CBCC 88: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- The Last Ronin

Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

We bring our Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series to a close with the final Turtle story as envisioned thirty years ago by the original TMNT creators, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. In The Last Ronin, we find the last living Ninja Turtle marching into a Foot Clan-occupied New York City, determined to end the fight that consumed his family. He's beaten, bruised, and maybe a little deluded. After all, the spirits of his three dead brothers haunt his waking world.

As discussed in our Martian Manhunter episode, grief builds a monument in our hearts. His brothers are gone, but their lives still influence the remaining turtle's path. For better and for worse. The Last Ronin exposes a darkness fueling the family's mission and allows us to discuss aspects of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that our previous episodes denied.

Helping us understand the TMNT familial dynamics is Dawn Huebner, Ph.D., and her book "The Sibling Survival Guide: Surefire Ways to Solve Conflicts, Reduce Rivalry, and Have More Fun with Your Brothers and Sisters, illustrated by Kara McHale.

Comic issues covered in this episode: The Last Ronin 1 - 5, produced by IDW Publishing from October 2020 to April 2022. It's based on a story by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and Tom Waltz, with scripts written by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz. The comic is illustrated by Esau Escorza, Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, and Kevin Eastman. Layouts by Kevin Eastman. Colors by Luis Antonio Delgado with color assists by Samuel Plata and Ronda Pattison. Letters and design by Shawn Lee.

Previous CBCC TMNT Episodes:

• CBCC Interviews Kevin Eastman
• CBCC on TMNT: The Movie w/Bryan Young
• CBCC on TMNT: The Mirage Studios Years
• CBCC on TMNT: The Archie Years

Other Relevant Links:

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline
• Lone Wolf and Cub at the Alamo Drafthouse
• Howard the Duck Patreon Episode
• Chip Zdarsky Howard the Duck Intro
• If Books Could Kill: The Game
• The Last Ronin Patreon Episode
• The Last Ronin Oral History on Inverse
• Lisa talkin' Twilight on Comics Collective
• Brad talkin' The Last of Us on A Bite Of

Don't forget! Check out the latest episode of The B&B Show, Brad's Picks the 10 Best Movies of 2022, HERE.

And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

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