Over 30 years later, Swat Kats is back. This time, a cult manga from the 90s is leaping from the sky to manga pages for the first time. The all-new series, Mega Cut City, has collapsed and will debut on Kickstarter in the fall of 2025.
Joining the project is industry veteran Joseph P. Illidge, former Batman and milestone editor at DC Comics, bringing his sharp storytelling instincts to the cockpit as the editor of the series.
The creative team is stacked: Frank J. Barbiere (Avengers, Robo, Five Ghosts) and Kevin Roditeri (Exile, Zoro of the Dead) are co-written.
“Swat Kats had this gritty style, great character work and an unforgettable political lining,” Illidge said. “It’s like Batman meeting Black Sad. When Kevin asked me to dive in, I was all in.”
Originally created by Christian and Yvon Trembre, Swatt Cats first aired in 1993 on the comics network produced by Hannah Barbera. Known for its jet-fueled action and stylish animation, the show reached fans in over 76 countries and became a critical part of the animation nostalgia of the 90s.
“It’s a dream to bring Swatt Cat to the comics in the end,” the Tremblay brothers said. “We couldn’t ask for a better team that would help us reintroduce this universe.”
Set in a crumbling city of megacuts, the comic follows a radical squadron as they still face the biggest threat. It’s just the beginning of what the team promises to be a bold new era for the franchise. This is a plan that goes beyond manga.
“I grew up with the Swatt Cats,” Barbiere said. “Now we are bringing the same excitement to our modern audiences, while giving longtime fans something to be proud of.”
“I used to sketch missiles from my childhood turbo cut,” added Corona. “It’s unrealistic to be part of this first cartoon version of the radical squadron.”
More variant covers, collaborators and details about Kickstarter will be announced soon. Expect exclusive editions, collectibles and bonus content when the campaign is published.
Megacut City is more radical than ever, Ruder, Wilder and more radical than ever.
You can catch Joseph P. Illidge directly at San Diego Comic-Con from July 24th-27th.
