Many of you probably don’t think of Thundercats as one of the best cartoon series from the 1980s. We can understand your reaction because this show wasn’t as successful as Masters of the Universe and lacked the refinement of big-budget Marvel, Hasbro, and Sunbow Productions.
The series was reintroduced for a short time in 2011, however due to the poor status of toy sales, it was abruptly cancelled. We have fond memories of the show’s successful run in the 1980s, which lasted from 1985 until 1989.
Thundercats has gained a devoted following over the years, with fans appreciating the content’s relevancy even to adults. For those unfamiliar with the plot, it revolved around a feline-like humanoid species known as the Thundercats who had fled their planet and arrived on Third Earth.
They sought to make it their home, but their arch-enemies followed, bringing everything to a head in a climactic fight! We had some amusing villains here, and in this video, we’ll take a look at the most dangerous of them all. Cheers to those of you who have a soft spot in your hearts for shows like Thundercats, which made our youth so memorable.
Mumm-Ra
Mumm-Ra, a mummified demon priest with the power of immortality, has to be the meanest of all the prominent adversaries. He has one of the creepiest looks you’ll ever see in a children’s serial. His complexion was dull and greyish, and he had vivid ruby eyes and crooked, jagged teeth.
Mumm-Ra appears to be pure evil in his red cape, and his body has been mummified, thus he is wrapped in bandages. He walked with a slight hunch and appeared feeble, but make no mistake: he was the Thundercats’ strongest opponent.
His name, appearance, and various other aspects of his character point to an Egyptian origin. In fact, he is shown to live inside the Black Pyramid that looks like the ruins of the ancient Egyptian civilization.
He is mostly seen resting inside the tomb and replenishes his energy for upcoming battles. There is a magical pool of bubbling pink water in front of his resting place, and his main power resides in the four statues that guard his tomb.
These statues are home to the ancient forces of evil, and they have unlimited power. Mumm-Ra considers these to be his masters and tries to keep them happy. He also has his trusted pet, the demonic bulldog named Ma-Mutt, who is loyal to his master and obeys every command.
He can transform his fragile elderly body into a muscular nine-foot-tall behemoth with a magical chant. He can utilise magic spells or simply discharge energy bolts from his hands and eyes, and his abilities are wild. In this stage, he has shapeshifting abilities as well as the capacity to fly.
The issue is that he can’t stay in this form for too long because it depletes his energy. When Mumm-Ra absorbs the powers of the ancient spirits and grows considerably larger, he takes on a more deadly appearance.
He has dreams of ruling over the Third Earth, and the arrival of the Thundercats dented his ambitions. He is determined to eliminate them and wants to secure the precious Eye of Thundera from their possession. He has a force of mutants and other bad characters who battle for him, but he has fought the Thundercats himself on occasion.
Without this indomitable enemy posing a constant threat to the heroes, the show wouldn’t have been half as good! Earl Hammond provided the character’s voice, ensuring that the antagonist’s violent personality was obvious from his mannerisms.
Grune the Destroyer
Do you recall the show’s anthropomorphicsaber-toothed tiger? Grune the Destroyer was the one who said that. He was once a Thundercat and Jaga’s close buddy, but his greed and hunger for power turned him evil. He collected a force to take on the Thundercats, but Jaga proved to be too powerful.
He was exiled from Thundera and found his way to the Third Earth, where he caused havoc. A magical spell was set on his grave when he died, preventing his ghost from escaping. When this symbol was broken, however, he was set free once more. Grune is hell-bent on exacting vengeance on Jaga and the whole Thundercat race.
Grune headed for the Fire Rock Mountain to gather the Fire Rocks or Thundranium, and he used it to forge his Spiked Mace. When he attacked the Thundercats, they had no clue how to fight a powerful ghost and summoned another ghost, Jaga!
The two friends turned foes battled once more, but this time, Grune was empowered by the Thundranium Mace. However, Jaga found a way to defeat him using the Sword of Omens and a little help from Lion-O.
