Thundarr The Barbarian #1
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/1.webp "Thundarr The Barbarian #1")
| Writer | Jason Aaron |
| Artist | Kewber Baal |
| Cover Price | $4.99 |
"ARIEL! OOKLA! RIDE!!!
When a runaway planet hurtled between the Earth and the Moon, cosmic destruction was unleashed - and mankind's proud civilizations were cast into ruin! Two millennia later, the planet is nearly unrecognizable - a harsh and savage realm where sorcery and super-science both reign over the powerless masses.
Now, rising up from their ranks, one man is breaking the bonds that restrained him. With the help of his faithful companions, Ariel and Ookla the Mok, he has dedicated his life - and the power of his mystical blade, the Sunsword - to liberating his world from the forces of evil. He is Thundarr,
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CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
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8.6
The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally
Feb 04, 2026As a child of the 80’s and a fan of the original animated series, I am excited about this series and the first issue definitely scratches an itch to return to this dystopian future world and its awesome mixture of magic and science. Aaron does a great job of bringing the reader into this world and its dangers as well as craft both the lore of Thundarr and the relationships between the characters. Read Full Review
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8.5
AIPT - Kevin Clark
Feb 03, 2026Thundarr, his allies, and his world are reintroduced in spectacular fashion here, with elements of heroic fantasy, underwater adventure and time travel. Read Full Review
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8.0
Nerd Initiative - TravisComicHaven
Feb 04, 2026This first issue of Thundarr is spectacular. The writing by Jason Aaron brings to life a barbaric man struggling to do what is right. The way he (Jason) is able to write such beautiful panels, making you believe what you're reading is happening, only to twist it at the end is poetic. This is my first title from Dynamite Comics, and I am beyond impressed. I am looking forward to reading more of Thundarr the Barbarian, and you should pick this up and enjoy it as well! Read Full Review
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8.0
Comical Opinions - Gabriel Hernandez
Feb 04, 2026THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN #1 delivers on its core promise without exceeding it. This is a solid, no-nonsense introduction to a barbarian and his world that respects the source material while committing to the violent, sword-swinging action readers expect. It's competent entertainment that builds momentum toward future conflict. The real question isn't whether this comic is good; it's whether it's worth your limited reading budget when dozens of other competent action comics exist. It's a must-have for Thundarr fans. Read Full Review
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8.0
You Don't Read Comics - Russ Bickerstaff
Feb 04, 2026Its too bad that Thundarr creator Steve Gerber doesnt get any credit in the front of the book for having developed the overall idea. Neither do Kirby or Toth. And...for that matter neither does original producer Ruby-Spears. There really isnt any reference at all to the fact that this whole things had been a 21-episode animated series that had served as the origin of this first issue, which is a bit strange. Its such an obscure bit of history, though, given how short-lived it was. Its got such a distinctive place in pop cultural obscurity, though. Its doubtful that anyone picking-up the comic book wouldnt already have been familiar with the old cartoon. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
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10
Plot This comic begins with Thundarr being held hostage by a group of mutants who bought him as a slave in this dystopian future, where humans are nearly extinct and other beings seek to rule what remains of civilization. The Groundlings, a humanoid rodent species, need a mechanical part located underwater and send their human slaves to retrieve it, regardless of the risk of drowning. Thundarr frees them and confronts these beings with the help of Princess Ariel and Olak, a mutant of the Mok race. While Olak provides brute force, Ariel uses her psychic powers to give Thundarr his flaming sword, which he wields with great skill. Thundarr is obsessed with helping all oppressed humans. The Groundlings obtain what they seek and delive more
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7.0
I honestly expected to hate Thundarr: The Barbarian #1, I mean Dynamite is hit or miss these days, this one was pretty much on target. I know I watched the show as a kid, these characters are somewhat known to me, but the details have faded into the past. So while familiar, I didn’t go in with preconceived notions. The introduction was pretty much what I remembered and the characters all rang true, but where the book succeeded for me was in the execution. The plot had a very Saturday morning cartoon vibe, yet was also layered in a way that it never felt silly or overly predictable. The story was fun and moved with the right amount of speed, the cliffhanger plus epilogue was enticing enough to bring me back for a second helping. This isn’t h more
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