Warning! Spoilers for the conclusion to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II ahead!

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise's Last Ronin continuity just killed off April O'Neil, in the process turning her daughter into a new version of Splinter for a new generation. In this dark future storyline, April has filled the mentor role for a new generation of Turtles, but now following her death, the responsibility has ed to Casey-Marie Jones.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution #5, co-written by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz, with art by Ben Bishop, ends on a tragic note. With her final words, April ed the mantle of protector and teacher of the Ninja Turtles to her daughter, who up to this point has filled the void left by the death of her father, the original Casey Jones.

Now, both of Casey-Marie's parents are gone, and there is no one left to guide her, while at the same time it will be up to her to lead the Turtles.

After April O'Neil's Death, Her Daughter Takes Over As The "Ninja Turtles" Franchise's New Splinter

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution #5; Written By Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz; Art By Ben Bishop; Available Now From IDW Publishing

The Last Ronin II ends with April O'Neil being shot to death, in a moment that, as emotionally devastating for longtime Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans as it is, weighs most heavily on her daughter, Casey-Marie Jones, who has quickly become a fixture of the Last Ronin timeline. The creative team's decision to kill off April is, in large part, an acknowledgment of the fact that Casey-Marie is ready to take on an even more central role, as she now stands as the modern equivalent of Splinter, while also embodying the heroic virtues of both her parents.

Having adopted the mask and weaponry of her father, Casey Jones, whose fate was chronicled in the prequel book The Last Ronin: The Lost Years, Casey-Marie has proved herself to be a major force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, as she has fought alongside her mother and the Turtles. Now, however, her character arc will become even more integral to the series, as she seeks to carry on the legacy of her parents, and Splinter, by looking after the Turtles and helping them grow into the heroes the Foot Clan-dominated future New York City needs.

Casey-Marie Jones Combines The Best Of Her Parents And Splinter Into A Fierce New Mentor For The Second Generation Ninja Turtles

The Last Ronin Just Became Casey-Marie's Story

The Last Ronin began with Michelangelo as the last surviving member of the original Ninja Turtles, but what began as a story of the "last" of his kind in time revealed itself to actually be the tale of how a new generation of Turtles arose. Casey-Marie Jones has played an important role in that arc, up to this point; now, the death of her mother, April, truly solidifies that this is her story, as much as that of the Turtles 2.0, who are still very much in their formative years, and in need of her instruction and protection.

The expected third chapter of [The Last Ronin] will presumably involve Casey-Marie and her Turtles fully coming into their own as heroes, on their own , marking an entirely new epoch in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles history.

The Last Ronin II ends on a cliffhanger, meaning that there will be little time for Casey-Marie to grieve her loss, or to come to with her new responsibilities. She will have to do so while navigating the next chapter of the Turtles' brutal war against the Foot Clan, who have reclaimed control of New York after losing it in the original miniseries. The expected third chapter of the story will presumably involve Casey-Marie and her Turtles fully coming into their own as heroes, on their own , marking an entirely new epoch in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles history.

April O'Neil's "ing Of The Torch" To Casey-Marie Sets Up The Next Era Of Ninja Turtles Stories

The New Turtles Will Come Into Their Own In The Last Ronin III

Of course, it is heartbreaking that this Ninja Turtles "ing the torch" moment had to be fatal to April O'Neil, but considering that The Last Ronin has prominently featured the figures of the original cast in the afterlife watching over the living, it is a bittersweet but ultimately happy ending for her to them. It leaves Casey-Marie Jones to embrace her destiny as a mentor and ally of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and now the questions is what unexpected directions the franchise can take her heroic journey in.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution #5 is available now from Marvel Comics.