Grune has proven to be a very useful warrior on numerous occasions. His combat abilities are excellent, and he is proficient with nearly every weapon. His Thundercat strength and agility are extremely valuable in battle, and after his resurrection, he got the power to turn invisible.
Grune is also unique in that, despite his Thundercat origins, he is immune to Thundranium, which weakens all other Thundercats. If he hadn’t been hindered by his tremendous avarice and power-hunger, he could have been far more powerful. This allows his emotions to dominate his actions, which the heroes exploit.
Vultureman
Vultureman appears to be a humanoid vulture, as his name suggests. He was a Mutant, a barbarous race who waged wars on Thundera and Third Earth against the Thundercats. Vultureman was distinguished from the others by his pale purple complexion and big beak on the face. He wears a short dark blue kilt most of the time, and his beefed-up presence is rather threatening.
We first saw Vultureman piloting the Flying Machine on Third Earth, being commanded by Slithe. He had a face-off with Snowmeow, but the latter proved to be too much for Vultureman to deal with. He suffered great damage and was forced to take evasive action.
This is one ambitious villain who is more interested in getting the work done via alliances. We have seen him time and again teaming up with the other enemies of the Thundercats. He has paired up with the Lunataks, and there have been times when he has dealt with Mumm-Ra personally.
The way he can break the ranks at ease shows his ambitious side. It is safe to say that Vultureman is the brains behind the Mutant’s operations. He is skilled in handling mechanical, electrical, and chemical problems and is easily the most intelligent member among the Mutants. He is also lethal as a pilot in the Flying Machine, and we have seen him as the chief inventor coming up with useful tools to tackle the enemy.
He may be a master opportunist, but this diabolical genius has troubled the Thundercats on numerous occasions. Bob McFadden provided the character’s voice at first, but Earl Hammond quickly took over! Because little is said about his species, he remains an enigma throughout the series.
Monkian
You’re surely familiar with this well-built monkey mutant that served as the Monkians’ leader on the planet Plun-Darr. He was simply another member of the nefarious Mutants, but a formidable one! On the Mutant Mothership, he was first teamed with the likes of Slithe, Jackalman, and their armies.
They were all chasing the Royal Flag Ship following the fall of Thundera in order to obtain the Eye of Thundera, which was hidden in the hilt of the Sword of Omens. They defeated all of the other Thunderian ships and used grappling rays to hold the Royal Flag Ship.
They launched an intense search for the Eye of Thundera, but when the ship crash-landed on Third Earth, Lion-O led the other Thundercats to defeat their forces.
This giant humanoid monkey had white fur and tanned skin. He wore a comical spiked helmet, but something about his expressions made him fairly menacing. While he is usually not the one to pick fights with other Mutants, there is a hint of rebellion in his interactions with Slithe.
There are moments in the show that suggested that Monkian wouldn’t hesitate to put Slithe back in his place for his advantage. However, while he wasn’t too fond of Slithe as the leader, he still preferred it to Ratar-O.
Although he is a powerful force, there have been instances when his ignorance has hampered the Mutants’ ability to destroy the Thundercats. He can be a bit energetic at times, and he certainly has a comedic side to him! Monkian isn’t the brightest Mutant, but he’s a great spy who collects important information on the Thundercats.
His sources are virtually always trustworthy, which aids the Mutants in their attack planning. His fighting skills aren’t particularly impressive, but he’s really good with his Chain Flail and Ball. Monkian was a delightful villain to see, with one part ferocious personality and one part humour.
Slithe
Slithe was the Mutants’ most feared and revered commander, and he had the power to command the likes of Vultureman and Monkian. He was originally on Plun-Darr, attempting to obtain a copy of the Plun-Darr War Robot’s designs, but when the planet was destroyed, he presumed that the duplicate had met the same fate.
