There may not be a more anticipated comic this year than Terminal, thanks in large part to the pedigree of the creative team. There’s also the exciting idea of Robert Kirkman, a co-writer, doing an X-Men-style team superhero book, but only in the way Skybound can present. Armed with co-writer Joe Casey and artist Andy Kubert, the sheer number of years of talent behind this crew makes it a must-read, not least for the curiosity of seeing a new superhero world come into being.
Terminal #1 is not your conventional superhero comic. It may have people with superpowers, good guys and bad guys, but the structure of the first issue is more of a mystery centered on a young woman trying to find her sister. We learn early on that sister is now superpowered, introduced to a world of cosmic powers and, seemingly, good versus evil. As the story unfolds, we try to piece together who these characters are through brief fight scenes and cutaways, like the villains breaking into a black-ops military building, with a buildup towards a choice to become a hero. Not unlike The Matrix, there’s a world unknown to most of us, and only a select few can join.
Then the comic defies your expectations and drops a twist or two on your lap. In typical Kirkman fashion, you’ll be drawn into the world only to discover things aren’t as they seem.
From a superhero angle, or more aptly an X-Men angle, given Kirkman and Casey have said as such, the superpowers have an interesting genetic element to them. That said, the writers have taken the concept and seemingly turned it into a cosmic alien angle, although it’s too early to tell if that element is a feint as well. Still, the concept of people walking around not knowing they have abilities to be unlocked, along with a secret compound where they live once made aware of their powers, isn’t lost on a longtime X-Men fan like myself.
Courtesy of Skybound.
If you enjoy Andy Kubert’s art, you’re going to love this. Some of his familiar poses appear, but more importantly, dramatic framing is evident throughout. Take, for instance, a man getting his head cut off, with the head flying off, and then in the last panel in the foreground, as the villain grins gleefully behind it. Energy powers and super strength are depicted realistically, and, paired with his level of detail in backgrounds and establishing shots, the book feels quite grounded. Colors by the great Dave McCaig further ground things, never going outside the bounds of realism nor splashing backgrounds with outrageous color. Oh, and when intestines spill out, they look quite gruesome.
As first issues go, the creative team establishes the two sides well enough, with seemingly a third off in the corner. The issue ends on a strong last line, and while the general vibe of super-powered folks fighting for reasons unknown to them works, it leaves readers without a core character to follow. That’s a tricky ask, though, given the pedigree of the creative team, likely not a hard one for most to keep reading at least the first story arc before deciding if this is for them or not.
Terminal #1 confidently launches a new superhero universe by leaning into mystery instead of exposition. Kirkman and Casey steadily pull readers deeper into a world that feels familiar enough to invite comparison while carving out its own identity through unexpected twists and unsettling revelations. Andy Kubert’s artwork is spectacular from start to finish, balancing grounded emotion with explosive action and a few moments of genuine horror. The issue asks readers to trust the creative team before all the pieces fall into place, but the payoff at the end is more than enough reason to come back for the next chapter. Terminal is a blockbuster debut with secrets worth chasing.
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