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Preview: The Terminator: Metal #3

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Graphic Policy Team

The Terminator: Metal #3

Skynet may be an all-powerful AI with nigh-unlimited computing power, but time travel is still an inexact science. And with so many mechanical assassins sent into the past, some are bound to miss their mark by a few days… or months… or decades.

When that happens, there are contingency protocols that kick in. Units switch to secondary targets, or find a place of concealment, power down, and wait —for as long as their programming deems necessary.

The group of prospectors who uncover one such dormant Terminator on the side of an Oregon mountain in 1889 are, of course, blissfully unaware of this chain of events. But unfortunately for them, the first electric power station in the area has just come online — and they’re now standing between a T-800 and the energy it desperately needs to continue its mission!

Local sheriff DECLAN SHALVEY and deputy RORY MCCONVILLE form a creative posse with quick-draw artist COLIN CRAKER for The Terminator: Metal #3 — featuring a fistful of covers from SHALVEY, BOB LAYTON, SEBASTIAN PIRIZ, and PAOLO ANTIGA!

The Terminator: Metal #1 is a solid issue you can enjoy on its own

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Brett

In the post-apocalyptic future that follows Judgment Day, the shattered remnants of humanity must make use of every tool they can in their existential battle against the machines — and that includes the deadliest weapons that Skynet sends to annihilate them. For one member of the Resistance, this means trusting his life to a reprogrammed Terminator. Trapped behind enemy lines, the soldier and his repurposed engine of destruction must find a way to both survive and complete their mission — an undertaking with such a low probability of success that it could reboot the Terminator back to its default settings! The Terminator: Metal #1 kicks off a new series and it’s a hell of a debut.

There’s a thing with 40 year old franchises, a point is crossed where the history, the continuity, all of the details, get overwhelming and smother it. It gets convoluted and daunting to dive into or overwhelming to tackle. Reboots, restarts, requels, are all attempts to tackle the problem, creating easy entry points. That’s why The Terminator: Metal #1 is rather impressive. Written by Declan Shalvey and Rory McConville, the issue drops you right into the war against the machines. There’s little explanation as to the history or what’s going on, just a mission. It just so happens that mission involves a reprogrammed Terminator and some of the human resistance.

Shalbey and McConville deliver an issue oozing the Terminator but new readers can dive in and enjoy it. That success comes from the fact the issue doesn’t focus on small details and continuity. Instead, it’s all about the mission. You don’t need to know about the war or who these characters are. The basics of these characters and what they’re trying to do is given to the readers and nothing else. And the issue is fantastic because of that. The mission and the comic is straightforward and focused.

The art by Lorenzo Re is solid. With color by Colin Craker and lettering by Jeff Eckleberry, the comic has a “gritty” and “dirty” feel to it that fits the setting. It’s a war comic set in the future and the characters and the setting all feel worn and broken down. There’s small details like those added to the Terminator nicknamed “Tex,” such as a splash of red and a poncho. The resistance too have small details that add to the overall story and help new readers to get a better idea of the world.

The Terminator: Metal #1 is a great start to the new series. It keeps things focused and easy for readers to dive into and just enjoy without worrying and being distracted by the greater story. It’s a great debut that has us looking forward to what comes next and gets us excited to see what’s to come for the franchise.

Story: Declan Shalvey, Rory McConville Art: Lorenzo Re
Color: Colin Craker Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dynamite provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Preview: The Terminator #8

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Graphic Policy Team

The Terminator #8

The story of the darkest days of the war against the machines, and the grizzled veteran who helped guide John Conner to his ultimate victory over Skynet, comes full circle in this issue, leading inexorably to a final, fatal confrontation — or so it might seem!

The enhanced neural nets of author DECLAN SHALVEY and artist COLIN COKER descend into the uncanny valley with The Terminator #8 — fortified by flawlessly fabricated covers by SHALVEY, EDWIN GALMON, CAT STAGGS, and DAVID COUSENS!

