The Last Ronin

[@stefangreen3770]

I still believe that the 2003 TMNT episode where Donatello traveled into the future where the Shredder took over the world where he met a one armed grizzled Michelangelo influence this comic.

[@noahhall5211]

Same as it never was I love that episode

[@marcussantos4816]

For real the moment I found out who ronin is I instantly thought of that episode.

[@Elvusmiw]

Dont forget that 1 issue from mirage

[@S0L1D88]

The story concept of the last ronin was created in 1986. Kevin Eastman was talking about in a cartoonist kayfabe episode. Cool reference/connection though, 2003 tmnt is amazing

[@chaoswarriorx4411]

I thought they were somewhat the same

[@Orkunkadunk]

Funny character being forced to be a depressed monster is my fav trope

[@Elvusmiw]

It still feels like a completely different character to me.

[@paytondelaney8316]

It actually makes complete since. The funny ones are always the depressed deep down in stories.

[@Dookieman1975]

Timer set for when it joins the overplayed trope or when people get mad it’s even in something

[@russianoverkill3715]

@@paytondelaney8316 I rolled my eyes so hard on your comment

[@fatthanosfeet]

@@russianoverkill3715 same

[@pajamapantsjack5874]

TMNT is a lot like transformers, a weird silly idea that when given to people who care makes some of my favorite stories I’ve ever read

[@joshua2400]

true, also, Jesus loves you : ) I hope youre having a nice day today my friend

[@kullenmontgomery1210]

@@joshua2400 why does he love this dude? although this dude specifically is probaby pretty cool

[@metsu-satsu4280]

I agree, especially considering that IDW has established arguably the best Transformers continuity and lore in the franchise

[@xiulilin8311]

If those people aren’t Michael Bay.

[@MeowsclesPrime]

Imagine this but Transformers. Like Optimus, after Alpha Trion’s death, becomes similar to Bayverse Optimus

[@nickcariglio8228]

I'd like to think that it's *just* New York that ended up turning into a dystopia. Like, Casey and the turtles go to Vermont in one issue and there's just nothing wrong there.

[@cyrilkhoury19]

While it’s a nice thought, the sequel/prequel comic “the lost years” proves this is sadly not the case. Tl;Dr: Most of China is an irradiated wasteland and the rest of Central Asia is rife with criminal gangs and warlords pillaging the countryside. Also Korea has reunified, but the North is still a barren hellscape rife with crime and poverty.

[@tyronleung5276]

Bodycount

[@spin6872]

@@cyrilkhoury19well it’s one continent so it’s still bad but it could be worse

[@someone-wo5nu]

​@@cyrilkhoury19middle east and Europe are safe then!

[@Mortified42]

​@@someone-wo5nuMiddle East is empty, but only because they all moved to Europe, and it caused a massive civil war. Oh wait, that's what's going to happen irl. My bad

[@potatofarmergyro1720]

The first time i realized that Mikey was the last Ronin, legit brought me to tears. The one turtle who treasured his family more than anything is the one who has to deal with such soul-crushing loneliness, the one turtle who had a near limitless source of enthusiasm having to live such an unbearably painful existence...i can't imagine just how hellish it must have felt for him.

[@thefirstofthelastones8952]

You have no idea... "The Last Ronin - The Lost Years" comic shows what he's been through ever since. And you wanna know what's even sadder... April is still alive but Mikey thought she also died.

[@IIIISai]

Dang

[@famassniperhandgun]

. 💬 ☝️🤓

[@A93453]

bro cried for a turtle 😭😭😭😭(i cried too ngl)

[@jabir3996]

"Sometimes" in Spiderman is an understatement

[@apatheticobserver5290]

It ain't a Spider-Man comic if you don't feel the massive contempt of the writers' seeping through every droplet of ink.

[@mr_resource5099]

Love the writers making up creative ways to make Peter suffer 😁

[@tristenwelch1675]

I remember reading a comment about spider-man that said "it's not a spidey comic unless Peter suffers unfathomably"

[@indraexe2za]

You have no idea

[@rileymanley8212]

Fun fact, one of the original creators of tmnt returned to create those lsd flashbacks for this comic!

