He-Man/Thunder Cats #4 Review

He-Man/Thunder Cats #4

Writer: Rob David & Lloyd Goldfine

Art Team: Freddie E. Williams II & Jeremy Colwell

DC Comics

Release Date: 1/18/2017

Cover Price: $3.99

The Villain “Bro-mance” Issue

Having just crossed the halfway point of this crossover series from childhood lore I find myself actually enjoying this title more than I previously imagined I would.  Now understand that I’m a sucker for over the top action, sprinkled with touches of comedy, so if this sounds like something you’d be entertained by feel free to jump in at any point with that understanding and you’d be A.O.K.  With that being said we last left our groups of heroes gathered for a funeral while the Skeletor/Mumm-Ra bro-mance blossoms and flourishes before our very eyes.  Can our hero warriors recover and regroup in time or are the bad guys finally destined to chalk one up in the W column, let’s find out.

The issue continues where we left off previously with the Ancient Spirits of Evil, no longer in spirit form, attacking Eternia at the combined command of Skeletor and Mumm-Ra.  As these Kaiju versions of the Ancient Spirits go wild on the walls of the city the two evil villains take a moment to pat each other on the back for a job well done, as the citizens of Eternia scatter for cover. The remaining heroes gather for cover in the castle and look out on at impending doom, not very hero like.

At this point Lion-O decides the better course of action for the heroes, instead of bickering, would be to take Cringer on a mission to resurrect He-Man. As the duo arrives on Thundera, Lion-O reveals his plan to essentially Lazarus Pit He-Man, via Mumm-Ra’s tomb magic. I’m totally O.K. with this means of getting He-Man back in the ball game, but it has me wondering if they forgot about our Sorcerous tease at the end of last issue? (I’m sure this is just me wanting satisfaction NOW though and the writers haven’t forgotten anything).

As Lion-O and Cringer wait for He-man to bake in the tomb, for 20 minutes at 350 degrees, the pair hears a disturbance in the back corner of Mumm-Ra’s base of operations.  In the next few pages we the readers are treated to a silly moment, albeit my favorite so far of the crossover, which will be hard to top. Lion-O sends Cringer to investigate the sound, Cringer being Cringer needs a little magic encouragement via the Sword of Omens instead of traditional means, and let me just say this new and improved Battle Cat is an action figure I would buy the shit out of.

Lion-O is suddenly busy too, while Battle Cat cleans things up in the back of Mumm-Ra’s house, only he’s dealing with He-Man who re-appears alive, and like reemerging from the Lazarus Pit, not changed for the better.  Apparently Mumm-Ra’s magic is not good for one’s soul, who knew, which leads to the enemies before friends battle we all paid for this crossover to see, and that’s He-Man vs Lion-O. The two classic cartoon heroes battle in out in the next several pages filled with sword play, which also includes the tossing of 8 ton statues at each other like they’re spit balls in math class.

Eventually Lion-O is able to get He-Man in a compromising position which allows him to slide the Sword of Omens, Sight Beyond Sight, in front of He-Man’s face, providing the Prince of Eternia a jaw dropping vision of a possible future he’ll face if he doesn’t snap out of this funk.   The vision, after a few nerve racking seconds, appears to take effect on He-Man and our sword carrying duo head off back to Eternia to wrap this crossover up in style … queue the 80’s fight music.  

In many ways this issue and crossover in general, written by Rob David and Lloyd Goldfine, continues to be a fanboy’s dream come true.  There are genuine surprises packed into each issue that I never expect or see coming, I’ve truly enjoyed that this story hasn’t been a paint-by-numbers crossover in any way.  Freddie E. Williams II and Jeremy Colwell continue to do stellar work, for art and colors respectively, on the title.  I need a giant poster with this new and improved BattleCat and I need it now damnit!

Bits and Pieces

This “silly” crossover, between two 80’s TV/toy properties, continues to be an enjoyable story and is entering into the territory of being better than it has any business to be. Even if your aren’t a fan of the He-Man or Thunder Cat lines there is no denying the art is incredibly pleasing to look at making this comic well worth its cover price.

8.5/10