Terminal #1
Writers: Robert Kirkman & Joe Casey
Artist: Andy Kubert
Cover Artists: Alex Sinclair, Andres Juarez, Andy Kubert, Arthur Adams, Bill Sienkiewicz, Bjorn Barends, Creees Lee, Dave Wilkins, David Finch, Frank Miller, Godtail, Ito, Jay Ramos, Keven Mallqui, Mario Foccillo, Nathan Goodden, Riley Brown, Rob Liefeld, Shelby Robertson, Stephen Segovia, Tiago Da Silva
Colorist: Dave McCaig
Letterer: Rus Wooton

Terminal #1 is unapologetic in its admiration of the '90s bad-boy teams that defined an era dominated by foil covers, anti-heroes, and pouches. Unfortunately, much like that era, it can feel thin on plot at times and is largely carried by the stellar artwork provided by its superstar artist.

The Plot Awakens

There’s a brutal war raging between two superhuman groups: The Activators and The Awoken. The lines between good and evil have blurred, but who is truly good? And who is evil? Why do these two factions harbor such hatred toward one another? And with the stakes being a matter of life and death, is being a superhuman in this world even worth it?

Imp-ossibly Brutal

Boy, do we have a lot to unpack here.

Right off the bat, we're thrown into a universe where the status quo has already been established. Figure out who everyone is as they're thrown at you, because Robert Kirkman and Joe Casey don't waste time holding your hand or treating this like an origin story. You're along for the ride, and they'll help you connect the dots at their own pace.

There is a double-edged sword to that approach, however. While it's refreshing to be thrown straight into the fray, the large cast leaves surprisingly little room for meaningful development. Even with the issue's 40-page count, only one character truly stands out.

We start off in the middle of a fight between The Activators and The Awoken at a server farm in Utah. Bluffdale, Utah, to be exact. What's so important about Bluffdale? Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe the land is just cheap for AI data centers.

Anyway, these two groups are duking it out over top-secret classified information that's intentionally left ambiguous for the time being. The Awoken get what they came for, and that's all that matters.

The real standout character for me is Imp, who's implied to be the leader of The Awoken and is set up as the series' overarching big bad. He looks like the lovechild of Chucky and Cable. As ridiculous as that sounds, especially given his short stature, he spills more than enough blood to establish himself as a legitimate threat to both The Activators and innocent civilians.

Crushing Expectations

As he prepares to disembowel his next victim, a shadowy figure calls out his name. A muscularly built woman known simply as Crusher, sporting an American Gladiators-esque physique, exchanges fisticuffs with Imp long enough for him to retreat and call it a night.

We then learn that the woman Crusher rescued is none other than her sister, Marilyn Howe. Years after the two were separated, Crusher convinces Marilyn to make the reunion permanent and return with her to The Activators' headquarters.

Nestled on a secluded island far removed from the outside world, Marilyn is introduced to the rest of The Activators, including Theed, the battle-hardened strategist behind the team's operations. It turns out Crusher's search for her sister was no coincidence; it was all part of Theed's plan.

Believing Crusher's superhuman abilities stem from superior genetics, Theed is convinced Marilyn possesses the same dormant potential. That belief leads them to Maculox, a giant sentient eyeball residing within the team's headquarters, who grants "cosmic awakenings" to those he deems worthy.

Standing before the ocean, Marilyn is forced to confront a life-changing question: Does she truly want to become a superhuman, or is she chasing the future her sister envisions for her? Whatever choice she makes, there's no turning back.

Paradise Found, Bloodshed Included

Andy Kubert clearly understands the assignment. If you're drawing a Robert Kirkman book, you'd better be prepared to draw plenty of blood and guts, and Kubert rises to the occasion.

I especially enjoyed the contrast between The Activators' remote utopian island headquarters and the gritty, run-down backdrop of Crusher's confrontation with Imp. Kubert really evokes the feeling that you've arrived at a safe haven, where all that's left is the sound of the ocean and the comfort of your own thoughts.

Dave McCaig's colors enhance that atmosphere beautifully, making every outdoor panel pop while the clouds wrap around the scenery like a soft blanket.

I do wonder where Kubert's imagination will take him if he ends up designing a mansion-like headquarters for The Awoken in future issues. I'm genuinely curious to see what he comes up with.

The Kirkman Formula: If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It... Just Bleed It

While Terminal #1 doesn't break any new ground, it lets you know early on that it isn't trying to.

Terminal #1 proudly embraces '90s comic book excess. Bodybuilder physiques, morally gray heroes, gratuitous gore, and shocking casualties are all present and accounted for. Robert Kirkman knows exactly who he is as a writer, what works for him, and he's built an empire around that formula. If you're a longtime Kirkman fan, you'll feel right at home.

Those less familiar with, or less enamored by, Kirkman's signature style, however, may find themselves wanting a little more beneath the spectacle.

Judging by the letters column, Kirkman is genuinely excited about the future of Terminal and the opportunity to collaborate with artists he's admired for years. Their role extends beyond illustrating the series, they're helping build the Terminal universe from the ground up.

If Kirkman's enthusiasm proves contagious, Terminal may yet shift into second gear and become something far more memorable than its opening issue suggests.