In case you missed it (please subscribe!), Declan Shalvey and Drew Moss recently joined the AIPT Comics Podcast to talk about their new take on ThunderCats. Over the course of our chat, they explained that they wanted to be sure to include the hallmarks of the classic series that made it so beloved by fans, but they also did not want to produce something that was a simple 1:1 retread of the OG version. The first issue certainly hinted at that mission statement, particularly when it came to the final pages, but this second installment really hammers that idea home.
We begin the issue with our heroes at a crossroads. The Sword of Omens has been shattered and their ship is in desperate need of repair. Lion-O suffers from nightmares and nobody knows how to help him. The only thing that offers them a bit of hope is the discovery of Calica, another Thunderian. Right away, this series is taking some big swings by introducing a brand new character to the team, and there’s so much we don’t know about her yet. This mystery will no doubt drive plenty of stories early on, even as the threat of Mumm-Ra and the Mu’Tants looms in the distance.
I did have a few issues with the narrative here, with the time jump between issues being the main one. The last issue ended on such a devastating cliffhanger that it felt like a shame to jump ahead and offhandedly mention the villains being driven back. Still, I applaud this creative team for choosing to continue focusing on Lion-O’s interior life and how he’s been impacted by this battle, even if we don’t get too many specifics about its resolution.
Dynamite Entertainment
This issue also explores the effects of the journey from Thundera on the ThunderKittens. Although WilyKat and WilyKit were often used for comedic relief in the original series, here they are seen to have real emotions and misgivings about how much their lives have changed. One of their peers has suddenly become an adult warrior — how must that change the way they they feel toward him? This issue digs into those feelings in a way that just scratches the surface, but indicates that they care deeply for Lion-O. It’s a welcome wrinkle to their usual dynamic.
Meanwhile, Lion-O struggles to balance his naivete with the pressures of being royalty. He weilds his power the way an angry teenager might; everything is black-and-white to him, which makes it more difficult for him to see any way other than his own. The result is that his personality rubs some the wrong way, but is fascinating or even pitiable to others. I’m excited to see how Lion-O’s journey of self-discovery continues to inform his relationships with the rest of the ThunderCats — especially after that ominous final page.
The second issue of ThunderCats forges its own path ahead, introducing exciting new characters and enriching classic relationships for a new era.
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