Friday, August 5, 2011

THUNDERCATS, HO!



Wildstorm's ThunderCats update.
Continuing the wave of recent nostalgia and reboots comes ThunderCats, Cartoon Network's latest series that provides an update to the original from 1985-90.  As with most reboots, significant changes were made to the characters and settings in order to make it more appealing to modern audiences while also providing reminiscent fun for older fans. A previous attempt at resurrecting the franchise was done in 2003 by DC Comics' Wildstorm imprint. They launched several mini-series and one-shots taking place both during and after the run of the show, the latter complete with updated looks for the 'Cats.



1980s.
2011.
The show is set on Third Earth, where Thundera is now a kingdom on the planet rather than a separate world the ThunderCats have to escape from. The ThunderCats cling tightly to the old ways, only prince Lion-O (Will Fridele) acknowledging the existence of technology (unlike the original series where, in a Star Wars-esque fashion, technology co-existed alongside medieval weaponry and battle tactics). That ultimately proves their undoing when the ThunderCats are betrayed by one of their own, who leads their enemies, Mumm-Ra (Robin Atkin Dowens), Slithe (Dee Bradley Baker) and his Lizardmen, to the destruction of Thundera using technology. Only Lion-O, Tygra (Matthew Mercer), Cheetara (Emmanuelle Chirqui), WilyKit & Kat (Eamon Pirrucello & Madeleine Hall) and Snarf (Satomi Kōrogi) survive and are sent after the Book of Omens by Jaga (Corey Burton), basically turning this into a quest show.

The series is now two episodes in. After a solid and engaging premier episode, the follow-up felt like a filler story thrown in where Lion-O's quest for revenge against Mumm-Ra is called into question after meeting Captain Tunar and taking part in his obsession to kill the creature that stole his people's water (ala Moby Dick, or Jaws for you non-literary types).  Of course, that makes Lion-O realize he was behaving foolishly and resumes his quest for the Book of Omens.

Some other things to note: Larry Kenney, the original voice of Lion-O, rejoins the franchise as Lion-O's father, King Claudius. Snarf, a cowardly nursemaid to Lion-O, is reduced to just a pet. Panthro has yet to be featured in an episode, appearing only as an illusion in the pilot so far (but, considering he's got an action figure based on the new design one can assume he'll pop up eventually). Also, like many shows these days, there's no proper intro beyond a brief title graphic and a few notes of the original theme song ending with the episode title (much the same way as Friedele's previous series, Batman Beyond). One also needs to wonder what the deal is with the blank orbs on their clothing, besides eventually (hopefully) bearing the ThunderCats logo.




How will the new ThunderCats ultimately compare to the old?  We'll just have to wait and see.


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