In this review of ThunderCats: Cheetara #3, Cheetara’s visions of Thundera’s destruction become more intense and she wonders if what she is seeing could actually be real.
ThunderCats: Cheetara #3
Writer: Soo Lee
Artist: Domenico Carbone
Main Cover: Soo Lee
Variant Covers: Ted Brandt and Ro Stein, Lesley “Leirix” Li, Rebeca Puebla, Edwin Galmon
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: September 18, 2024
This review contains spoilers.
Synopsis:
ThunderCats: Cheetara #3 starts out where issue #2 left off, with a tender scene between Cheetara and Tygra this time including Lion-O, on their way to train. During the training Cheetara has another one of her visions involving danger concerning Lion-O; this vision brings her to her knees and causes her to cry out much to the concern of the Panthro and Tygra. While on monitor duty she shrugs off Tygra’s continued concern claiming she is “fine.”
Later, she detects a momentary blip on the radar. Panthro does not seem to be concerned because whatever it was, it was too small to trigger any of the alarm and it disappears before they can figure out what it could be. Panthro promises to stay vigilant but Cheetara is obviously concerned. She takes her concerns again to Claudus who does his best to placate her fears and also promises to keep their eyes and ears open.
Late at night, coming to check the comms and radar, Cheetara finds Tygra also working late. She finally discusses her fears and visions with him and she encourages her to trust herself and her abilities. He says the others would surely like to hear what she has to say, they are a team after all. Back in her quarters, a relieved Cheetara tucks in a sleepy Lion-O, letting him know that she will always be there to protect him. Lion-O never had any doubts.
The next day, Cheetara meets with Tygra, Panthro and Jaga to relate what has been bothering her. She proposes shutting down the mines to protect the workers but they need the resources the mines offer so they compromise on less hours and increased security. Suddenly an alarm rings out as someone has breached their airspace. The Thundercats race to the mines to protect the works.
ThunderCats: Cheetara #3 ends in the mines are under siege from an attack squad from Plun’Darr who quickly dispatch the soldiers on guard at the mines. They don’t have much time to enjoy their victory however, as the Thundercats arrive ready for battle. The attack on the mines proves to be just a distraction however, as another force from Plun’Darr attacks Claudus and Jaga as they are loading the soldiers onto ships to head for the mines. Apparently, Cheetara’s visions of destruction have come to pass.
Analysis
Many of the same properties that made issue #2 a success for me are present here in ThunderCats: Cheetara #3 and that is both a good thing and a bad thing. I like the art just as much; the use of pastels interspersed with more intense coloring as the action gets more intense is particularly clever in my mind. The characterization of Cheetara remains strong though I would like to see a little more contrast between her and the other ThunderCats. Right now the only real difference is provided by the exuberance of Lion-O or when the action gets started. The story moves along at a good pace and the writing is tight; all good things.
My problem with ThunderCats: Cheetara #3 is not that the quality of the issue is the same, my problem (and problem may be too strong a word) is that the issue itself is pretty much the same. In issue #2 there is a fight followed by a lot of introspection, hand-wringing, and some sweet tenderness, ending with an ominous threat. In issue #2 they shake things up by starting with sweet tenderness, then introspection and hand-wringing, ending with a fight and another ominous threat.
So my issue with ThunderCats: Cheetara #3 is not so much content, that seems to hit a nice balance, but rather with variation and structure. There is a great deal of potential with this character and with this story; I would like to see it realized and I believe it can be just by shaking up the structure and giving the story someplace unexpected to go.
Final Thoughts
Excellent and clever art, good characterization and a good story. Having said that, something needs to happen to break it out of the predictable rut it is in danger of falling into.
Dynamite Entertainment provided The Comic Book Spot with an advance copy of ThunderCats: Cheetara #3 for review purposes. Find more reviews here. If you would like to buy a copy of this title, and help support the Comic Book Spot at the same time, consider purchasing this book at Amazon, My Comic Shop, or at Things From Another World.
