Summary
Warning: contains spoilers forThundercats: Cheetara#1!
Dynamite Entertainment’sexpansion of theThundercatsfranchise continues withCheetara#1, creating a pitch perfect redefinition of not only the iconic character, but the property’s lore in general. Dynamite’sThundercats#1 debuted to high sales and critical acclaim, and the publisher was just getting warmed up. InThundercats: Cheetara#1, the creative team shines light on an often-overlooked chapter in theThundercatsstory without skimping on emotional beats.
Thundercats: Cheetara#1 is written by Soo Lee and drawn by Domenico Carbone. In advanced promotional materials for the series, Dynamite promised the book would explore the lives of the Thundercats before Thundera’s destruction.Thundercats: Cheetara#1 delivers on this promisein a grand fashion. Lee and Carbone give fans the best look yet at Thundera pre-destruction. Carbone’s art brings Thundera to vibrant life, and drives home just what the Thundercats have lost.
Thundercats: Cheetara#1 peels back the character’s layers, showing the genesis of her friendships with Panthro, Lion-O and Tygra–here a potential suitor.
The Lore Surrounding theThundercatsMade It a Huge Hit
ThundercatsWas Full of Intriguing Places and Characters
Nearly 40 years after its debut, theThundercatsremain as popular as ever. The 1980s saw an explosion in action figure lines, many of which sought to cash in on the success ofMasters of the Universe.WhileThundercatsmay have been designed to compete withMasters, it took on a life of its own, thanks in large part to the dense lore surrounding the franchise. The Thundercats flee their home world of Thundera, arriving on Third Earth. Third Earth, as mysterious as the name implies, was home to Mumm-Ra and a host of other villains.
Fans see how beautiful and advanced life on Thundera was, and its imminent destruction gives the story a melancholic edge.
The originalThundercatscartoon featured more sophisticated stories than its competitors, but like most other shows of its era, did not spend a lot of time looking back at life on Thundera. Subsequent reboots and revivals have filled in some of these gaps, butThundercats: Cheetara#1 ranks as the best yet.A book likeThundercats: Cheetaracould benothing more than an exercise in fan service, but Lee and Carbone infuse the story with a pathos all its own. Fans see how beautiful and advanced life on Thundera was, and its imminent destruction gives the story a melancholic edge.
Dynamite’sThundercats: CheetaraContinues the Publisher’s Winning Streak
Thundercats: CheetaraPerfectly Balances Fan Service and Excellent Storytelling
Since acquiring theThundercatslicense, Dynamite has done exceptionally well with the franchise. The mainThundercatsteam of Declan Shalvey and Drew Moss have found the perfect balance between nostalgia and moving the property forward. Soo Lee and Domenico Carbone continue this hot streak withThundercats: Cheetara#1. It deftly mixes establishedThundercatslore with new elements, keeping with the general vibe Dynamite has cultivated with the line.Dynamite’sThundercatsline has exceeded expectations, andThundercats: Cheetara#1,with its emphasis on life on Thundera, is a pitch-perfect example of how to expand a franchise’s lore.