[@the_well-known_stranger2275]

Both of the creators actually returned. The original writer penned the story and the artist came back for those flashbacks

[@nathansquared2685]

I was thinking to myself "this looks so much like the original run from the 80s"

[@topcat59]

Honestly to me it makes a lot more sense that Michelangelo would be the last Ronin, since he’s the most optimistic of his brothers and is the one that keeps them together and the possibility of him losing his own family would definitely lead him down this dark path.🤔🐱

[@ryanflippinharris]

Iirc of the 4 he has the most potential to be the strongest as well.

[@djbobby224]

Also he was always been the most picked on. It makes sense why he always critical of himself and hear his brothers in his head

[@wambokodavid7109]

its why i hate last ronin.why just why did they do this to mikey??i wanted it to be raff so learns the value of his brothers since hes always ditching them but mikey......this was so saad

[@Kopie0830]

He lived by spinning like a helicopter.

[@gabriellaskey6798]

It is Mikey

[@PokeBattlerJaze]

Ngl, the moment I got to the panel where we see the Last Ronin lockpicking his way into a place with the three ghost all explaining how he should do it, I IMMEDIATELY knew it was Mikey.

[@mhead1117]

No u didnt

[@PokeBattlerJaze]

@@mhead1117 what?

[@agoatwithinternetaccess7878]

@@mhead1117 aint no way you denying what he thought

[@mhead1117]

@@agoatwithinternetaccess7878 he's a liar

[@cometasteroids7761]

These two comments in a nutshell: Nuh uh Tf you mean nuh uh??

[@thesistersofbattle]

Believed it was Michelangelo because whenever a story like this comes out, they always go for the "subverting expectations" approach.

[@Creepo_J]

For me, it couldn't have been any other turtle

[@thesistersofbattle]

@@Creepo_J In a roundabout way, I guess I came to the same conclusion.

[@Nugnugnug]

It makes a lot of sense to me. Mikey was the most jovial and nonchalant of the turtles and would have to undergo the most trauma and developmemt to become the Ronin.

[@Ironica82]

Just by weapons alone, Micky was the best choice as nunchucks are the hardest weapons out of the four to be a pro at. Thus, he is actually the most skilled overall of the four but his chill persona keeps him from excelling to be the best in the group.

[@Unsavoryy]

To be fair he always had the most natural fighting ability and potential out of the 4 total brothers.

[@CarlosVasquez-xf8nx]

Bro, I completely understand you what it’s like not knowing that that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had comics like, bro, I didn’t even know that sonic the hedgehog had comics

[@marianoclerici3986]

That's different, Sonic didn't start as a comic, while TMNT did.

[@bjneal5615]

Sonic has a comic!!????!!???

[@edward18517]

​@bjneal5615 numerous different comic series for Sonic actually ^_^

[@MASTEROFEVIL]

200th like

[@wesspect]

Sonic is a HEDGEHOG?!?!

[@Kopie0830]

Dayum. I feel like I lost a part childhood knowing that the 4 greens are really canonically gone. No one lives forever. Sad to think that the turtles are are not a species and once they die, they have to create them manually again from an experiment. RIP turtles.

[@MinorKey135]

If it makes you feel better, the turtles are technically in the Marvel universe (they’re tangentially involved in the accident that blinds Daredevil). So, there’s plenty of timelines where they’re alive

[@Kopie0830]

@@MinorKey135 Good to hear. But my 90's heroes in a halfshell are canonically gone. But man, it started when one of them technically went to a suicide mission to avenge his master. Then their base got hamased, bummer dude.

[@Zay-y6m]

That’s not true, this story is a what if scenario not canon

[@thequestion8697]

Yeah...this isn't canon to any mainline turtle media. Definitely not the 90s cartoon at least. And just cuz they died in one story it doesn't mean the turtles as a whole are dead.

[@DaroriDerEinzige]

Michelangelo - Even in older issues he was often the "perfect pick" for the whole "Being alone" Trope. He's the most "childlike" of them, the one which can't take stuff seriously.

[@madvizion742]

This series is what , after 20 plus years, got me back into comics. I predicted it would be Mikey. For me it was easy, he was the only one who had some growing up to do. Raph, Leo and Donnie would all happily die in battle. Raph kinda ran toward that outcome, generally speaking of course. Great series.

