For a straightforward first read of The Last Ronin, start with the original The Last Ronin miniseries (#1 to #5), continue with The Lost Years (#1 to #5) and the Lost Day Special, add Training Day as a companion story, and then read The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution (#1 to #5). This is a practical first-time reading path, not a strict internal chronology or the exact publication order. These stories belong to the Roninverse, a separate Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continuity that does not require reading IDW's main monthly series.
Minor spoiler warning: the explanation below identifies the lead character and mentions the next generation of Turtles, without revealing the stories' endings.
What is the simplest reading order?
- The Last Ronin #1 to #5: the essential starting point. The story introduces a devastated future New York, one survivor and the conflict that anchors every follow-up. Read all five issues uninterrupted the first time.
- The Last Ronin: The Lost Years #1 to #5: explores Michelangelo's past and, in another period, the groundwork for a new generation. Although some events happen before the original miniseries, the revelations work better after the first story.
- The Last Ronin: Lost Day Special: a standalone issue that supplements Lost Years and the transition toward the next generation. Do not confuse Lost Day with Training Day.
- The Last Ronin: Training Day: a one-shot released on July 15, 2026, about Michelangelo training Casey Marie Jones. For a first read, placing it before Re-Evolution is an optional editorial choice; reading it afterward also follows the original publication sequence.
- The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution #1 to #5: a sequel set more than a decade after the initial story and focused on Casey Marie and her young students. It is the second major chapter of the planned trilogy.
If you only want the core arc for now, the shortcut is The Last Ronin, The Lost Years, then Re-Evolution. Both specials provide context, but neither is another five-issue miniseries.
Where does Training Day fit in the timeline?
The one-shot takes place between issues #3 and #4 of the original miniseries. Over roughly one day, Michelangelo tries to pass on the training Casey Marie needs to face Oroku Hiroto. IDW announced it as a one-shot, and its distributor's catalog lists July 15, 2026, as its on-sale date. It is therefore a retroactive addition within an existing stretch of the story, not a fourth volume or a sequel to Re-Evolution.
New readers need not interrupt issue #3 to read it. Finish the original miniseries first, allowing the Ronin's identity, Casey Marie's role and the key revelations to unfold in their initially intended order. On a reread, try The Last Ronin #1 to #3, Training Day, then The Last Ronin #4 and #5.
Is Lost Years a prequel or a sequel?
Both, across different narrative threads. The Lost Years revisits Michelangelo's years away from New York, but it also follows Casey Marie as she prepares young Turtles to inherit the family's legacy. Moving the entire book ahead of The Last Ronin simply because it includes earlier events creates a misleading single timeline. It is clearer to read it after the original and before Re-Evolution.
The Lost Day Special adds to this transitional period. The official The Lost Years collected edition contains all five issues plus the Lost Day Special. Readers who own that collection do not need to purchase the same special separately to complete its contents. Training Day is a different publication and should not be assumed to be included.
Reading order, release order and in-universe chronology
| Approach | Useful sequence | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Suggested first read | The Last Ronin → Lost Years and Lost Day → Training Day (optional) → Re-Evolution | Prioritizes character introductions and prepares the generational shift. |
| Publication of the titles | The Last Ronin (2020 to 2022) → Lost Years and Lost Day (2023) → Re-Evolution (2024 to 2025) → Training Day (2026) | The training special was published after the sequel. |
| Training Day's story placement | The Last Ronin #1 to #3 → Training Day → The Last Ronin #4 and #5 | This is one precise insertion, not a complete timeline for Lost Years, which moves between periods. |
What belongs to the Roninverse, and which collections cover it?
As of October 2026, the published reading path comprises three five-issue miniseries and two one-shots: 17 story issues in total. The publisher's box set contains the three collected miniseries. Because the Lost Years collection includes Lost Day, that story is part of the three-book reading experience too. Check the contents of the edition you intend to buy; Training Day, published later, is not included in the original set.
The Roninverse has its own future, conflicts and successors. It is not the conclusion of IDW's regular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continuity, and it does not require the earlier Mirage stories or the main IDW series launched in 2011. Basic familiarity with Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo and Splinter helps, but it is not a prerequisite.
Where will The Last Ronin III go?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin III - Return for New York was announced in July 2026 as the finale of the main trilogy, targeting summer 2027 in the Northern Hemisphere. As checked on October 23, 2026, this is an announced release window, not an already published comic, and the issue count should not be stated without confirmation. Once released, its natural position is after Re-Evolution; Training Day remains a companion set in the past.
Sources and references
- IDW: The Last Ronin collected edition
- IDW: The Last Ronin - The Lost Years
- IDW: The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution
- IDW: February 2026 Training Day announcement
- Penguin Random House Comics: Training Day listing
- Penguin Random House: three-miniseries box set
- Entertainment Weekly: July 2026 Last Ronin III announcement
- How to Love Comics: reading guide updated October 2026
