SWAT KATS Are Back: '90s Animated Classic Returns as a Comic Book Series
After three decades of cult fandom, the jet-fueled heroes of SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron are making a high-octane return in comic book form. For fans who grew up watching T-Bone and Razor blast through MegaKat City, this revival is a full-throttle expansion of the world we’ve been waiting to revisit.
The new series is titled MegaKat City Has Fallen, and it's the first official SWAT Kats comic ever. Spearheaded by co-writers Frank J. Barbiere (Avengers, Lobo, Five Ghosts) and Kevin Roditeli (The Exiled, Zorro: Man of the Dead), with art by Jorge Corona (Batgirl, Middlewest).
Veteran editor Joseph P. Illidge (Batman, Milestone) is also on board. The series will launch this fall on Kickstarter, packed with exclusive content and surprises for both longtime fans and first-time readers.
“SWAT Kats was one of my favorite animated shows of its time because of its unique mix of adventure, characters with believable personalities, and city politics,” said Illidge. “Batman meets Blacksad. So when Kevin offered me the opportunity to join his radical squadron as editor, it was an automatic, ‘Let’s go!’ We’re looking forward to reigniting this world for you in a new era of high-level action with bigger stakes.”
Originally created by Christian and Yvon Tremblay, SWAT Kats aired in 1993 and became a standout series on Cartoon Network. It was gritty, fast, and surprisingly mature for a Saturday morning cartoon, mixing slick fighter jets with dark urban crime drama. The show was produced by Hanna-Barbera.
“We are absolutely thrilled to bring new storytelling to the SWAT Kats universe,” said the Tremblay brothers. “We are equally excited that such outstanding collaborators are joining us in this first-ever comic book series.”
The plot picks up with MegaKat City in ruins and the Radical Squadron facing their biggest threat yet. It’s a story that builds on the show’s original energy while ramping up the stakes for a new generation.
“I’m honored and excited to be contributing to the world of the SWAT Kats,” said Barbiere. “As a fan who grew up and was inspired by the action and excitement of the original series, I’m working hard with the team to deliver an energetic, modern take that will thrill longtime fans and a new audience ready for the Radical Squadron.”
Artist Jorge Corona is just as fired up. “From being a kid watching the show and filling notepads with missile designs for the Turbo Kat… to now being part of the first comic iteration of the Radical Squadron—it’s pretty awesome.”
The Kickstarter campaign will include exclusive variants, collectibles, and fan-first perks. While there have been past attempts to revive the show, including the proposed SWAT-KATS Revolution, this comic marks the first time the series officially returns in a new narrative format. And it could be the start of a much larger relaunch across multiple platforms.
Fans can follow the project on Kickstarter to get updates and early access when the campaign launches. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering the Turbo Kat for the first time, MegaKat City Has Fallen is shaping up to be a radical return.