[@pajwubx1809]

What do you mean kinda, dude went into a 1v100 willingly. Sure he was a mutant with better stats than most of them, but we saw the ending to that fight

[@GrimmShane]

And even then, comparatively, he STILL WON, Karai was no more and the Foot clan was practically in shambles ​@@pajwubx1809

[@Firemaster27]

28:09 “senseless yapping” Out of all ways to phrase that, I was not expecting you to use the word “yapping” 💀

[@ecw613]

Mikey literally says it in the following panels. It does NOT surprise me he would 😂

[@bandawin18]

I miss when the only people who said that word were old. Now every mush brained idiot kid is regurgitating it

[@Lily.Hiragashi]

“Man, you guys sure like yapping more than you do listening” It is true

[@owenclaussen9708]

Mullets becoming my favorite KZbinr and I love his videos and takes on everything

[@enderethan144]

The Last Ronin aka Mikey is another great example of what trauma can do to a person. Other examples include Peni Parker, Sindri from God of War Ragnarok & Luz from The Owl House.

[@hilosky]

I'm not remembering what trauma Luz went through

[@whyudoit4009]

@@hilosky she blamed herself for Belos' win, and trapping her friends in a place where they really couldn't call home.

[@potatofarmergyro1720]

So many characters in One Piece also deal with trauma, especially childhood trauma.

[@Neopolitan2024]

What happened to Peni Parker, what did she trauma go through

[@reesyloko5741]

​@@Neopolitan2024 Shes a spiderperson it she had a canon event lmao (it was not funny a venom mech killed uncle ben and her best friend)

[@johnathan7258]

My mind was also blown when I found out my favorite cartoon action heroes had started in comics. Comic books being my favorite thing in the world growing up. I never heard about this Ronin story so I'm going to read it and come back to watch this as not to spoil it ❤

[@gianlucaferrara1023]

One of my fav superhero stories ever, alongside TDK Returns, All Star Superman or Spider-Man: Life Story. Like those stories, a perfect, symbolic endgame for the Turtles franchise. ❤

[@MASTEROFEVIL]

100th like

[@XanderMagguire]

This story is so unbelievably emotionally choking had me sobbing when he saw them in the afterlife it’s perfect

[@190mohammedyasin6]

Same

[@Vault_69]

The 2003 show was also my first exposure to the Turtles and is probably my favorite Turtles media. And you mentioning the ps2 movie game brought back memories of playing it a ton as well

[@gemalbest1]

Thank you for covering this awesome edition of one of my fav cartoons growing up, I’m definitely going to get the comics.!

[@2DI0pictures]

Gave him the dark knight returns treatment. Even more heart breaking when you know the story behind the creators.

[@firecat4529]

I recently watched the video "How did a violent indie comic become a $15,000,000,000 franchise?" by Matttt. It's about the ninja turtles, their creators and comic book origin (including "The last Ronin"). I can really recommend watching it if you haven't already. It also covers all their comic runs across time and what went on behind the scenes then.

[@BravJars]

I love how the comic made massive differences between Hiroto and Shredder Shredder is a cold-blooded psychopath dedicated to taking over New York and possibly even the world using the pure dedication of his followers along with his intellect and raw power while Hiroto is a lazy coward who was born into power while Shredder his grandfather wasn't.

[@alexm.a.d892]

I knew it was Michaelengo, they always give comedic reliefs the biggest character development and struggles

[@theboywhowillsurpassthegods]

one thing i love is (and im pretty sure everyone shouldve already picked up on it) that mikey talks to "brothers" and im guessing its because thats just what they would do when roaming new york the thing that instantly comes to mind is the bay movies especially the opening scene where their running around and talking

[@KalmoK]

I cried when I read this comic, TMNT is my favorite childhood show from the 90's and it cut deep to see everyone dying 😢 THE MEMORY WILL LIVE ON! ❤

[@spodermoose7401]

you could tell it was mikey because for his critical thinking and plan making, he consults the visions of his brothers he was never that type of warrior so in a way he uses the memories of his brothers to help himself think like them

[@CSB12004]

Bro...Im not even a TMNT fan but that ending almost made me cry

[@190mohammedyasin6]

Yeah

[@BlancSlot]

"Cowabummer" - Raphael

[@paperknigth2263]

This is the first time I see a Mullet-Man video about a comic I actually read. So Finally I can tell how complete and accurate this videos are. Pretty complete and accurate, if you ask me. (and you didn't)

[@socriabbas454]

Its kinda funny how people tend to sleep on the fact that TMNT was originally supposed to be a dark comic and it always has.

