Thundercats #25 Review: Lion-O Confronts the Lies of the Past

Thundercats #25 (Dynamite Comics, 3/25/26): Writer Declan Shalvey and artist Drew Moss deconstruct the mentor mythos as Lion-O uncovers the ancestral lies of Third Earth. The execution is technically improved but emotionally uneven. Verdict: For die-hard fans only.

• Writer: Declan Shalvey
• Artist: Drew Moss
• Colorist: Andrew Dalhouse
• Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
• Cover Artist: Lucio Parrillo (cover A)
• Publisher: Dynamite Comics
• Release Date: March 25, 2026
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 28
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Thundercats #25:

First Impressions:

Walking into this issue feels like catching the end of a long, exhausting argument where nobody wins and the foundation of everything you believed is suddenly cracked. You can feel the weight of Lion-O’s discovery from the previous issue pressing down on every panel as he returns not as a leader, but as a prosecutor. The atmosphere is thick with a sense of betrayal that cuts through the usual superhero heroics and lands with a world-weary thud. It is a turn for the series that asks whether the truth is worth the cost of the family you have left, and that electric momentum carries through the opening pages as the young king confronts his heritage.

Recap:

In Thundercats #24, Lion-O recently discovered through the Book of Omens that his entire history was built on a series of carefully constructed omissions regarding the true nature of Third Earth. These visions revealed that the Thunderians were actually born on this planet and were poisoned by Mumm-Ra before fleeing to Thundera centuries ago. The revelations also exposed that Jaga intentionally sent other ThunderCats like Bengali’s team to this world ahead of time without telling the others. Now, Lion-O must decide if he can still trust the mentor who has guided him through every trial of his young life.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

Lion-O returns to the team in a state of high agitation and immediately demands that Jaga face the consequences of his long-held secrets. He brushes past Tygra and Cheetara with a newfound coldness, revealing a deep-seated anger that stems from the revelations found within the Book of Omens. The young king accuses his mentor of being complicit in a lie that predates their escape from Thundera and challenges the very legacy of the ThunderCats. He points to the presence of Mutants and the survival of Bengali’s team as proof that Jaga has been playing a much longer game than anyone realized.

The confrontation reaches a boiling point as Lion-O details the history of Third Earth as the true birthplace of their people rather than a foreign refuge. He questions how Mumm-Ra knew of them before their arrival and why the existence of other survivors was kept hidden from the group. The rest of the team watches in stunned silence as the pillar of their community is dismantled by the boy he raised. This emotional fracture leaves the group’s unity in a precarious state just as new threats loom on the horizon. The issue closes on this tense standoff, leaving the future of their leadership in total disarray.

How is the story in Thundercats #25?

Declan Shalvey pushes the narrative into a heavy lore-focused confrontation that prioritizes world-building over action, yet the pacing masterfully accelerates toward the final standoff. While the dialogue effectively communicates Lion-O’s raw sense of betrayal, the writing of Jaga’s death reads as incomplete and lacks the necessary narrative weight to truly land the blow. The script relies heavily on the shock value of the revelations, but the transition from discovery to confrontation feels rushed in places. It successfully hits the notes of a crumbling family dynamic, although it misses the mark on providing a cohesive thematic resolution for the mentor’s final moments.

How is the art in Thundercats #25?

Drew Moss shows a clear evolution in his figure work, presenting characters with more anatomical confidence and weight than we saw in the series’ debut. The linework is sharply inked, and the physical presence of Lion-O’s rage is captured well in his facial expressions and posture. Andrew Dalhouse’s colors also help ground the scenes in kinetic shadows and a somber, clinical palette that matches the internal coldness of the characters. However, the visual storytelling is hampered by panel compositions that remain frustratingly flat and boring throughout the issue.

The lack of dynamic framing makes the intense verbal sparring feel stagnant, as if the characters are performing on a shallow stage rather than in a living world. While the character models are a step up, the backgrounds and spatial relationships feel neglected, which drains the energy from the more dramatic moments. Without more creative use of perspective or depth, the art struggles to elevate Shalvey’s dialogue-heavy script into something visually compelling. It is a case of improved craftsmanship meeting a lack of cinematic ambition that stalls the issue’s momentum.

Characters

The focus remains squarely on the disintegration of the bond between Lion-O and Jaga, showing a protagonist who is rapidly outgrowing the need for a father figure. Lion-O’s journey from a naive student to a skeptical, embittered king is the most interesting thing happening in the book right now. He shows a willingness to alienate his allies for the sake of the truth, which provides a much-needed edge to his character and clear stakes for the team. However, the other ThunderCats are relegated to being bystanders in their own story, serving primarily as a Greek chorus to Lion-O’s accusations.

Originality & Concept Execution

The idea of reframing the ThunderCats’ entire origin as a homecoming rather than an exile is a bold choice that breathes new life into a decades-old property. It successfully subverts the “stranger in a strange land” trope by making the land the very thing they were stolen from. While the execution of this lore dump is a bit clunky at times, the underlying concept is strong enough to keep the reader invested in where this new history leads. It takes the five basics of a story and flips the goal on its head, turning a search for a new home into a reclamation of a lost one.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Improved figure work shows Moss’s technical growth in character models.
• Bold lore subversion reframes the entire franchise history in a fresh way.
• Lion-O’s emotional transition into a cynical leader feels earned and authentic.

Room for Improvement

• Flat panel compositions drain the narrative’s visual energy and cinematic potential.
• Jaga’s death sequence feels narratively rushed and incomplete in its execution.
• Secondary characters lack meaningful participation in the central conflict of the issue.

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 2.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 2.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.5/2

Final Thoughts:

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Thundercats #25 represents a significant pivot point for the series that trades kinetic action for a heavy deconstruction of the ThunderCats’ foundational myths. The improved figure work and the ambitious reframing of Third Earth provide enough of a hook to keep the lore-hungry readers engaged despite the visual presentation lacking depth. While the incomplete handling of Jaga’s death leaves a narrative void, the sheer audacity of the retcon ensures this story remains a relevant part of the modern mythos. This comic earns its spot in a tight budget only for those who are deeply invested in the long-term systemic changes to the franchise’s history.

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