Advance Review: Andy Kubert’s Artwork Is One Of The Few Highlights Of ‘Terminal’ #2

It’s no surprise that Andy Kubert gives readers of Terminal #2 plenty to gawk at.

After all, the artist known for his work on X-Men, Flashpoint, and Batman rarely disappoints. In this case, though, his illustrations need to support what is already a transitional issue.

It’s a little surprising that in only its second installment, Terminal feels weighed down by story. There was plenty of it in the premiere, but that’s largely understandable. This outing though feels like we’re being forced with lots of character interactions without understanding much of what’s really happening.

In the story by Robert Kirkman and Joe Casey, team leader Alessandra is mourning the death of her sister (a huge surprise from the last issue). Instead of acting leader-like she’s brooding and picking fights with the rest of her team. When the team finally gets an assignment to protect a tech magnate, she suspects there’s more to the mission that they are being told.

Kirkman and Casey have definitely dropped readers into the middle of the story without a lot of exposition. That’s okay, but we need answers — at least a few of them — quickly. Until then, what keeps us coming back each month is Kubert’s great artwork.

That’s no small thing given his talents and experience. His depictions of the sulky Alessandra telegraph her raw power even as she is mourning. And Kubert’s action scenes leave little to the imagination, thanks to the carte blanche he’s been given.

It’s too early for this series to have this serious an issue with its story. Kirkman and Casey are experienced writers, but they are relying too much on their creative partner. It’s already time to change things up, story-wise.

Terminal #2 — 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 stores and on digital platforms on Wednesday from Image Comics.