On the shelf: Thundercats solo specials, and the return of an 80's cult favorite

 As Dynamite's adaptation of ThunderCats approaches its 2 year anniversary (and it seems it'll surpass Marvel's 2 year output), the publisher is offering some 1-shot solo specials of some of the key characters.

Pumyra is one of the key players in the spin-off series, ThunderCats: Lost, which wraps next month. The book flashes back to her childhood, and the sacrifices that her father made to protect the family. I've a feeling Pumyra and the rest of the Lost team will be fully integrated into the main book soon.

Rating: A-.

After a miniseries several months back, Cheetara gets a solo 1-shot, but artistically, is not in line with the earlier work. Newcomer David Coussens seems to be missing some spark, and Cheetara doesn't look the same as normal.

Rating: B--.

Panthro gets his own book, and, like Pumyra, it has ties to ThunderCats: Lost. Writer Ed Brisson wrote all three books, and seems to be in line to take over the main book should Declan Shalvey leave at some point. However, he's got work to do. And I know a better writer who can move him aside, as we'll discuss in a moment.

In short, Panthro's tale is also a character study, and a fair one.

Rating: A.

Marvel & Dynamite have united the Fantastic Four and Disney's Gargoyles in a pair of 1-shots, one for each publisher, that also insert some Marvel characters that haven't been seen in forever. Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman wrote both books, making use of an old Iron Man foe, the Grey Gargoyle, and Isaac Christians, a human-turned-Gargoyle from The Defenders dating all the way back to 1980, in the first, and an evil Gargoyle who was a foe of the Hulk back in the day. Plus, Dragon Man, or, Dragonus, factors into both. Further, David Xanatos meets Tony Stark. How cool is that?

So not digging the Skottie Young cover to the Marvel 1-shot, though. Then again, Dynamite is using an artist to remind ThunderCats fans of the atrocity that was ThunderCats Roar from 5 years ago. Ugh.

Rating: A-.

With Blue Falcon & Dynomutt set to end, and, as noted above, ThunderCats: Lost finishing, plus Silverhawks ending with 10 issues, but with a promise of a return, Dynamite is reaching into the Warner vaults again, this time for a futuristic hero, also from 1980:

If you've ever wanted to see Thundarr in comics, now's your chance, starting in January. Dynamite also is bringing Archie and friends back in February for a miniseries crossover with Army of Darkness. Hey, we wouldn't mind the gang from Stranger Things cross paths with Sabrina, but so far, Dark Horse has passed. Their loss.

And if you want to see Archie and Scooby-Doo, that might be something for DC.....!