Warning! Spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin below!
There's little question that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin has made some major changes to Michelangelo as the last living Turtle, but original concept designs showed that he nearly had one big difference in the series - he was almost blind in one eye. In the upcoming Director's Cut of the series' first issue, Kevin Eastman's original designs for the character have been showcased for the first time.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is the darkest Turtles story ever told, as it follows Michelangelo as the last surviving member of his family. While his mutation has become stronger over the years and he's become a master martial artist, Mikey is completely lost and broken without his brothers and Master Splinter, to the point where he's seeing ghosts and is suicidal. Thankfully, he was saved by Casey Marie Jones, who, along with her mother April O'Neil, are joining him to take on Hiroto - Shredder's evil grandson who leads the Foot Clan.
In the new Last Ronin Director's Cut comic, TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird discussed the concepts and ideas that helped bring the new, grittier adventure to life. IDW Publishing revealed a page from the comic, which shows Michelangelo's designs as the Last Ronin. While the design has remained pretty similar to the concept art, one small note is particularly interesting: Eastman suggested he could be blind in one eye.
The idea of Michelangelo being blind in one eye might have been a nod to one of the heroes who inspired the Turtles, Daredevil, as a subtle reference to the character's roots. It's also possible that Eastman and Laird decided Mikey being blind was too much and dialed the future Turtle's grim fate back a notch. Furthermore, maybe Michelangelo was blind at one point and his mutation helped heal him - through two issues readers haven't really seen all of his past so anything is possible. There's still room to include it in the story if wanted.
Seeing the concepts for The Last Ronin gives readers a peek at how much care and effort went into this particular story. Eastman and Laird took a bold swing in telling a story about the last remaining turtle that is the darkest chapter of TMNT ever. With the special attention to detail and different elements that changed Michelangelo into the Last Ronin, Eastman and Laird have crafted something truly special - the new behind-the-scenes looks further prove that's the case. Readers will get a peek behind the curtain of the series when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin #1 Director's Cut hits comic shelves tomorrow.
Source: IDW Publishing