[@caneleeta]

That intro made me realize I need Mullet man to talk about Red Robin

[@the_well-known_stranger2275]

Exactly, it’s an amazing comic and peak Tim Drake

[@felixmckinney7132]

There’s been enough normal Batman and TMNT crossovers. Now I want a Batman Beyond and Last Ronin crossover.

[@Ray-bn1ry]

Of course its Mikey, hes always been the GOAT just like how he was the best in the tournament 💯

[@Shibaisscare]

It’s gotta be Michelangelo. My reasoning is he was Yk a non-serious goofy party guy, but the trauma from watching everyone he loved in his life die, hardened him and made him more serious

[@visnyliss]

YO. THIS is how I found out this comic exists. TMNT was my childhood, but for me it was the 90s animated series and live-action films. Like you, I didn't find out there were comics until much later. I need to get this book, like, yesterday.

[@natural20_]

immediately thought it was Michaelangelo because he was the innocent one. trauma of the innocent makes for good storytelling sometimes.

[@thed3m0n0id9]

"Oh brother, this guy STINKS!" made me laugh out loud. Got a like for that one.

[@The-jolly-dancing-devil]

I would really love to see a movie or TV show adaptation of The last Ronin that would be awesome😩

[@The_Punisher]

About that

[@phillipscarr3177]

There is a live action R-rated adaptation of The Last Ronin currently in development:)

[@yowatchie]

@@phillipscarr3177 Too bad it’s supposed to be live action.

[@thefirstofthelastones8952]

They announced a Video Game adaption that'll have a gameplay similiar to the current God of War games and Live-action, R-rated film for The Last Ronin.

[@rufusblue8044]

​@phillipscarr3177 let's just hope the people in charge of it care about the source material and don't turn it into the slop we have been getting for years now

[@D-MF-L]

I didn’t expect HIM to be HIM.. but after he got his ass kicked and overwhelmed I had a pretty good idea who IT had to be and considering the loss I could see it.

[@NoirNameless]

If you like this, there are so many other more serious, darker stories they have that are awesome. Early Turtles, when they were inspired heavily by Ronin and Daredevil were really, really cool. They didn’t care who they were killing, and acted with the ideals of actual ninja. I really wish there was more grit in their modern representations. A darker animated series adapting one of those storylines is a must at some point. They deserve it.

[@thelordofthelostbraincells]

Fr, the jokester/funny/soul of the group going through something so terrible that they are broken is such a good trope

[@JaytT1197]

Mullet-Man: I won't spoil who the last ronin is 0:59 seconds into the video: zooms in giving obvious hint who's the last ronin 😂😂

[@charlesdunn9222]

I’ve just noticed that as each turtle dies someone dies with them. For Raph there’s Kari For Leo Casey Jones Donny goes out with Splinter And Mikey goes down after killing Hiroto

[@dragontear1638]

That was a very fast 36 minutes, very well done on the video sir, thank you for making this.

[@marcussantos4816]

Like you, my love for the turtles started with the 2003 series although I was born a month after the show was releasing. I still found a way to watch it and loved it also the 2012 series. I didn’t read the comics till 2020 I started with mirage then the last Ronin didn’t finish the Ronin till last year and boy that is one of the coolest comics I read. I’m happy it’s becoming popular and I need to read lost years. Also that ending with Mikey got me 😔.

[@tyronleung5276]

Last ronin makes no sense to mirage

[@marcussantos4816]

@@tyronleung5276 what do you mean?

[@ColdJamiy]

I Burst out laughing when you brought up "the honored one" XD

[@kive2039]

Mickey was always the lil brother so it makes sense for him to be the Ronin‼️🥷🏾

[@Smile-op1nr]

I thought the last ronin was either mickey or leo because if donatello was the last ronin he would probably use some more sofisticated, and Raphaël being the most hot headed I would hardly see him surviving and not going crazy the moment one of his brother died

[@mariofaria9894]

For me the last ronin was always Michelangelo. The funny light hearted character seeing his family die and getting serious to enact revenge for his fallen brothers, no more fun no kore jokes, pure distilled anger.

