REVIEW: 'Thundercats: Apex' #1 by Ed Brisson, Rapha Lobosco, and Roshan Kurichiyanil

 

Thundercats: Apex #1 

Writer: Ed Brisson

Artist: Rapha Lobosco, Roshan Kurichiyanil

Letters: Jeff Eckleberry

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Release Date: December 4, 2024

Cover Price: $4.99

Across a desert landscape, a cloaked rider emerges from the shimmering heat. A lone figure on a battered mount, he's a tempting target for bandits - and temptation is not something that the inhabitants of these badlands are inclined to resist.

Unfortunately for the miscreants who decide to waylay him, that choice will likely be the last one they ever make. And when the dusty traveler walks into the local saloon, it soon becomes clear that anyone who stands between him and his mission will share the same fate.

But who is this mysterious stranger - and what is the target that he has fixed his glowing red eye upon?

Featuring otherworldly covers from DECLAN SHALVEY, LUCIO PARRILLO, MEGHAN HETRICK, and JAE LEE & JUNE CHUNG, this historic 40-page special from renowned writer ED BRISSON (Batman Incorporated, Uncanny X-Men) and acclaimed artist RAPHA LOBOSCO (James Bond: 007) answers the most burning question on all of Third Earth - who is Apex? - and sets the stage for the dramatic new story arc launching in ThunderCats #11!

Score:

★★★★1/2 (4.5/5)

QUICK REVIEW: This will be a quick review because I want to preserve the surprise baked into 'ThunderCats: Apex' #1 by Ed Brisson, Rapha Lobosco, and Roshan Kurichiyanil.The issue blends ThunderCats, Old Man Logan, Mad Max, and Clint Eastwood spaghetti Westerns. It's an irresistible mix of familiar story tropes heightened by Thundercats lore. Who is Apex? You have to read it to find out.

In 'ThunderCats: Apex,' a mysterious stranger traverses a desert searching for something and someone. He faces bandits along the way, easily dispatching them before heading to a local saloon to gather information on MoleMaster. After revealing his identity during an altercation with the bartender, he overpowers the entire bar to get the necessary details. The ensuing confrontation reveals a lot. More importantly, Lobosco superbly illustrates the escalating violence. Well-choreographed and decidedly bloody, the fighting is expertly paced and visually striking. Kurichiyanil's rich colors add a lot of depth to the character designs and limb-slicing action. 

'ThunderCats: Apex' #1 is an exhilarating start to the new arc that promises to captivate fans. Brisson masterfully blends familiar genres to enhance the tension and drama, setting the stage for an engaging story that embodies the fierce spirit of ThunderCats. This issue is a thrilling must-read for any fan.