Turtles' Designer Ben Bishop Discusses Crafting Turtles for TMNT: The Last Ronin's Prequel, The Lost Years
January 25, 2023
Fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) are in for a treat as the new anthology series, "TMNT: The Last Ronin - The Lost Years" launches today. This exciting expansion of IDW's apocalyptic Ninja Turtles offshoot follows Michelangelo, the last surviving brother of the Hamato Clan, as he battles against the authoritarian descendants of the Foot, seeking vengeance for his fallen family.
At the helm of this series is artist Ben Bishop, who has been actively pursuing the IDW TMNT comics since 2012. Bishop is best known for his work on "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin - The Lost Years" and the first edition of the comic series. He is now back to illustrate The Lost Years alongside SL Gallant.
Bishop's designs for the new foursome of turtles, ranging from babies to teenagers, are a highlight of the series. Each issue will feature new Turtles, with Casey Marie, and April having separate designs that will change every issue. Bishop's designs aim to inspire the next generation of TMNT fans, and his work on the packaging art for TMNT action figures based on his designs is a dream come true.
The new series includes flashbacks to a time before The Last Ronin, with SL Gallant handling the illustrations for these sections. The sewer lair, a significant part of the TMNT universe, has also been given a fresh look by Bishop, who felt particularly excited about designing it for "The Lost Years".
The new turtle designs, sewer lair, and packaging art may be adapted for future TMNT cartoon or movie, making this series a significant milestone in the TMNT franchise.
The Last Ronin's gangbusters popularity has extended beyond comic books into TMNT merchandise. The series features a five-issue miniseries that expands The Last Ronin's universe with stories set before and after the main narrative. "TMNT: The Last Ronin - The Lost Years #1" is available on shelves today, January 25.
Bishop is excited about returning to The Last Ronin project, describing it as a dream come true. His designs for the new Turtles, sewer lair, and packaging art aim to inspire a new generation of TMNT fans, and with every issue jumping forward in time, the series promises an exciting journey through the post-Ronin framing sequences with new Turtles, Casey Marie, and April.