[@chasecummings1529]

The idw comics are so damn good, if you enjoy them a lot I highly recommend the 2012 Nickelodeon tmnt cartoon, which still to this day is my personal favorite iteration of the tmnt and I grew up on the 2003 series as well

[@vincehill4224]

God I love Casey’s black and purple battle outfit looks so clean man

[@kyledamron]

Ive been a TMNT fan since the 80s. I was even Raphael for Halloween when I was 4. I was obsessed with the turtles.

[@TheGamingGhost574]

I absolutely love The Last Ronin so much and it will always hold a spot in my heart as one of my favorite pieces of my comic collection. And my favorite part is that its Michelangelo because he’s the brights fun one and before reading it i wouldve never seen him turning into such a dark character.

[@ArcTrooper269]

🤡: _"Casey Jones is not the 5° ninja turtle"_ Me: *EJEM...* 33:26

[@Cameron20199]

I always kinda thought it was Mikey, I mean the turtles criticizing him in his head is something he would go through.

[@Baked1s]

loved this video, huge fan of your marvel and dc content but this was a really nice change of pace

[@Spider-fan2038-js1iq]

For this who are wondering about the art change into black and white with some of the flashbacks in the last Ronin is those parts are written in the original style of the original tmnt Comics which are pretty great and have multiple cool other comics references especially the Daredevil References(the foot is based off of the hand in the daredevil comics.)

[@theonekeanu]

2:43 cowabummer

[@karlgrimm3027]

The first live action movie from the 90’s still holds up pretty well.

[@BabyStolasHootHoot]

The battle cost April an arm and a leg... REHEHEHEHEH

[@BasementDweller_]

I feel like I’ve had some Déjà vu. I’ve could have sworn the Last Ronin was a story line decades ago. I remember talking to my friend when we were kids who was the best Turtle. My friend then always acted smug and said well Mikey becomes the Last Ronin. Then years later when the official comic was running and people where guessing who the Last Ronin was, I was like aren’t they going to make it Mikey again?

[@darkphoenix2745]

30:18 This reminds me of the alien Obi-wan fights in 2003 Clone Wars.

[@JoshuaHenelyThornhill]

Never read the turtle comics but what a tremendous story.

[@ghostlyninja125]

9:07 i thought it would be mikey, most likely to be under estimated and left to live

[@Hugo_Tate]

Please do more longer videos. They’re awesome. Great job man

[@maker6153]

2003 TMNT looks really good I think because each turtle is a different shade alongside their bandana. I remember the stories being good and animation tickling my child brain

[@madison9063]

3:40 when it first was announced i immediately suggested it was Mikey, in most adaptations he's the youngest last one of the brothers and and has raw talent, it being Raph or Leo could've been generic since they already had there lone warrior moments and donny could've been drenched with tech on him if he was the last ronin, dont take this as fact tho, thats just how I how I theorized it.

[@Manac0r3]

Called it..from party dude..to real truth. Still got it 🎉🎉🎉

[@bigTwan23]

4:00 “oh brother this guy stinks”🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. I love your commentary great work

[@SL_Andrew]

Thank you so much for the jjk spoiler warning bro I just started watching it and you just saved me

[@ladonmccabe]

Damn, I called michelangelo being the Ronin, and Raphael being the first to bite the dust

[@Kedamojo]

Did not expect to be so floored by a tmnt comic. Holy shit it’s GOLD

[@tearintime3]

I honestly think it’s Mikey, he’s the best combatant and has always had a screw loose, and has made it out of some crazy situations, and in most of their group fights he’s the one who is the one who rises to take the win for them. But I also think it could be Leo, for no reason other than he’s my favorite and think “the leader losing his family and crashing out” would be a really interesting story

[@Onroomoreroo]

This might be one of my favourite videos on your channel

[@SmeeHal]

I cannot tell you how upset I was about my boys dying. I lost sleep and was misty eyed the whole night. I was furious. TMNT was my entire childhood and is still very much with me. TMNT down for life.

[@Hollowdude15]

The Last Robin is such an amazing comic book and great video Mullet-Man Comics :]

[@drpebblez]

Fat content practically back to back bro!!!! Stoked!

