Warning: Spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution #5!The Last Ronin’ssequel gives theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfranchise its darkest moment by killing off one of its most iconic characters. The world ofThe Last Ronin(or, theRoninverse, as its writer calls it) depicts the darkest possible timeline for the Turtles. Just when things don’t seem as if they can’t get any more grim, another fan-favorite dies.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution#5, the final issue,reveals the death of April O’Neil. In her old age in the midst of a dystopia, the sage mentor tothe next generation of new Turtlesfights valiantly following an ambush at their headquarters, even plucking out her killer’s eye. In the scuffle, though, Dr. Jones suffers a bullet to the chest. She dies in the arms of her daughter, Casey Marie Jones, and surrounded by the Turtles and Zayton.
This marks the final fate of perhaps the franchise’s most prevalent, longest-lasting supporting character, and marks a big turning point forTMNTmoving forward.
What April’s Death Means for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Moving Forward
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution #5 by Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Esau, Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, Luis Antonio Delgado, and Shawn Lee
April’s death is significant not only in the scope of this series, but in the franchise overall. Having debuted in theoriginal gritty 1984 comic book series, April has been with theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlessince their very inception. The fact that she outlives both the Turtles, Master Splinter, and her husband, Casey Jones I, means that April is officiallythe longest-lasting character inTMNThistory. Her death marks the end of an era, signifying the definitive conclusion of the old guard, and the start of a new guard.
Even as merely a potential timeline, the Roninverse is a canonical depiction of the future of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Just because this is serving as the final issue of this series, that does not necessarily symbolize the closing of a chapter, especially following a cliffhanger ending. Right before the end, the last panel to feature the new-age Turtles is them surrounding their fallen mentor. The concluding panels only emphasize the fact that April’s death marks a new day for the Turtles, setting them up to carve another path for themselves.
Our Take on April’s Death
Where Do the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Go From Here?
The last few pages open the door for theLast Ronin’snew generation of TMNTto now be led by Casey Marie Jones. In all likelihood for a proposed sequel, the transition from protégé to leader is going to be a struggle for Casey and just as much of a tough adjustment for the Turtles as they combat the threat teased at the end of this issue. Whether the new formation of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfall or rise in their attempt to evolve remains to be seen, but April’s death sets the story up to go in a direction unlike ever seen before in the franchise.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution#5 is available now from IDW Publishing.