The Terminator #2 is an interesting concept but rough execution

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Brett

Saigon, 1975-The war is winding down, and American forces are in retreat. One G.I. is enjoying his final leave in South Vietnam’s capital city when he is urgently recalled to the front. Back on the line, Private Duggan finds that his sector is being overrun by a mysterious enemy force one that doesn’t operate like any Viet Cong or NVA unit he’s ever faced. As rumors spread through the ranks about a ‘one-man Charlie platoon,’ Duggan suddenly come under murderous fire. Through the thick jungle air the trapped men spy their attacker a lone figure, seemingly impervious to bullets and grenades, completely devoid of fear or hesitation. Implacable. Inescapable. Inhuman. The Terminator #2 takes us back in time to the end of the Vietnam War for a comic whose concept is far better than the execution.

Written by Declan Shalvey The Terminator #2 is a decent idea but the details are where it falls apart. The story focuses on a US soldier named Dug who is scrambling to get something important as the order for evacuation from the country is given. But, in Dug’s search for whatever he needs, he comes across a Terminator who has come from the future and battling local forces.

And that battle begins the silliness. While bullets are pumped into the Terminator and that’s fine, the killing machine also goes up against a tank, throws items in an odd motion, and generally acts even stiffer than normal. The comic as a whole has a stiffness around it in its storytelling and execution, emphasized by the art from David O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan’s art is what drags the issue down. With color by Colin Craker and lettering by Jeff Eckleberry, the Terminator and its actions feels almost like a kid playing with an action figure lacking articulation. The positions and placement are odd and awkward. The design too feels silly at times. It’s just such an odd visual choice and step back from a debut issue that was so good.

Further hampering The Terminator #2 is a back-up story that’s just one page. Written by Sal Crivelli with art by Colin Craker and lettering by Eckleberry, the story is far too short. I don’t remember if it was a continuation of the back-up story from the first issue or something completely new. But, from what we do get to see, the art is really solid and looks good. It’s inclusion as a whole is a bit of a headscratcher. It feels like a second of a story.

The Terminator #2 as a whole is numerous steps back from a fantastic debut issue. The art is stiff, the storytelling choppy, then the inclusion of a back-up story that’s one page all add up to a very odd reading experience. As part of a trade or anthology it’d all be fine but as a single issue, it’s a tough one.

Story: Declan Shalvey, Sal Crivelli Art: David O’Sullivan, Colin Craker
Color: Colin Craker Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
Story: 7.0 Art: 6.0 Overall: 6.5 Recommendation: Pass

Dynamite Entertainment provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Kindle

The Terminator #1 is a welcome return of the property to comics and way to celebrate 40 years

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Brett

The plans to kill Sarah Connor and her son John have failed, but the genocidal Skynet isn’t out of options yet. There are still a few more avenues into the past that will allow it to destroy the human resistance that is poised to smash its processors into silicon shrapnel — it just needs to expand its theater of operations.

Opening a new front in the war, Terminators are dispatched across the globe and throughout time to target current resistance fighters, their ancestors, and anyone else unlucky enough to be in the strike zones. And while none of these secondary assignments are as straightforward as the missions of the first T-800 and T-1000, time is literally on the machines’ side. When all of history becomes a war zone, nowhere — and nowhen — is safe!

Story: Declan Shalvey, Sal Crivelli
Art: Luke Sparrow, Colin Craker
Color: Colin Craker
Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

TFAW
Kindle

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Crowdfunding Corner: Limit Break Comics launches Wish Upon a Star

Posted on March 3, 2024 by Graphic Policy Team

Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

Irish comic collective and publisher, Limit Break Comics has launched the Kickstarter campaign for its fourth myth anthology, Wish Upon a Star. The campaign seeks to raise €16,500 in the month of March to publish a comic anthology of far-future adaptations of fairy tales.

