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Wildstorm's The Return SeriesDOGS OF WAR: ISSUE #1 
 Issued August 2003 Story by John Layman. Art by Booth, Vey Indeed, we do find out what happened to WilyKat in this issue. Most are aware by now that he was not killed at the end of the Return because he shows up in the opening of this first issue looking ragged -- apparently he's been wandering in Thundera's badlands for the past 15 years. A ship lands nearby and WilyKat spies on the aliens*, who are plotting to take over Thundera. He decides to venture off to warn the others, who think he's dead. In the meantime, we see Lion-O has aged tremendously -- this, Snarf explains, is a side effect from Lion-O's training in the Book of Omens and now the ThunderCat Lord has aged five years for every one. This means if Lion-O was 25 during The Return series, he's 100 at the start of Dogs of War. No wonder he's decided to choose a successor. I also found Snarf aged and in spectacles kind of cute ;) A pair of new wily twins, Wilycub and Wilycat, debut though it's uncertain to whom they belong. To look at them, they have markings consistant with cheetah and tiger clans, but who knows. Afterall, Cheetara was paired with Panthro in the the Return, but maybe that didn't work out :-p At any rate, that's all speculation at this point. Cheetara mentions having a forboding feeling thanks to her sixth sense to Tygra, right about the time WilyKat tries to sneak into the Lair. A brief skirmish ensues until they realize it's WilyKat [ I admit, I was really confused by this part, but then I am the original shoulda-been-blonde sufferer of LFS. heh heh ]. It's then that the aliens move in to strike. This issue offered no mention or clues about the fate of the "new" ThunderCats, so we still have to wait and see on that. Overall, it was a good first issue. DOGS OF WAR: ISSUE #2 
 Issued October 2003 Story by John Layman. Art by Booth, Vey In this second installment of the series, the War Dogs have delivered an ultimatum -- the ThunderCats must surrender Thundera or "be wiped off the map". To illustrate they mean business, the Doberlord orders the destruction of the entire race of one of the 'Cats longtime allies. Finally, we're shown that Pumyra and Lynx-O are still alive and well. That seems to be the only good news -- Thundera has taken a beating at the hands of the Dogs, and with Lion-O so advanced in age and the ThunderCats far outnumbered and out-gunned, the situation appears hopeless. That is, until Lion-O reveals who he has summoned to help them -- much to the others' complete and utter shock. DOGS OF WAR: ISSUE #3 
 Issued October 2003 Story by John Layman. Art by Prado, Vey, Booth The Dogs series continues, with the ThunderCats showing their desperation by forming an alliance with their old enemies - Mumm-Ra and the Mutants. Vultureman is very vocal about not wanting to join forces, preferring to just go home to Plundarr and sulk about how he and his commrades were languishing in prison for the last ten years. It takes Lion-O to literally knock some sense into the Mutants to stop their protesting. Mumm-Ra seems almost eager to join forces with the 'Cats, only taking a moment to chide WilyKat about the 'good times' they had for extra fun. Cheetara, of course, has great misgivings about working with either faction. Lion-O insists this is the only way, and Panthro is inclined to trust that his Lord knows what he's doing. They decide, with the help of Mumm-Ra's magic, to disguise themselves save for Lion-O, who will be shackled as if taken prisoner. The idea being, with the Lord as 'prisoner', they will all be afforded a chance to get close to the Doberlord -- they assume if they can take out the alpha dog, the war dogs will be easier to defeat. But, as if Cheetara were once again right in her forboding feelings, it seems betrayal is at hand. I have to admit, I laughed out loud when I reached the page near issue's end on which Jackalman is seen drop-kicking Snarf. Yes, you sniveling dog, many of us have wanted to do that indeed >:) DOGS OF WAR: ISSUE #4 
 Issued November 2003 Story by John Layman. Art by Booth, Vey Issue 4 begins with a full page image of Mumm-Ra, sprawled out on the floor, bloodied and missing a limb. But what's this? Pages later, we see Mumm-Ra again, apparently savoring his betrayal of the ThunderCats with the war dogs. Ah, but all is not as it seems. One thing is clear, however -- that Jackalman gladly aided in the betrayal citing his canine ties with the invaders and an urge to side with 'a winner'. Typical cowardly Jackalman behaviour! While Lion-O is being literally shocked into submission, the other ThunderCats and Mutants are imprisoned together and fighting about how the plan miserably failed them. There's an air of hopelessness about them. But Lion-O has an intriguing conversation with the Lizarian chained to the wall next to him. Another flicker of hope lies in the Thundercubs, who have found the battered mummy. The fifth and final installment in the series will reveal the cub's plan and hopefully find the 'Cats free of the war dog's clutches. DOGS OF WAR: ISSUE #5 
 Issued December 2003 Story by John Layman. Art by Booth, Vey The twins' plan? To have Mumm-Ra take the form of the Doberlord bringing them in as prisoners so they could get to the cell where the others are being held. Of course, it's not long before the war dogs catch on and all hell breaks loose. Mumm-Ra, having re-engergized, grew his arm back and has a new battle cry. I have to agree with Panthro - let's not hear that EVER again. As predicted, the lizard leader locked up with Lion-O plays a pivotal role in the defeat of the war dogs. In fact, there's not a lot that happens that one wouldn't conclude would having read the previous 4 issues. I did find the final confrontation scene amusing - Lion-O is dishing out a typical smarmy speech to the defeated Doberlord, until Mumm-Ra puts the readers and the Doberlord alike out of their misery. The falling action ties things up nice and tidy, with the Mutants going back to Plundarr, Ma-Mutt is forgiven and an explanation of exactly why Lion-O aged. Oh, and whatever happened to Snarf is also discovered. Other weird/amusing moments in this issue: **The kittens calling the Sword the Sword of Oprah, while Lion-O wonders to himself if they teach the younger generation *anything* in school. **Pumyra speaking pig latin. **The alarm on the ship sounds as 'woofwoofwoof', and in one panel, the Doberlord shrieks "Who let the cats out?" with the alarm sound effect written under it...kinda struck me as a bizarre nod to that annoying song that was out a few years ago. Very droll indeed. **Mumm-Ra speaking cutsie baby talk to Ma-Mutt. It was bad enough when he admitted he loved him in "Ma-Mutt's Confusion" IMHO. **Mumm-Ra calling Lion-O a nincompoop made up for the above, however :: chuckles :: DOGS OF WAR TRADE PAPERBACK 
 Issued June 2003 Story by John Layman. Art by Booth, Prado, Vey This is the above 5 issue series collected conveniently in book form. Not many extras aside from more character profiles: Thundercats profile page Thundercats profile page 2 Villains profile page Here's the series synopsis as explained verbatim on the back cover: "More than a decade has passed since the events of THUNDERCATS: THE RETURN. With their enemies vanquished, the 'Cats have turned Third Earth into a Utopian world of peace and freedom. But this idyllic land is about to be shattered by the Dogs of War! They're a savage, heavily armed race of canine killers who will stop at nothing to subjugate the entire galaxy. When it becomes apparent that even the combined strength of the Thundercats won't be enough to stop this intergalactic scourge, Lion-O must turn to the last person anyone would expect for assistance. But will even this desperate attempt be enough to fend off the Dogs of War? THUNDERCATS: DOGS OF WAR is a story of unexpected alliances, betrayal and redemption. Old friends are reintroduced as new enemies - and allies - emerge. Lignering questions from THE RETURN are answered, and a new generation of Thundercats debuts. This edition collects the five-issue miniseries written by John Layman with art by Brett Booth, Joe Prado, and Eric Nguyen.
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The Show
