The first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, the dystopian futuristic story co-created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, is heading back for a second printing. With over 37,000 preorders for the second printing already in the books, IDW has upped the print run to 50,000. This is the largest reprint quantity in the company’s 20-year history.

Based on the unpublished story concept Eastman and Laird created 30 years ago, The Last Ronin is set in the future New York City where only one Turtle is still alive. The lone Turtle embarks on a very difficult mission to get justice for his fallen family. It’s written by Tom Waltz with layouts by Eastman, pencils and inks by Esau and Isaac Escorza, and colors by Luis Antonio Delgado. The five-issue series is printed in oversized 7” x 11” format with each issue running 48 pages.

The first issue sold out quickly, prompting this second printing, which features a recolored cover by Eastman and the Escorza duo.

“I want to reach out to all of the incredible fans and comic book retailers who went above and beyond with their support for The Last Ronin,” Eastman said. “It’s taken 32 years to bring it to life, and even in the middle of a tumultuous year of production, you all waited for us to get the job done right… and showed us some serious love! We appreciate you all – stay safe and stay tuned, because the rest of the series is coming soon!”

“The huge success of The Last Ronin is a testament to the enduring fandom for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the creative team’s ability to knock it out of the park. We’re overwhelmed with gratitude for the fans, the retailers, and everyone involved creatively on the project – The Last Ronin is a wonderful example of what makes these characters special to so many readers, and to the strength of storytelling in comics,” IDW publisher Nachie Marsham said.

“We hit the ground running with issue #1, and have no intentions of letting up with the second issue or beyond,” Waltz said. “If you think the future looks dramatic for our last ronin, just wait until you see the history that has brought him to this point!”

The second printing for The Last Ronin #1 is in comic shops on December 2, 2020. The second issue will be in stores on January 27, 2021.