stated, “I had some ideas based on that recruit thing you were talking about. What if their names meant one? But it was based on the different languages that Mikey experienced on his journey from Japan back to New York City?” Yi was Chinese and Odyn was Russian as a result of he needed to combat in the Ukraine at one level. We had Uno as Spanish and Moja as Swahili as a result of we had an African connection at one level. I checked out the names and aesthetically it appealed it me. Trust me, we tried every kind of issues like completely different artist names. I even stated, “What if Casey like rock ‘n’ roll and they were named Jagger after Mick Jagger?” In the finish, that is what labored and afterwards there was no going again.

Dar: Since IDW acquired the Turtles license greater than a decade in the past, I’ve liked not solely how a lot has been added to the proverbial toybox and mythos however seeing these new characters and ideas translated into different media. Alopex, for occasion, appeared in an episode of the 2012 TMNT cartoon. We’ve already seen varied motion figures primarily based on The Last Ronin. There’s little doubt in my thoughts that these new turtles will make the leap exterior of comics whether or not in motion figures or animation. I’d love to listen to your ideas and emotions on all this.

Waltz: I might like to see that. I’m not going to doubt something anymore. Getting Last Ronin performed was an enormous job for us and an enormous accomplishment. We thought if that was all we did, we have been joyful. We advised the story we wished to inform. When it took off prefer it did, rapidly, we began seeing statues. It was taking place so quick. I believe it even stunned Paramount and Nickelodeon as a result of they have been promoting out. We had the toy corporations asking us to ship extra toy designs. Even obscure Foot ninja referred to as the synja. They wished all the pieces. That made me notice there’s a market for this. People need this stuff. We completely hope that carries over. The Last Ronin online game has been introduced from AAA Games. It’s very loyal to the story we advised. I might not be shocked if there’s some type of Ronin film or TV collection. They’ve bought to be contemplating it.

As far as the 4 new turtles, it’s going to actually rely on how folks reply to the ebook. Our major precedence is ensuring it is a worthy follow-up to Ronin and we’ve been very cautious and cautious about this story we’re telling so it doesn’t simply really feel like the 4 turtles with completely different names. We need them to be distinctive and enchantment to a new technology and the older followers. This only a pure transition to new turtles as a result of they’ll’t reside eternally. Somebody has step into their footwear. We’re hoping if folks really feel like these are the rightful heirs to the unique 4 then I believe all the pieces takes care of itself so far as motion figures and toys. Anything is feasible.