Advance Review: Robert Kirkman Returns To Superhero Comics In ‘Terminal’ #1

Creating a new world of superheroes and villains is quite an undertaking.

It requires lots of backstory — but not too much to get in the way of some action. Too much action, though, leaves the story tasting like chicken — we’ve read this one before; time to move on. Ultimately, it needs to leave the reader wanting to come back for more.

Terminal #1 accomplishes all those tasks. It’s hardly surprising though, given its writers are comics veterans Robert Kirkman and Joe Casey.

Their premiere issue gives us insight into this world and its super-powered beings through the eyes of Marilyn Howe, who is desperately looking for her sister, Ali. The search doesn’t take all that long, because Ali shows up early in the chapter, though a different version that Marilyn remembers. Ali is now the powered being Crusher — and she isn’t afraid to show off her powers.

Ali brings Marilyn to the Caribbean to meet with the rest of her team. We’re barely introduced to heroes Racer, Breaker, and Thrasher, much less their opponents, most of whom make little more than a cameo. We do get introduced to the team’s financer Theed and the living eyeball Malculox, who has the power to awaken dormant superpowers in humans that fully believe in themselves. Mostly, Malculox utters a lot of gibberish. Interestingly enough, what’s missing here are some of Kirkman’s quips. He and Casey could easily have inserted a few here and there, but chose not to. For now, that’s probably a good thing.

Kirkman and Casey spend most of his time focused on the sisters and Marilyn’s own hero’s journey. But the ending is definitely not one that most readers will expect.

Celebrated as Kirkman’s return to the superhero genre, Terminal pits two sides of powerful enemies. For now, it seems as simple as a team of good guys against a horde of baddies, but the truth is likely more complicated — especially since Kirkman is involved.

Andy Kubert’s artwork is, not surprisingly, top notch. His characters each sport a unique, expressive look. While this world’s heroes and villains may be unclear to readers, Kubert’ telegraph’s their intent with facial expressions. The bad guys just look devilish while the protagonists are stern.

Kubert has plenty of action to show off his skills. There are fights and exotic locations galore. He even depicts some gore, with a beheading, a gutting, an eyeball-ectomy as well as a stomach-turning disintegration. Well, it’s called Terminal for a reason.

Terminal #1 ticks all the boxes, though there’s plenty of work to be done in future issues. If the first issue is any indication, it will be a journey worth taking.

Terminal #1 — written by Robert Kirkman and Joe Casey, illustrated by Andy Kubert, colored by Dave McCraig, and lettered by Rus Wooton — will be available in comic book stories and on digital platforms Wednesday from Image Comics.