Thundercats (Vol. 2) #1 Review – Lion-O Lets Loose

Thundercats (Vol. 2) #1 (Dynamite Comics, 10/21/26): Writer Greg Pak & artist David Cousens find the residents of Third Earth on the verge of forging a fragile peace, but a passing comet disrupts the event. A new creative team steps in to steer the title in a bold, new direction. Verdict: A strong hook with trade-offs.

• Writer: Greg Pak
• Artist: David Cousens
• Colorist: Igor Monti
• Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
• Cover Artist: Mark Spears (cover A)
• Publisher: Dynamite Comics
• Release Date: October 21, 2026
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 28
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Thundercats (Vol. 2) #1:

First Impressions:

After reviewing a large portion of the first volume of Thundercats from Dynamite, I wasn’t enthusiastically anxious to return to the title. It left a lot to be desired. That said, a fresh creative team might change hearts and minds if you can get past some of the foibles.

Recap:

In the first volume of Thundercats, the feline fellowship found themselves on Third Earth after the destruction of their home world. What they didn’t learn until much later is that Third Earth was occupied by Mu’tants and assorted species who were exiled to Third Earth as a sort of planetary prison by Lion-O’s father’s command and Jaga’s execution.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

In Thundercats (Vol. 2) #1, the issue begins with Lion-O corralling a giant boar to save a group of sentient tortoises. When the deed is done, the tortoises aren’t quick to thank Lion-O because he is his father’s son. Later, Tygra reminds Lion-O that the old ways and loyalty to the royal bloodline no longer work when the Thunderra is gone, and everyone who remains hates him. Therefore, a new plan is hatched.

The Thundercats attend a meeting of Mu’tants, Third Earth natives, and anyone else with a stake to claim, with a proposal to form a new council. As a show of faith, Lion-O prepares to announce that he is relinquishing his title. Before he can get the words out, a strange comet passes overhead that causes Lion-O to hulk out and go feral. The beast that was Lion-O runs off into the night.

Tygra assembles a couple of teams to watch the Cat’s lair or hunt for Lion-O. The team is joined by the SilverHawks for air support and additional tech. The issue ends with one of the attendees of the council meeting, Scail, running back to his father, Slythe, to relay the situation. When he finds his father, he learns Slythe is in league with Mumm-Ra.

How is the story in Thundercats (Vol. 2) #1?

Greg Pak’s spin on the continuing Thundercats title is pretty darn solid. Pak, dialog, pacing, momentum, and hook all work together for a relatively engaging payoff. Even the twist, which comes out of nowhere, has strong future potential.

If there’s anything to criticize about the issue, it’s that a lot of time is spent on re-establishing the new status quo from the previous issue, while telegraphing the stakes involved in setting up a new council. All the information is important to ground new readers, but readers who already follow the title may feel like too much time is spent on recaps. Plus, so much page space is devoted to level-setting that the Lion-O’s big twist change gets slightly shortchanged.

How is the art in Thundercats (Vol. 2) #1?

Well, Dynamite giveth, and Dynamite taketh away. Greg Pak is a notable step up in writing quality, but David Cousens’ art style is either a literal move (at best) compared to Drew Moss or a step back, depending on your preference for Drew Moss’s style. Cousens has a strong grasp of composition and energy, particularly during high-movement panels. What’s lacking is crispness and sharpness in the linework. Cousens has a sketchy, scratchy art style that’s rough and lacking in detail in several panels. Plus, there are a few pages in the review copy where you could see the page numbering was penciled into the margins but not edited out of the final work.

To be fair, one of the consistent criticisms of Drew Moss centered on his flat depth and boxy anatomy. Cousens is worlds better on those fronts, but what he makes up for in energy and anatomy, he loses in terms of precision.

Characters

Lion-O takes center stage as the focal character, with Tygra coming up as a close second. Lion-O is still very conflicted about giving up his birthright, which creates an interesting emotional conflict. Tygra’s journey complements Lion-O’s because he feels the weight of responsibility for not preparing Lion-O for the current leadership trial, as implausible as it might have been.

Originality & Concept Execution

Thundercats #1 is a dialog-heavy issue, but the brief bit of action (Lion-O’s transformation) is certainly a surprise nobody could have predicted. threfore, Pak gets points for originality, albeit with lopsided execution.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Lots of energy and expressiveness in the art
• A wild twist for Lion-O
• Excellent dialogue and pacing

Room for Improvement

• Too much time spent on recaps and level-setting
• The twist comes out of nowhere
• The linework is weak-to-sloppy

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 2.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.5/2

Final Thoughts:

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Thundercats (Vol. 2) #1 finds the Thundercats on the verge of building a new, fragile peace on Third Earth, when a surprising change hits Lion-O. Greg Pak’s script works as a sound jumping-on point for new readers, even if existing fans don’t find much new material. Plus, David Cousens’ artwork is a big improvement in several ways, while stepping back in a few others.

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