When the Thundercats crash-landed on the Third Earth, he assembled the armies to look for the magical sword. It was at this time that Lion-O gathered the other Thundercats to put up a brave fight. Slithe is always seen to be more strategic than emotional, and when he saw that they were losing, he quickly decided to retreat.
Slithe is easily identifiable among the other Reptilians because of his strange ears, and his stocky build makes him stand out as the leader. His powerful, muscular tail could deliver quite a lethal blow and knock out the enemy.
Slithe is not the most sophisticated baddie that you will find, but he is certainly among the most cunning ones. You’ll see that his astute ideas adapt as needed, and his main flaw is a lack of patience that hinders his progress. He is a capable leader, but he is cruel and exhibits no remorse.
His hubris may also be a fault at times, and we see him being a little too confident at times. When Slithe is mocking his own teammates for their failure, he doesn’t hold back his remarks or sarcasm. In truth, we’ve always admired his caustic sense of humour.
The Lunataks
The Lunataks are a race of dangerous alien warriors who live on the planet Plun-moons. Darr’s On Third Earth, they once plotted to depose the powerful Mumm-Ra! Although he defeated the Lunataks, the troops acquired the admiration of the fans over time.
Even Lion-O went on to claim that the Lunataks can do better than the Thundercats! The issue is that they are unable to work as a team. The Thundercats took advantage of this flaw and eventually defeated them.
The sixLunataks are namely, Luna, Alluro, Amok, Red-Eye, and Tug Mug. Luna serves as the leader and the chief strategist, as well as being a diminutive sorceress. She has a small and tiny form, but her cruel and vicious nature makes her command the Lunataks with an iron fist. The ambitions of the other Lunataks cause a few problems at times, and her authoritative leadership does nothing to solve such issues.
Alluro is an expert in deceiving the adversary and manipulating people’s minds. All types of mental brutality are pleasurable to this expert of psychological warfare.
Chilla is a one-of-a-kind Lunatak with the ability to control heat and cold, allowing her to freeze or burn a target. She is venomous and willfully causes a great deal of harm.
Red-Eye is a massive behemoth with heightened vision and the ability to sense infrared. This skill enables him to identify Thundercats, like Tygra (0:41), who can be invisible. Unlike some of the others, he is a devoted Luna supporter.
Tug Mug is used to very strong gravitational forces, and in the lesser gravity of the Third Earth, he is a formidable opponent. His tripod legs allow him to hop for great distances, and he is so strong that he once ripped off the blade of the Sword of Omen with his bare hands!
Together, they all form a formidable force that requires something special from the Thundercats to be defeated.
Jackalman
Jackalman was a key member of the Mutants’ nefarious organisation. He is the leader of the Plun-Darr Jackalmen, and he served under Slithe during the Mutant Mothership’s operation against the Royal Flag Ship to reclaim the Eye of Thundera. Jackalman boarded the ship to look for it, and he and Snarf and Lion-O discovered it.
He dealt with Snarf, but escaped with Slithe as the Sword of Thundera came to life. After the mother ship crashed on the Third Earth, he returned to try his luck finding the Eye of Thundera once more.
Jackalman has some interesting storylines in the comic continuity, and despite being the scrawniest of the Mutants, he is quite handy in fights. His size helps him to be a part of some missions that the bigger ones cannot complete.
Although Jackalman is usually obedient, when the chance comes to gain greater power, all his ethics fall out of the window. In that case, he does not hesitate to rebel against his own kind and betray his allegiances.
This character has some of the show’s best lines, and it’s because of this that he’s a likeable villain. He is shown to be cautious in his actions and does not follow directives without questioning their validity.
Jackalman isn’t frightened of being labelled a coward, but he always prioritises safety. We had a good time with this obnoxious, amusing foe who showed us that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Ta-She
Without the existence of an enchantress, the list of villains would be incomplete! Ta-She is a princess from the past who was imprisoned in the Time Warp Prison. Her effective Doomgaze is one of her particular abilities. This dazzles her male opponents, who are enamoured with her beauty, and they become captive to her.
