|
|
|
Wildstorm's Reclaiming Thundera SeriesTHUNDERCATS: ISSUE #0 
Issued October 2002 [Released in August 2002] Written by Ford Gilmore. Art by J. Scott Campbell The preview for the 5-part introductory series from Wildstorm, this issue served as a review of the ThunderCats' world. The issue revolved around WilyKat's romanticized retelling of noted battles of the past -- full of embellishments and exaggerations, of course! Kat expresses his eagerness to be treated like a grown up -- so he can truly take part in the ass-kicking "fun" -- wondering aloud to Lion-O about just when that will happen. One of the biggest misconceptions fans had about this issue is that those flashback sequences involving the battles were mistankenly off canon. Actually, they're inaccurate on purpose, since WilyKat is in effect doing a tall-tale retelling of events. Here are a few scans of "pin-up" art from Issue #0: Pinup 1 By Peter Vale, colored by Carrie Strachan Pinup 2 By JJ Kirby, colored by Carrie Strachan Pinup 3 By Aaron Lopresti, colored by Larry Molinar Pinup 4 By Francisco Herrera, colored by Leonardo Olea THUNDERCATS: ISSUE #1 
Issued October 2002 Written by Ford Gilmore. Art by McGuiness and Martin This is the first true installment of the introductory series. The setting is New Thundera, and finds the 'Cats where "Book of Omens" left off. They're still dealing with the rebuilding of New Thundera, and old bone bag, Mumm-Ra, is nowhere in sight. The Ancient Spirits of Evil (ASOE) have other plans, and summon the Shadow Master once again to do the dirty work. Soon, the ThunderCats find themselves knee deep in shadow beasts, and Lion-O summons his friends to his aid. THUNDERCATS: ISSUE #2 
Issued November 2002 Written by Ford Gilmore. Art by McGuiness and Martin Continuing its mission to reacquaint friends with the ThunderCats and their assorted friends and enemies, this second installment sports another evil plot. This time, Mumm-Ra has been revived and is back to his wicked, scheming ways. Meanwhile, Hachiman pops by the Lair for a visit, and reminisces about the adventures in the "Jade Dragon" episode. Not long afterward, Mumm-Ra sends his trusty lackeys, the Mutants, to attack. THUNDERCATS: ISSUE #3 
Issued December 2002 Written by Ford Gilmore. Art by Herrera and Cuevas This is perhaps the least popular issue in this series, one of the reasons being the fun house mirror feeling of the art. In it, the Lunataks are back to hassle the ThunderCats, as if dealing with Mumm-Ra and the Mutants wasn't enough! Panthro, Lion-O and Bengali are out in the "new" ThunderTank, scouting for Thundrillium. And this affords the Lunataks a chance to attack the Lair. They also have Mandora held prisoner. The best part, I think, is when Luna says to Lion-O, "I'm not going to give you the pleasure of surrendering, you cocky little whelp!" THUNDERCATS: ISSUE #4 
Issued January 2003 Written by Ford Gilmore. Art by McGuiness and Martin The Thunderkittens are at the forefront of this issue. While out on their space boards enjoying the countryside, a winged Ma-Mutt snatches WilyKat. Back at the Lair, Panthro has finalized a beacon that will send out signals to Thunderian refugees still out in space and guide them home. Kit rushes back to get help, of course, and the 'Cats smell a trap. They proceed to go to the Pyramid anyway for a rescue attempt. Mumm-Ra alludes to perhaps how he was able to overcome the ASOE to become more powerful then even they are, later in The Return, by claiming he needed them all together to draw on their collective energies and the Eye for his "plan" to work. THUNDERCATS: ISSUE #5 
Issued February 2003 Written by Ford Gilmore. Art by McGuiness and Martin The final installment, this issue featured an exciting show-down between Lion-O and Grune the Destroyer, who has been given the Sword of Plundarr to do battle with, courtesy of Mumm-Ra. Jaga appears to Lion-O in the night, warning him that Grune is coming to challenge the Lord and that he must face Grune alone. After quite a confrontation, Lion-O decides that he should go inside the Book of Omens to train and learn about his ancestors. He explains, before he goes, that time is at a virtual standstill inside the Book -- that though he'll be training with the Guardian for years, that he'd appear on the outside of the Book in but a few days. Lion-O puts Panthro in charge in the interim, and thus the premise is set up for the darker series, The Return. Mumm-Ra observes all of this, and is patient to bide his time -- for now... RECLAIMING THUNDERA 
Issued July 2003 Story by Ford Gilmore. Contributing artists include Ed McGuinness, J. Scott Campbell, Francisco Herrera, Joe Phillips, Jason Martin, Richard Friend, and Carlos Lobo Cuevas. This is simply the first mini combined into one single 144 page booklet. If you want the lowdown on the essential story, read the above reviews for the first five installments. I finally bought this upon seeing it on ebay for dirt cheap -- I paid much less than the cover price, even after S & H. Score! Below are a few scanned images from within. Meet the ThunderCats 1 - Page featuring brief bios of the ThunderCats. Meet the ThunderCats 2 - You guessed it...more brief bios! The descriptions match pretty much how I had each cat figured, too ;) Although the assertion that the Sword of Omens was never broke pre-Bengali, that's so wrong. "All That Glitters", anyone? Oops. And by describing the Sword as 'indestructable' in one breath, then going on to talk about how Bengali fixed it the times it was shattered in battle makes the Sword, um, destructable does it not? lol! Ah well...
|
|
The Show
