THUNDERCATS #22 (Dynamite Entertainment)

With Jaga returning from the dead, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. However, are the Cats’ ready to hear the truth about things they had no clue about. Well ready or not they will discover a piece of their unwritten history.

THUNDERCATS #22 - Written By Declan Shalvey - Art By Drew Moss - Colors By Arancia Studio - Letters By Jeff Eckleberry - Edited By Nate Cosby - Published By Dynamite Entertainment

Credit: Dynamite Entertainment

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

Thought to be dead, Jaga’s return to the Thundercats has really shocked and upset the team. Lion-O demands an explanation about how he’s alive and why they have been sent to this challenging planet. Furthermore, they want to know why he did Calica wrong, and any other secrets he’s hidden from them. Jaga tells the Cats’ the story of the Grey Cats’, an elite team of Thundercats that operated in the shadows for the protection of Thundera. The team consisted of Lynxana, Nix-O, Bengali, Lynx-O, Ligon, and Jaga. They were sent on a mission to save a kidnapped child from the Mu-Tants’. The child was Calica, and in the process of saving her, Nix-O would be killed. This led to Calica being groomed to fill his spot on the team. However, the team was never the same, and there are more secrets to be revealed.

WRITING:

In a series full of crazy returns and revelations, the return of Jaga has to be one of the biggest. This return really opens some great story opportunities for Declan Shalvey. Not one to disappoint, Shalvey hits the ground running. The reveal of the Grey Cats team adds an interesting layer to the secrets that have plagued the Thundercats. The fact that most of the team are also characters that we are familiar with adds an even bigger wrinkle to the story. The debt that Calica owes Jaga and the team also shines through and explains her loyalty to Jaga. The more mysteries Shalvey reveals, the more we get, which keeps us on the edge of our seats.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this issue masterfully encapsulates the story and its every nuance. Drew Moss delivers exceptional artistry throughout, ensuring that each panel vividly conveys the narrative’s energy and emotion. The battle sequences are particularly dynamic, immersing the reader in the action, while the emotional moments resonate deeply, reflecting the characters’ feelings and drawing readers into their experiences. Complementing the superb linework, Arancia Studio enhances the visual impact by expertly matching colors to the tone of each scene, making every panel visually engaging and helping the story come alive on the page.

Check Out My Review of ThunderCats: Lost #9

Final Thoughts:

ThunderCats #22 is an important piece of this overall story and answers as many questions as it raises. The bigger the picture becomes for the Cats’, the bigger the mysteries surrounding them become. This issue really highlights what has made this series successful, the constant changing narrative that continues to reveal itself to the reader. If you are not reading Thundercats at this point, you need to reconsider and pick up this issue today.

FINAL GRADE: 9.5/10

Let me know your thoughts on ThunderCats #22 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!