Stan Sakai is taking the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in a very different direction with TMNT: The First Ronin, a new comic series that trades the familiar mutant heroes for supernatural warriors inspired by Japanese folklore. Serving as a spiritual predecessor to the hit TMNT: The Last Ronin, the five-issue series will bring Sakai together with Bram Stoker Award-winning artist Soo Lee for a new story set in 17th-century Japan.
The story follows General Kameyama, a formidable warrior and tactician fighting against overwhelming odds during a great war. When his allies fall and he finds himself the last man standing, four yōkai resembling humanoid turtles arrive to turn the tide of battle. However, their intervention is only the beginning, as Kameyama soon finds himself caught up in a much larger supernatural conflict.
Rather than simply revisiting familiar characters, TMNT: The First Ronin will introduce new designs, mythology, and a fresh take on the franchise’s central concept. Sakai, best known for creating Usagi Yojimbo, has been a fan of the Turtles since their 1984 debut and is particularly enthusiastic about exploring a version of the team that draws from Japanese folklore instead of mutation.
Lee will bring the new mythology to life through her artwork, with both creators expressing excitement about expanding the TMNT universe in an unexpected direction. IDW CEO Davidi Jonas also praised the creative team’s work, noting the significance of building on The Last Ronin’s success while entrusting the new series to creators with their own distinctive vision.
TMNT: The First Ronin #1 is scheduled to arrive in comic shops in March 2027. The complete series will span five issues, with readers encouraged to contact their local comic shops to preorder copies. Meanwhile, TMNT: The Last Ronin III – Return for New York, the final chapter of the hit saga, is also planned for release in 2027, with further details and artwork expected in the coming months.