THUNDERCATS #12, by Dynamite Comics on 1/29/25, follows up Lion-O’s brutal fight with Mumm-Ra by catching up with every member of the Thundercats (except Lion-O) for a slice-of-life issue.
Credits:
- Writer: Declan Shalvey
- Artist: Drew Moss
- Colorist: Martina Pignedoli
- Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover Artist: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
- Publisher: Dynamite Comics
- Release Date: January 29, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of THUNDERCATS #12:
Recap:
When last we left the refugees from Thundera in Thundercats #11, Lion-O decided to embark on a solo journey to confront Mumm-Ra in the villain’s pyramid to prove something to himself. It’s unclear what getting himself killed would prove. The issue ended with Mumm-Ra transforming into his final form to deliver a killing blow.
Plot Analysis:
In Thundercats #12, the issue begins with Panthro relaxing in the great outdoors. He ponders the struggles the Thundercats have endured since arriving on Third Earth, and those struggles have somehow made him feel at home in their new world.
Meanwhile, Tygra and Cheetara engage in vigorous sparring to hone their fighting skills before moving to vigorous “sparring” in the bedroom. The next morning, Tygra is inspired to investigate the abundance of Thundranium Panthro discovered earlier in the series, and the investigation leads to a new material he dubs Thundore.
Elsewhere, Slythe and his reunited son travel up a steep mountain to a meeting place where other banished Reptilians gather. Slythe is elated at the prospect of reuniting with his long-lost wife, but his hope turns to rage when he learns his wife died months ago.
The issue ends with Slythe reuniting with another long-lost “friend” and Lion-O shedding a single tear.
First Impressions:
In a clumsy, increasingly disappointing series, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Thundercats #12 is a disappointing issue. On its surface, there’s nothing deeply wrong with Declan Shalvey’s “Where are they now?” script to act as a transition issue, but it’s absolutely the wrong way to follow up a game-changing cliffhanger.
Artwork and Presentation:
Drew Moss’s bulky, bland art gets the job done, so on that count, it’s an even match to Declan Shalvey’s script. You can tell what you’re looking at, and Moss’s backgrounds are sufficient, but there’s a notable lack of style and energy.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
The big development in this issue, if you can call it “big,” is Tygra’s discovery of a material he derived from Thundrainium. Thundore has the potential to bolster the Thundercats’ construction and defensive efforts. How the discovery of Thundore will play out is yet to be determined.
The Negatives:
If you end one issue on a big cliffhanger, following up that cliffhanger with a slice-of-life, transition issue is exactly the wrong direction to go. Declan Shalvey appears to have an intricate plot in the making, but the execution is doing the opposite of what’s needed – keeping readers engaged. If Dynamite wants to keep Thundercats going for the long haul, Shalvey needs to break out of his vicious cycle of boring plots and poor timing quickly.
Final Thoughts:
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THUNDERCATS #12 follows up the game-changing cliffhanger with a slice-of-life issue that’s the polar opposite of engaging and exciting. Declan Shalvey picked the wrong time to present a transition issue, and Drew Moss’s bland art isn’t doing Shalvey’s script any favors.
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