Technically, the fourth volume hasn’t come out yet so it doesn’t have a proper title, but I thought Knights was a good stand-in until it vol 4 (#16-20) gets released. That’s because Shelvey returns to top form by increasing the action and the character-growth that had been missing in the previous volume.

Lion-O is still gone, and Panthro recovering from the wounds inflicted on him by Mumm-Ra, leaving Cheetara in charge. With the discovery of a new element, Tygra has helped devise new armor that has made the cats stronger, faster, and more durable than before, so Cheetara wages an aggressive campaign against the Mu’tants instead of being reactive.

While Cheetara makes some mistakes in her urge to be proactive, she is a strong leader. Decisive, doesn’t tolerate nonsense in the ranks, and able to see different sides of strategy before making her next move. Compared to Lion-O’s hot-headed and insecure approach, I think she should stay leader and hope Lion-O’s journey makes him realize his role is somewhere else.

I doubt it since there’s a whole prophecy that the Thundercats need to be led by Lord Lion-O, but still. He hasn’t proven his leadership mettle as Cheetara has, and his solo jaunt through the Third Earth seems to imply that he likes being alone without the burdens of responsibility and decision-making.

While most of the volume is focused on their aggressive campaign against external threats, and how that backfires on them (hint, hitting the bad guys first sometimes makes them even more angry and willing to ally with other bad guys), there are several great twists.

First off, another Thundercat arrives on Third Earth-Bengal! He had been sent years early to see if the Thundarians can establish a new home there, and had been lost ever since. He’s also Cheetara’s ex-fiance. Such drama! Even moreso, with all the time that has passed and Bengal’s caginess about the mission he was sent on, Shelvey sows seeds of potential double-agent. That’s what Calica suspects too, it takes one to know one.

Then there’s Apex, Lion-O’s future self whose aggression and belief in destroying all enemies, makes him a difficult enemy. The Cats see him as the Lion-O they knew, but soon realize this one is willing to turn on them as easily as any Mu’tant. It fuels the urge to find the real Lion-O wherever he may be.

You can see the theme of division mounting with each issue, and the bad guys quickly take control of it. The new ally, the Vulture men drawn to feathery menace by Moss, takes a more strategic approach of divide and conquer. It’s nice to have a competent bad guy as the Reptilians bash and destroy method obviously wasn’t working. Plus it allows for some dynamic fight scenes between the cats, the vultures and the reptiles, very aerodynamic and expressive.

The other cats had stand-out moments as well like Panthro’s vulnerability, retreating into his armor after his debilitating attack as well as his doubt in judgement for losing Lion-O. The Kits also get a moment when confronting Silthe’s son, and choosing whether or not to give him grace in escaping or letting him die. Jaga’s solo issue delving into his decisions, good and bad, and contrasting with Mumm-Ra’s inner rot when their friendship turned sour felt like a Greek tragedy, it was moving.

All in all, a great volume with a compelling cliffhanger that leaves plenty of analogies between Lion-O and Odysseus. I only hope he has learned some restraint during his time apart and maybe some newfound wisdom.

5 stars.