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View Full Version : THUNDERCATS FIND THEIR G-FORCE


MichaelDoran
11-10-2002, 09:23 PM
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><a href="http://classic.newsarama.com/DC/RRP/Tcats_botp.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/DC/RRP/Tcats_botp_t.jpg" width="225" height="175" border="0" alt="T-CATS/BotP cover by J. Scott Campbell - click to open larger version" align="right"></a>co-written by Alex Segura Jr.

You knew it was coming eventually, didn’t ya? With the continued strong debut performances of properties based on 80s’ animated series/toy lines, it was just a matter of time before they started crossing over with one another.

A GI Joe/Transformers crossover has already been announced for next summer, and now DC has revealed more details about a crossover Top Cow first told us about a few months back, a Thundercats/Battle of the Planets two-book meeting of G-Force and the hippest ‘Cats in the universe.

Though a standalone story, Wildstorm’s one-shot due this spring will be followed by a stand-alone one-shot created and published by Top Cow. But first things first. Wildstorm’s Thundercats/Battle of the Planets will feature a story and art from creator Kaare Andrews (Hulk covers) with a cover by J. Scott Campbell.

According to DC, the two properties cross paths in an “epic that sends Lion-O and G-Force's Commander Mark to each other's respective homelands! The two teams don't dare trust each other - but they'll have to if they're going to defeat the combined might of Mumm-Ra's magic and Zoltar's technology!”

Fans fearing a forced melding of properties shouldn’t worry too much says Kaare Andrews ... he told Newsarama the two properties have meshed together fairly well.

"As some great old wise man once said, conflict is story. And all I can say right now is so far so good,” he said. “The story is only in plot form at this very moment. But I was surprised at how easily these two properties play against each other. The contrasts between the teams have really become the whole focus of the story. Kind of like Lethal Weapon, of course these are teams not individuals, no one's a cop, no one's crazy, there's no dead wife, no one's retiring and half of the people are giant walking cat-people. But besides those few minor points, it's going to be exactly like Lethal Weapon."

The story harkens back (not too far now) to the storylines made popular by the respective cartoon series, Andrews said.

"The story is the ultimate homage to 80's cartoons in that there is a definite moral at the end of it all. That's what makes it fun for me. I'm playing this straight. This is the story that would appear if there actually was an animated TV crossover between the two properties.

"I'm not too big on giving away plot points but I do promise that two questions will be answered. What does Panthro look like all pimped out in Battle Of The Planets crazy 60 style civvies, and will Cheetara and Jason end up getting to know each other a little more... intimately?"

While light on details, Andrews is hoping to please both of the cartoons' rabid fan bases.

"The ‘funnest’ part is heavily referencing the actual cartoons,” he said. “Getting things as 'real' as possible. I really enjoy deconstructing ideas, story and art. It's kinda what I do on a lot of those Hulk covers. The challenge is to satisfy both sides of the fanboy fence. And I'm excited about that! I'm ready to chew some gum and kick some ass, and I'm all out of ass... err.. gum... "

Though somewhat new to Battle of the Planets, Andrews still feels a strong connection to the series and hopes he can be faithful to the original.

"To be completely honest, I've only gotten into G-Force since early spring of this year,” Andrews confessed. “I never grew up with the TV show and it was never broadcast in my city. But I find it so strangely nostalgic. Like it encapsulates every other cartoon I grew up watching. And one of those cartoons I did grow up watching was Thundercats.

“I’m constantly surprised by how many people my age who know nothing of cartoons or comics remember the Thundercats. I'm talking about civilians, girls on the streets, accountants and geologists. Not only are we bringing together two different cartoons here, we're bringing together two different generations of people that grew up watching two different cartoons."

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Franklin Harris
11-10-2002, 10:56 PM
I'm not surprised he didn't see Battle of the Planets. It was a late '70s series (not, I repeat,not an '80s series). Kids watching cartoons in the mid '80s (the Thundercats Era) mostly weren't old enough to watch TV when Battle aired.

Frankly, I don't think this team-up is half as odd as Top Cow's Battle of the Planets/Witchblade one-shot sounds.

Now, since Wildstorm has the rights to both, will we see a Thundercats/Robotech crossover? Now that would be strange.

Pariah
11-10-2002, 11:13 PM
Where are the Silverhawks?! I want the Silverhawks comeback! Much better cartoon than Thundercats, though that Snarf thing was a third grade classic.

(I am right in them being named the Silverhawks, right? Group of three or four guys in outerspace who wore metal suits that had wings with super powers... two little kids tagging along with them... on around the same time as Thundercats... Shit! the 80's were a while ago people! I can't remember my entire childhood!)

EMeadow
11-10-2002, 11:18 PM
[quote]Originally posted by Franklin Harris:
Frankly, I don't think this team-up is half as odd as Top Cow's Battle of the Planets/Witchblade one-shot sounds.[/QB]<hr></blockquote>

Actually, that's one team up I'm going to pass on myself. I'm a huge Witchblade fan but the whole concept of the female G-Force member just finding and using the blade itself with no sign of Sara Pezzini around just doesn't thrill me.

This one on the other hand, I'll be getting.

Franklin Harris
11-10-2002, 11:37 PM
[quote]Originally posted by Pariah:
<strong>Where are the Silverhawks?! I want the Silverhawks comeback! Much better cartoon than Thundercats, though that Snarf thing was a third grade classic.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Both are Rankin/Bass cartoons, so they are sister shows, in a matter of speaking. But Silverhawks is nowhere near as fondly remembered.

Another cult favorite of that era is Mighty Orbots, which has a similar style of animation to Thundercats and Silverhawks but ran for only one year on ABC Saturday mornings.

Hdefined
11-11-2002, 12:30 AM
um . . . no

and for god's sake, someone get campbell to stop drawing Lion-O like that, he looks like a bad combination of a cat, mephisto, and some 60 year old pervert

tralfaz
11-11-2002, 09:56 AM
[quote]Originally posted by Hdefined:
<strong>um . . . no

and for god's sake, someone get campbell to stop drawing Lion-O like that, he looks like a bad combination of a cat, mephisto, and some 60 year old pervert</strong><hr></blockquote>

better yet, get Campbell to stop drawing period. Either get more Danger Girl out there or stay away.

TacoKid
11-11-2002, 10:42 AM
I watched Battle of the Planets in the 80's. I repeat, I watched Battle of the Planets in the 80's.

jasinmartin
11-11-2002, 01:01 PM
Thundercats/Battle of the Planets will feature a story and art from creator Kaare Andrews (Hulk covers)

drool...

with a cover by J. Scott Campbell

drool...

American Caesar
11-11-2002, 01:08 PM
How forced can this crossover get? Worse than "X-Men/Star Trek"?

Richard
11-12-2002, 01:13 AM
[quote]Originally posted by TacoKid:
<strong>I watched Battle of the Planets in the 80's. I repeat, I watched Battle of the Planets in the 80's.</strong><hr></blockquote>

True, that may be. But the fact of the matter is that the cartoon originated and first aired in the U.S. in the 1970's.

cncoyle
11-13-2002, 09:10 AM
I'm still waiting for an all-out CGI reboot of "Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light" or "Sectaurs".

"Silverhawks" was okay, except for the one that wore the cowboy hat. The green/emerald one was cool, though...