Written by series regular Declan Shalvey and Rory McConville, with art by mainstay Lorenzo Re, Dynamite Comics Terminator: Metal #1 takes place in a Post Judgement Day circa 2025, following Professor Dalton as he reprogrammed a newer model of the T-800 to work with the resistance instead of against it. Shalvey has consistently with this series, that started in 2024, told fluid, and often anthology like stories about characters in the Terminator universe that skynet has sent Terminators to various points in time to, well, terminate. These stories are always engaging, due to the fact that they can operate outside of the often messy and murky timelines of the films.

This story in particular stands out by doing something never done in the films, having a Terminator that helps the resistance. In film, they are always working against humanity, but making the choice to have a T-800 model that is working to take down its creator is such a breath of fresh air for this long running franchise. With superb writing by Shalvey and McConville, as well as amazing art by Lorenzo Re that truly captures the feel of a war torn world, colored by Colin Craker, Terminator: Metal is a promising new story from an already incredible series.

Dynamite Comics has taken the Terminator franchise and flipped it on its head with Terminator: Metal, giving readers an engaging story as well as an at times morally ambiguous T-800 to follow through the ruins of 2025 and take us on an action packed journey not before seen in this decades long franchise. For anyone looking for a fresh story not attached to any past Terminator feature, look no further than Terminator: Metal, as its sure to be a unique and exciting entry into the ever expanding franchise.

9/10.