Cheetara #1 Is a Pitch-Perfect Expansion of Thundercats Lore (Review)

Warning: contains spoilers for Thundercats: Cheetara #1!

Dynamite Entertainment’s expansion of the Thundercats franchise continues with Cheetara #1, creating a pitch perfect redefinition of not only the iconic character, but the property’s lore in general. Dynamite’s Thundercats #1 debuted to high sales and critical acclaim, and the publisher was just getting warmed up. In Thundercats: Cheetara #1, the creative team shines light on an often-overlooked chapter in the Thundercats story 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 promise in 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 the Thundercats Made It a Huge Hit

Thundercats Was Full of Intriguing Places and Characters

Nearly 40 years after its debut, the Thundercats remain as popular as ever. The 1980s saw an explosion in action figure lines, many of which sought to cash in on the success of Masters of the Universe. While Thundercats may have been designed to compete with Masters, 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.

The original Thundercats cartoon 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, but Thundercats: Cheetara #1 ranks as the best yet. A book like Thundercats: Cheetara could be nothing 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’s Thundercats: Cheetara Continues the Publisher’s Winning Streak

Thundercats: Cheetara Perfectly Balances Fan Service and Excellent Storytelling

Since acquiring the Thundercats license, Dynamite has done exceptionally well with the franchise. The main Thundercats team 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 with Thundercats: Cheetara #1. It deftly mixes established Thundercats lore with new elements, keeping with the general vibe Dynamite has cultivated with the line. Dynamite’sThundercats line has exceeded expectations, and Thundercats: Cheetara #1, with its emphasis on life on Thundera, is a pitch-perfect example of how to expand a franchise’s lore.

Thundercats: Cheetara #1 is on sale now from Dynamite Entertainment!

Thundercats: Cheetara #1 (2024)
	Writer: Soo Lee Artist: Domenico Carbone Colorist: Chiara Di Francia Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry Cover Artist: Sozomaika