Wish Upon a Star is the start of a new trilogy of myth anthologies, with Limit Break writers and editors Paul Carroll and Gary Moloney directing their attention to modern mythology.

The line-up of creators for Wish Upon a Star includes:

Brendan Albetski, Christian Angeles, Akira B., Adam Bagley, David Baillie, Paul Carroll, Peter Clinton, Alice Coleman, Pablo Moreno Collar, Shay Commander, Dave Cook, Colin Craker, Matias De Vincenzo, Sachi Ediriweera, Chandra Free, Matt Garbutt, Alex Garrick-Wright, Oliver Gerlach, Reed Hinckley-Barnes, Megan Huang, Joonatan Itkonen, Seamus Kavanagh, James Killian, John Kissee, Gareth Luby, Andriy Lukin, Marin, Robby Melendez, Dan Membiela, Michiums, Gary Moloney, Alex Moore, Micah Myers, James Nadiger, Carlos Pedro, Mari Rolin, Narjes Ruyan, Andrea Schiavone, Diana Sousa, Noah Stephens, Dan Tappan, and Johanna Taylor.

Overall, Wish Upon a Star received more than 200 pitches from creators around the world. Fewer than 10% were accepted into the book, accompanying stories by the Limit Break core creators: Paul Carroll, Gary Moloney, Gareth Luby, and Seamus Kavanagh.

If funded, the book is due for release in the second half of 2024. Accompanying the anthology on Kickstarter are a range of pins, stickers and prints, including work from Reckless Hero artist Chris Imber, and Irish illustrator Isabella von Metzradt (Helixel).

Limit Break Comics to Launch Fractured Realms at Thought Bubble 2023

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Graphic Policy Team

Dublin based comic collective Limit Break Comics will launch Fractured Realms, an anthology of Norse Horror comics, at Thought Bubble 2023. The book is the third myth-anthology to be published by Limit Break Comics, following the success of Turning Roads and Down Below.

Thought Bubble 2023 takes place November 11 and 12 at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire.

Valhalla Awaits.

In a new anthology from Limit Break Comics, explore the fall of man at the end of times, the horrors of beasts straight out of myth, the dreadful actions of men who know no bounds, and the chilling truth of nature when the wheel of violence turns for too long.

The old gods might have their deaths foretold, but that doesn’t mean they can’t suffer a little bit first.

Fractured Realms is edited by Paul Carroll and Gary Moloney, and received support from the Arts Council’s Literature Project Award. The anthology contains 24 short comics from Irish and international creators, including work from: Sarah Amundson, Kaydee Artistry, Sierra Barnes, Daniel Beals, Nick Bryan, Patrick Buermeyer, Vinicius Carreiro, Paul Carroll, Alice Coleman, Colin Craker, Aaron Cruz, Robert Cullen, Ryan Estrada, Anna Everts, Triona Farrell, Aaron Fever, Benjamin Filby, KG Gaynier, Oliver Gerlach, Adam Gilbert, Travis B Hill, Sean Hogan, DC Hopkins, Ben Humeniuk, Liam Johnson, Rob Jones, Seamus Kavanagh, Dearbhla Kelly, James Killian, Rapha Lobosco, Andriy Lukin, Michiums, Marin, Hugh Madden, Aline Martins Dos Santos, Adlai McCook, John McGuinness, Alyssa Meier, Mariana Meira, Gavin Mitchell, Chris Mole, Gary Moloney, Oscar Osorio, Chris Panda, Benjamin Paulus, Christian Abel Peña, Lan Pitts, Nikki Powers, Jack Reikel, Andrea Schiavone, Rae Stevenson, and Gustaffo Vargas. It fearures cover art by Nick Roche and JP Jordan.

Fractured Realms is the thirteenth book to be published by Limit Break Comics. Earlier this year, the collective-publisher celebrated its fifth birthday and a nomination in the European Science Fiction Society Hall of Fame Awards for Best Publisher.

Conventions