ThunderCats, Ho! Cartoon Network's heroes head for newsagents

Panini UK's new ThunderCats Magazine will be hitting the shelves on 22nd March 2012, a four-weekly magazine based on the brand new series of ThunderCats currently being shown on Channel 5 and Cartoon Network.

The new title features stunning strips from writer Ferg Handley, art by Cosmo White and colours by Kat Nicholson, alongside a mix of puzzles, competitions, features and, of course, a ThunderCats free gift every issue.

ThunderCats had previously aired in 1987 and fast became a cult pop-culture phenomenon - with over one million fans on Facebook.

Panini’s ThunderCats magazine continues the phenomenon with a fun, inspiring and exciting title that focuses on all the favourite characters along with some new ones. This 36-page publication is available at all major retail outlets across the UK, extending the exciting adventures of the team of heroes onto print with richly-illustrated comic stories.

The ThunderCats brand has had tremendous global success, boosted by the new TV series which launched in 2011. ThunderCats first aired in the UK on Cartoon Network and the first episode was watched by 157,000 viewers. Channel 5 started airing the show on 18th December, netting 197,000 viewers.

2012 will see the second half of the season showing on both channels.

Marvel UK published a long-running comic based on the original series in the 1980s, and it was a huge success, so let's hope this new title proves as popular.

Here's a selection of pages from the first issue, courtesy of Panini UK and title editor Simon Frith.

ThunderCats Magazine – The  Details 

Launch date – Thursday 22nd March
Target age group – 7 – 12 year old boys
Cover price - £2.99
Cover-gift – Free Thundercats cover-mount every issue
Launch cover-gift – Free sword of Omens
Format – 297 x 210mm
Frequency – Four weekly
Distributor – Marketforce

Thundercats UK TV Premiere date announced

Promotional art for the new ThunderCats animated series. © Warner Bros.

ThunderCats, one of the most beloved cartoons of the 1980s, returns to UK TV next month on Cartoon Network UK - and, as we previously reported, a new comic from Panini UK will follow, although no release date for this has yet been announced.

Launching on Saturday 10th September at 11.00am on Cartoon Network, with a new episode every Saturday, the new Thundercats is a "reimagining" of the iconic animated series on Cartoon Network.

Set as an epic tale, the much anticipated return of ThunderCats tells the story of a hero's journey to fulfill his ultimate destiny, starting with the story's origin of Prince Lion-O's ascension to the throne.

On Third Earth, the kingdom of Thundera is being threatened by the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra, and Lion-O, the young heir to the throne, embarks on a great quest to take his rightful place as king. The unlikely champion must work with his faithful comrades Tygra, Cheetara, Panthro, WilyKit, WilyKat, and his loyal pet, Snarf to save their world from darkness. As the forces of good and evil battle each other in the quest for the fabled Stones of Power, Lion-O and his champions learn valuable lessons of loyalty, honour and mortality.

Cartoon Network says ThunderCats will appeal to viewers who have loved the characters all their lives as well as young newcomers to the franchise.

Panini UK announced they had secured the rights to publish a licensed Thundercats in May, shortly after news broke that they would no longer originate Marvel superhero comic strip.

Thundercats has a proud history as a comic in the UK - Marvel UK published 129 issues of a regular title based on the original 1980s animated show. To date, it is the longest-running comic associated with the franchise and included work by artists such as Tim Perkins and Martin Griffiths.

Other tie-in merchandise includes an action figure range from Bandai, kids' apparel, watches and bags (see news story).

ThunderCats re-launch brings more new merchandise

Promotional art for the new ThunderCats animated series. © Warner Bros.

(Updated 18/8/11, revised launch UK date added): Panini UK, which signed a deal to publish a new ThunderCats comic earlier this year (see news story), is not alone in seeing the potential of the renewed franchise.

Warner Bros Consumer Products UK has announced it has completed deals with four new partners for the ThunderCats licensing program, which now has a total of nine licensees.