[@TMNTTHECONTINUITY]

TMNT is my pashion I've seen all of the cartoons movies I have a lot of toys played many video games and of course read the TMNT comics which I grow to love more and more over time

[@tjreardon8495]

I honestly thought it was leonardo the one who follows splinters teachings the most my second guess being raph being a fan favorite honestly mike was my last guess but they made it work

[@PatManfra]

This was a great story and video. Thank you so much for creating it.

[@MrLUIS650]

I've heard about this story totally assumed it was Rafael. Never thought it was Michaelangelo that was a surprise 😳

[@Drey_doll]

I honestly would think that Michelangelo would 100% fill that space. The character development for that guy is so amazing.

[@corinthiansdaniels3728]

Bro its mikey straight up this would destroy him mentally and im pretty sure he would mentally expect them to judge him the most

[@corinthiansdaniels3728]

Holy sht i was right hell yea

[@slowbro1337]

The cover artist for the Last Ronin is such a nice guy. His works are great and varried. Please check out Edward Kraatz II. He's a great artist, and his merch is cool and makes solid gifts. Used to let him sell his merch during comic movie premieres at the theater I mannaged. Good man, and great artist.

[@mirage_wanderlust4636]

😭😭😭😭 Mikey reuniting with his family!!! Dude, gets me every time❤️💙🧡💜

[@d_ruggs]

I find it kind of crazy that you grew up watching the 03 show, but never saw the comics. Maybe you watched it later, but as a mid 90's kid, I saw it growing up a lot too, and I ran into the comics a lot. Usually a friends house or (randomly) the music store's comic book section.

[@jonathanplooij3666]

0:20 maybe, but you forgot to include them in the 80%

[@EmoEmu]

Really cool video. Thanks for making it.

[@boingo_bongo]

i heard him define crashout as somebody that goes from a walking ray of sunshine to baby kia 2.0 and i already knew who it was

[@AngeloSalcedo-t1y]

And don't forget the last row and is the original writers coming together after all these years in finishing their first run all the way back from the 80. I enjoy this book I love this book

[@PeptoAbismol]

2003 TMNT is the series I also grew up on and it is by far still the best iteration of the turtles imo. the animation of the show is super dated with inconsistencies and shortcuts being frequent but i find it charming because when the budget shows its really nice to look at. the voices will always be how I imagine they sound (Brooklyn Raph is unmatched) and the art style is sick as hell. good ass cartoon.

[@PeptoAbismol]

in regards to who i thought the last ronin was, i thought and wanted it to be Mikey. in the show Splinter basically tells him "you have raw gifted talent, but your mind is unfocused". him being the last ronin gives him a task to focus on, and lets him express that talent that Splinter knows he has. plus he was always my favorite turtle next to Raph so i was a bit biased.

[@stevenguitink5947]

Yeah given your intro, I kinda figured it was Mikey. Someone that carefree had the most to lose if he fell.

[@Whyisthisathing825]

20:45 Hmmm, didn't knew that Dr Aphra was a canon character in TMNT comic continuity (and that there was one in the first place)

[@Joeseph_Kerr]

I already read Ronin before this video. But when you asked us to guess, it reminded me of trying to figure it out myself while I read it... I never really knew till the reveal. But I figured it couldn’t be Leo. If anyone died first it was the leader.

[@YonkoDGoofy]

I absolutely love TMNT, I was them for halloween for 6 years straight 😂😂 but when i first came across this comic and they kept the turtle vague-I just had a strong feeling that Mikey was the Last Ronin. Not only is he my favorite and the Best Turtle(I'll take no questions), but I've always held Splinter's fondness of Mikey despite always getting on him for slacking or being lazy sometimes, and I've always held to my belief that if someone as joyful as him got everything taken away, he'd be an absolute menace and stop at nothing to get his revenge. I love this comic and I can't wait for more.

[@Kaustic26]

I have never read this comic, i am at 4:39 in the video and I’m immediately guessing it’s Leo

[@Kaustic26]

Well, fuck

[@rileylagerstrom9843]

bruh i knew it was gonna be mikey, imo the most obvious choice for a gritty and super sad alternate universe would be the happy/upbeat/ always cracking jokes mikey.