IDW Will Launch TMNT: The First Ronin in March 2027
The new comic series from Stan Sakai and Soo Lee explores a 1600s Japan setting featuring four yōkai characters.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Comic Books
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IDW Publishing has announced the upcoming release of TMNT: The First Ronin, a prequel comic series scheduled for March 2027. Set in 1600s Japan, the story follows General Kameyama as he receives aid from four yōkai creatures during a war.
Why it matters
The creators aim to honor the legacy of the original The Last Ronin comic series while introducing new character designs and mythology. This expansion continues the development of the franchise, which has seen several iterations and publications over recent years.
The new comic series is set in 1600s Japan and features a group of four yōkai characters. These figures represent a departure from the traditional TMNT lore that first debuted in 1984.
The players
IDW Publishing
This American comic book publisher is responsible for the ongoing expansion of the TMNT franchise.
Stan Sakai
He is an acclaimed comic creator known for his work on Usagi Yojimbo and now serves as a co-creator for this new prequel series.
Soo Lee
She is a comic artist and co-creator who is collaborating on the visual development and mythology of the new series.
Paramount
This major media conglomerate holds significant film rights and previously explored a cinematic adaptation of the franchise.
The details
The project will feature entirely new page layouts and character designs to establish its unique mythology. It joins a wider expansion of the TMNT narrative, following the release of The Last Ronin series between 2020 and 2022 and the 2024 sequel, The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution.
Timeline
The story is set during the 1600s in Japan.
The original The Last Ronin series was published from 2020 to 2022.
The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution was published in 2024.
Paramount canceled the planned live-action film adaptation in 2025.
TMNT: The First Ronin will be released in March 2027.
Roadmap
This release continues the expansion of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles intellectual property into new historical settings and experimental formats. It demonstrates a strategy to keep the franchise relevant by diversifying the mythology beyond the core 1984 character origins.
Fans can look forward to a new aesthetic approach for the franchise when the series arrives in March 2027. Collectors should monitor retail pre-order windows as the release date approaches to ensure availability.
The takeaway
The pivot to a 1600s Japanese setting highlights how long-running franchises can successfully reinvent their core concepts for modern audiences. Readers interested in narrative evolution should pay attention to how these aesthetic shifts influence future industry-wide trends.
What happens next
More specific details regarding the upcoming series TMNT: The Last Ronin III: Return for New York are expected to be released in the coming months.
Further reading
For more updates on current releases, visit the Comic Books section.
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