With no launch date yet for the ThunderCats comic, master toy licensee Bandai will be the first of the licensees to introduce new ThunderCats products in the UK (see www.bandai.com/thundercats), but other new partners include TV Mania, who will release a kid's apparel range, including t-shirts and hoodies (their other licenses include Marvel characters and Ben 10); Cooneen (nightwear and underwear - they also produce Transformers gear); Zeon (who are developing watches, bags, gifts for adults and kids featuring imagery from the new ThunderCats series); and Gemma International (paper part wear, greeting cards, gift wrap).

(As well as Panini, previously announced licensees include include scooter makers MV Sports (who also hold a Doctor Who license), costume makers Rubies and branded bedding producer Character World).

In the new series, the ThunderCats are on the move. After the kingdom of Thundera is attacked by the lizard people, Lion-O leads Tygra, Cheetara and the other heroes on a quest for the Book of Omens and the magic stones of legend. But he'll have to face villains like Mumm-Ra, the ancient evil sorceror, and Slithe, the dangerous lizard general. Luckily, he has the Sword of Omens and its amazing powers at his disposal.

Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and Japan's Studio4°C, the new animated ThunderCats series, which launches this week in the US, is set to premiere on Cartoon Network in the UK from 10th September at 11.00am (it was originally announced that it would launch in August), with new episodes airing on Saturdays until the end of October.

It will then be stripped daily, running weekdays at 6.00 and 8.00pm and Saturday mornings until Christmas.

ThunderCats looks to be joining a 1980s animation revival that already featured Transformers but also includes Voltron Force (see my news story on SciFiPulse.net), big time...

• US Cartoon Network ThunderCats page

• Bandai ThunderCats Page: www.bandai.com/thundercats 

• ThunderCats 2011 Fan Page on Facebook

Thundercats © Warner Bros.

Thundercats Returns to British Comics

Hot on the heels of news that Disney have issued an edict that Panini UK can no longer originate Marvel superhero comic strip comes word that the company has grabbed the rights to a title where new comics are almost certain to feature - Thundercats, which will relaunch as an animated series later this year.

Thundercats has a proud history as a comic in the UK - Marvel UK published 129 issues of a regular title based on the original 1980s animated show. To date, it is the longest-running comic associated with the franchise and included work by artists such as Tim Perkins and Martin Griffiths.

Now, LicensingBiz reports that MV Sports, Rubies, Character World and Panini have all joined the programme for rejuvenated 1980s brand, which starts screening in August on Cartoon Network.

Warner Bros. announced a new ThunderCats animated series last year, produced by Japanese animation studio Studio4°C who have been in charge of recreating the series with a new, anime-influenced style. Warner said that the show would be “a sweeping tale combining swords and science and boasting ferocious battles with the highest of stakes…”

Voice actor Larry Kenney, who portrayed Lion-O in the classic ThunderCats series from the 1980s will be appearing in the new series, this time playing the role of Claudus, Lion-O’s father. The Thundercats Lair site also reports that veteran voice actor Matthew Mercer also revealed on his Twitter feed that he would be voicing Tygra.

Panini will be publishing the first Thundercats magazine, joining Bandai, which has a toy range including four-inch basic action figures, eight-inch classic collector figures, a Deluxe ThunderTank Vehicle with figure, a deluxe role-play sword, Staction PVC figurines and collectable limited edition porcelain statues.

 "We're all incredibly excited about the return of Thundercats and we are looking forward to reinventing though carefully respecting the heritage of this classic 80s brand," says Paul Bufton, general manager of WBCP UK. "With our licensee partnerships shaping up and amazing retailer feedback there is every reason to believe that Thundercats could return to become one of the hottest boy brands of recent times."

A Thundercats movie was announced back in 2007 but is still in development.

While the news about Disney edict on the Marvel title has disappointed many, Panini UK will still be originating boys adventure strip - so let's hope some of the hot talents they already employ on Marvel Heroes and other comics move to this new Thundercats title.

