Free Comic Book Day 2025- Thundercats/Powerpuff Girls

By Mark Rodriguez

So this is a random crossover I didn't expect to see, ever. Coming from Dynamite Comics, the heroes of the mid-80's meet the heroes of the mid-to-late 90's. Based on the cover, even Mumm-Ra is confused as to what the heck is going on. Let's see what happens. 

The story opens with Mojo Jojo having defeated the Powerpuff Girls with one of his flying devices, and then blasting them through a worm hole. They arrive on a new world where their super powers don't work, not even the ability to fly. They run into Snarf who gives them ancient weapons. Blossom gets a sword, Bubbles gets a slingshot and Buttercup gets a whip. The girls set forth towards adventure.

The adventure comes to them as the group is suddenly attacked by a monster that knocks them around. Buttercup complains about their lack of super powers. Bubble asks Snarf what to do since her slingshot ran out of ammo. Snarf pulls the slingshot back which reveals to make more balls appear. Knowing that she has magical unlimited ammo, Bubbles steps up to take care of things. 

Bubbles, however seems to have horrible aim, to the point that that monster just stands there bored. Snarf says something to Bubbles, which in case it seems the only thing he can say is his name as if he were a Pokemon. Bubbles doesn't understand what he's saying but realizes she has to embrace the powers within the world and her weapon. Bubbles meows like a cat and fires off a shot. The slingshot smacks the monster on the gem that's embedded on his forehead, knocking him back.

 

Bubbles says they have to embrace the kitten within. Buttercup says she just got a lucky shot and Blossom says she got an idea. Blossom puts faith in herself that they can do this, powers or no powers. Blossom asks Buttercup if she remembers the time she was chasing them around with a rolled up towel whip and accidentally broke the professor's favorite vase. Buttercup remembers and realizes her weapon isn't some string, but an actual whip.

The girls go on the offensive, as Bubbles rides Snarf and fires off more colored balls at the monster. Buttercup uses her whip to ties up the monster's legs, and she calls out to Blossom. Blossom leaps up, focusing on 'embracing the kitten within' and she lands on the monster's chest. She then leaps up stabs the through the diamond on the monster's forehead with her sword.

There is suddenly a bright light and a puff of smoke. Buttercup jokes that Blossom literally gave him a splitting headache. As the smoke clears, we see Tygra laying unconscious where the monster once was. The girls really start to wonder where they are and Bubbles says she likes his stripes.

Tygra suddenly wakes up and shakes his bolo-whip at the girls, telling the 'tiny bug infants' to stay away from him. The girls are confused, and Tygra is relieved to see Snarf and that they didn't get him. 

Tygra explains that 'they' invaded the Cats Lair and cut the surveillance systems. Tygra blames himself for not been able to prevent the other Thundercats from being taken away. He explains that was trapped within that monster. Tygra asks the girls to forgive his emotion and asks where they're from. He then realize that the Treasure of Thundera had blessed the girls with ancient weapons. He asks for their help.

Buttercup says they're superheroes and they heard all this 'chosen one before'. However they currently don't have their powers and only got their weapons from Snarf and not some ancient treasure god. Blossom asks if they help him, if they can send him home in return. Tygra promises on his stripes that he will get them back. Tygra and the Powerpuff Girls properly introduce themselves.

Tygra says the smartest Thundercat Panthro will know how to get them home. He explains that Cheetara is clever is fast, WliyKat and WilyKit have smarts and guile, and their leader Lion-O is the bravest and weilds the Sword of Owens. Buttercup isn't impressed and asks what he can do. Tygra says he fills out many different roles on the team, which doesn't impress Buttercup. Tygra adds that he can also turn invisible and does so. Bubbles is impressed and Buttercup says they're stuck with the invisible sidekick cat man. 

Blossom asks Tygra how they're going to find the rest of his family. Tygra still has a piece of the gem that was stuck on him when he was still a monster. It seems to be calling towards the rest of it, similar to how the Thundercats call out to him. Blossom says they will help him save his family. Bubbles says they need to workshop a name for their team. As they walk off, Bubbles asks if Tygra can turn invisible again, and he does so. Buttercup complains that this is going to be a long trip.

My thoughts- 

So rather than this being a random one-shot, it looks like it's going to be a mini-series or something. Dynamite has been going hard on all these classic 80's properties as the ads show that there have been or will soon be comics based on The Powerpuff Girls, Space Ghost, Johnny Quest, The Herculoids, Silverhawks, Captain Planet and the Thundercats have two side series. One is called Thundercats Lost and the other is a Cheetara mini-series. The wildest one has to be a Space Ghost and Johnny Quest crossover.

I guess this is what the Cosmos demanded...? While this story might turn out to be pretty cool, I can't say I think anyone was really wondering 'gee, I wonder what would happen if Johnny Quest and the gang somehow ran into Space Ghost?', and not as guests on Coast to Coast either.
 

As for the story itself, it seems to go for the more cartoony and lighthearted Powerpuff Girls vibe. I guess it works since the girls have always been drawn in a very simplistic cartoony style, so the Thundercats characters are more cartoony to match. At least it wasn't the Thundercats Roar version or I wouldn't have even bothered to pick this one up. Not even for free.

The girls are pretty much in character, but Tygra is way more dramatic and comical. Tygra is probably the most calm of the team and he is also the scientist and architect of the group, but that doesn't sound as cool as having Cheetara's super speed or creating cool vehicles like Panthro. Also for some reason, Snarf can't talk, even though he seems to be based on the 80's version.

There is a lot of mystery as to what happened to the other Thundercats and how Tygra was turned into a monster. When he freaked out on seeing the 'tiny bug infants' if somehow the Rowdyruff Boys are somehow involved.

I'll see if can grab the rest of this one. After all, we can't just leave this mystery hanging, can we? Darn you, Free Comic Book Day! You won again!