Mumm-Ra had been told by Nemesis, the evil spirit, to use her to combat the Thundercats. But if Mumm-Ra was to release her from her jail, he’d need a few special goods, including a hero who could stand in for her! Mumm-Ra considered Lion-O as a possible substitute.
Once Mumm-Ra managed to free her, Ta-She won him half the battle without much trouble! She immediately mesmerized the male Thundercats, and they were helpless under her spell. It required something special to stop her, and Cheetara stepped in.
Since she was a woman, Ta-She’s spell didn’t work on her, and she finally managed to send her back to the Time Warp prison. Thundercats was a children’s show, but Ta-She was a sight for sore eyes and could make the men go weak in their knees!
Safari Joe
How about an interstellar assassin now that you’ve seen so many various types of antagonists? Safari Joe is a big-game hunter who stalks his prey with the help of his robot companion Mule. He travels the galaxies in search of suitable and formidable prey with which he can compete.
He came to the Third Earth in the hopes of finding prey, and he was not disappointed. He hunted down the Thundercats one by one and captured the most of them, taking advantage of their unique weakness.
He always prepared for his hunts by learning everything he could about his prey, including their strengths and weaknesses. Before he was finally destroyed, he defeated everyone from Wilykat to Cheetara to Tygra.
He had a gigantic, intimidating frame with his tall stature and bald head. He had an impactful mustache that added the perfect villainous touch to his face. Safari Joe is not a man of ethics and doesn’t have a speck of sportsmanship in him.
There were times when he gave his word, only to do something completely different in no time. He excelled in technology, with his spaceship capable of setting up an electronic blind that made it undetectable. Besides these, he has his powerful Gattling Gun that could be used to take down mightyfoes.
He is, however, overly reliant on his weapons. He’s a coward who tries to hide behind phoney bravado if he doesn’t have them. Mule was utilised by the Thundercats to keep an eye on him after the large game hunter peacefully left Third Earth. Mumm-Ra took notice of such a unique enemy, and he used a clone to try to murder Lion-O.
Ratar-O
He was a mutant leader for a short time, but he was also one of the most despised. Monkian and others preferred Slithe over him, which is saying a lot given they didn’t like Slithe either! One of the worst aspects of his personality was the way he handled his subordinates.
He was a dictator who oppressed his subjects to the point of death. There was a time when he forced Slithe to work as a cook for him. He commands the Mutants, but he doesn’t put his faith in anyone unless it’s absolutely required.
So, is this arrogant and domineering leader all bad? Not really, because Ratar-O could be quite a handy commander. There have been times when he proved his credentials in the fight against the Thundercats.
While most of his subjects hated him, there was one that served him loyally. This was Vultureman, who was his biggest supporter and the co-pilot in the commander’s vehicle, the Ratstar. He is a deadly opponent with his weapons, the daggers called the Rat’s Eye. Ratar-O also has the power of flight, courtesy of boosters in his shoes!
Captain Shiner
One of the strangest-looking villains in the series was this mercenary for hire. He was the commander of the Vertus, a starship, and he wore a monocle over his left eye most of the time. His German accent is unmistakable, and his looks like those of a dog!
Captain Shiner is normally shown being employed by Mumm-Ra, although he also has his own set of values. It is most likely for this reason that he assisted his so-called foes, such as Lion-O, Snarf, and Panthro, in escaping through a black hole when they needed it.
There have been a few occasions in the show when Captain Shiner was seen catering to Mumm-Ra’s orders. He would do just about anything for the right price, but you couldn’t quite say that he is inherently evil.
His bulldog-like face might seem a tad funny, but his crew has huge respect for his skills. His highly advanced, armed spaceship has some special advancements that allow him to travel great distances in the blink of an eye. A conflicted character always makes for a great villain, and Captain Shiner was one of our favorites!