Warning: contains spoilers for recent issues of Thundercats!

Dynamite’s mega-successful Thundercats title has entered its second year, and continues to expand franchise lore in new and exciting ways. In the Thundercats #18, a new faction arrives at the team’s home base of Third Earth: the Knights of Thundera, and these warriors promise a new status quo for Lion-O and company.

Thundercats writer and cover artist Declan Shalvey shared a first look at the two covers for Thundercats #18 on X, formerly known as Twitter, which will be written by Shalvey and drawn by Drew Moss. Shalvey’s cover depicts the crimson-clad Knights of Thundera jumping out of their ship, swords drawn and ready for battle. The other cover, by regular artist Drew Moss, is a mockup of a Thundercats action figure package from the 1980s, also featuring a Knight of Thundera. Shalvey, Moss and Dynamite have remained mum on the Knights of Thundera’s identity.

Dynamite Entertainment Has Made Thundercats Cool Again

Declan Shalvey and Drew Moss Have Given Thundercats Fans What They Want

Thundercats began life in the 1980s as an action figure toy line and cartoon, and it continues to find new fans, 40 years later. Thanks to a handful of reboots, Thundercats has had a shelf life stretching beyond some of their contemporaries. Dynamite Entertainment has spearheaded the latest Thundercats revival, bringing the franchise back to prominence by striking a balance between nostalgia and the need to move the property forward. Shalvey, Moss and their collaborators have revived many of the “usual suspects,” such as Lion-O, Mumm-Ra and others, while introducing new characters such as Calica and Apex.

The most recent animated reboot of the franchise was titled Thundercats Ho!

Shalvey and Moss’ approach to the Thundercats franchise has made the book a smash hit with both fans and critics, who helped push its first issue to unprecedented heights. Thundercats creator Tobin Wolf built a world full of rich and compelling characters, and Shalvey and Moss have found new and inventive ways to make them new again. For example, they have revealed Third Earth was a Thunderan penal colony, and some sort of connection exists between Mumm-Ra and Jaga. Jaga was the Thundercats mentor, and the book hints there is far more to him as well.

Likewise, the Thundercats mythos is big enough, and full of unexplored areas, to allow new characters to take their place next to Panthro and Wilykat, and Shalvey and Moss have taken advantage of this fact.

Likewise, the Thundercats mythos is big enough, and full of unexplored areas, to allow new characters to take their place next to Panthro and Wilykat, and Shalvey and Moss have taken advantage of this fact. The aforementioned Calica and Apex made memorable debuts in the pages of Thundercats: Calica will prove instrumental in stopping Mumm-Ra, and Apex, a future version of Lion-O, provides an ominous warning to the Thundercats. The creative team has hinted dark times are on the horizon for the Thundercats, both within and out of their ranks.

What Role Will the Knights of Thundera Play on Third Earth?

Will the Knights Help the Thundercats? Or Destroy Them?

Now, Shalvey and Moss have introduced the “Knights of Thundera,” who will shake up the Thundercats’ status quo. While no details have been released about the Knights, such as who they are and where they have been, their red, ninja-like outfits give them an air of mystery and menace. Dynamite’s solicitation for Thundercats #18 reads as follows:

In the aftermath of the Knights of Thundera's ill-fated raid on the Mu'Tants, their thoroughly unimpressed prisoner sows fear throughout the Cats' Lair with dire warnings of retribution to come. Meanwhile, with tensions already escalating between factions within the ThunderCats' ranks, one newcomer crosses a line - and Tygra demands satisfaction in a ThunderDuel!

As the Knights of Thundera are going after the Mu’Tants, the Thundercats’ sworn enemies, it might be tempting to view them as allies for Panthro and Tygra, but Shalvey and Moss have proven anything is possible during their run.

Declan Shalvey and Drew Moss have put the Thundercats through their paces over the past year, and the introduction of the Knights of Thundera could complicate the team’s lives even more. As Dynamite has been coy about the Knights’ identities and motivations, they could prove to be a godsend for Lion-O and the Thundercats, or they could be their worst nightmare. The Thundercats already have their hands full with Mumm-Ra and the Mu’Tants, and another faction could make Third Earth a very dark and violent place.

Source: Declan Shalvey

Thundercats #18 is on sale July 16 from Dynamite Entertainment!