Wales Comic Con features Simon Furman in line up

One of the fastest growing events of recent years, the next installment in the Wales Comic Con saga lands in Wrexham this Summer.

"We plan to bring fans more of 'everything' trying to make the show the best possible day out for all the family," say organisers.

Along with a host of guests covering all fields including; Chris Barrie of Red Dwarf, comics creator Simon Furman, voice actor and professional Thundercat Larry Kenney and of course Hollywood legend Ray Stevenson (star of Rome).

The usual mix of free talk sessions, photoshoots, stalls selling all the cool stuff, cosplay and more will also be happening throughout the day as well as giveaways from heavyweight associates - Games Workshop, Blizzard Inc (World of Warcraft) and ODEON Wrexham.

• Wales Comic Con 2011 takes place on 5th June 2011 at Glyndwr University in Wrexham, North Wales. For more details visit www.walescomiccon.com. They're also on Facebook here or you can follow them on Twitter here

Thundercats - Marvel UK days recalled

Variety reports Warner Bros. has optioned a Thundercats script by tyro scribe Paul Sopocy to turn the popular 1980s animated series and toy line into a live action feature.

Warner-based Paula Weinstein will produce through her Spring Creek Productions. banner, along with Dick Robertson and Lew Korman.

Come on, you must remember the Thundercats? They were a group of humanoid cats (with feline names like Lion-O, Tygra, Panthro and Cheetara) who flee their planet of Thundera after it's destroyed. Once crash-landing on another planet, Third Earth, they must thwart Mumm-Ra, an evil sorcerer, bent on killing them off.

I certainly do -- one of the first internal freelance commissions I had at Marvel UK was writing Thundercats stories (The Marvel UK comic ran for 129 issues and was published for three years) and, on one commission, getting a salutory lesson in how to cut a story "that could not be cut!" from Richard Starkings, who skillfully trimmed an 11-page story to just 5. That certainly showed me and was, looking back, a valuable lesson.

The story involved the secretive Berbils, who always seemed a bit wet (like knock off Ewoks but worse), so I came up with the idea of them actually having a super secret ancient technological society no-one outside their species should know about, especially Mumm-Ra. Since they were partly robot/cyborg they had to have some kind of technology but I don't think it was ever explained in the TV show.

The edits were a salutory lesson on the commercial necessities of comics publishing when budgets on a title with declining title were trimmed as sales began to drop.

Variety says Sopocy has written the script as an origin story expanding on the major heroes and villains from the animated series, with the plot focusing on Lion-O coming of age as the leader of the Thundercats.

This web site a pretty good Thundercats resource (www.cheezey.org/thundercats) for the original US Thundercats comics published by Star, but there's nothing about the Marvel UK comics so I can't tell you exactly how many stories I wrote (although I do recall one fan actually asked me to sign every issue I'd worked on once, which was a bit of s shock when he lifted them out of a large duffel bag along with Real Ghostbusters comics...). The Thundercats Lair site (www.thundercatslair.org) also has a comics section but the MUK section is "coming soon", although it does have a bit of info in its gallery area, which features some art from the title.

Tim Perkins was a a regular artist on the title and the majority of the pieces on the site are from Tim's collection, plus cover artwork for the UK's ThunderCats Issue #1, generously donated by the artist who drew it, Lee "Best Daleks Artist EVER" Sullivan.

• Update: Talking of robot bears, New Scientist reported 6 June 2007 on a 1.8-metre-tall Battlefield Extraction-Assist Robot (Bear) will be able to travel over bumpy terrain and squeeze through doorways while carrying an injured soldier in its arms. The prototype Bear torso can lift more than 135 kilograms with one arm, and its developer, Vecna Technologies of College Park, Maryland, is now focusing on improving its two-legged lower body. Not quite a Berbil, but surely one step nearer...