Summary Get ready for new Terminator stories with a focus on horror and human connections – not just John, Sarah, and Kyle.
Declan Shalvey promises to bring back the heart of the franchise by emphasizing relationships and horror in this new series.
Shalvey’s past work on Alien comics proves he’s the perfect writer for this new Terminator series, coming October 2024.
All-new Terminator stories are just over the horizon, as Dynamite Entertainment just announced at San Diego Comic-Con that it will launch a brand new comic series with writer Declan Shalvey and artist Luke Sparrow – and fans should be very excited. Not only does this new series promise to breathe new life into the franchise with different perspectives and one-shot-style stories in each issue, but Shalvey has already proved that he’s the perfect writer for the job, as he perfectly defines the theme that’s “the heart of the franchise”.
In an interview conducted by Dynamite Comics, Declan Shalvey outlines what fans can expect from the upcoming Terminator comic series. One of the first reveals was that this Terminator series won’t primarily focus on John Connor, Sarah Connor, or Kyle Reese, but will instead be more akin to an anthology, with a different Terminator terrorizing new victims in every issue. However, Shalvey speaks to how the original relationship between Sarah and Kyle was integral to the legacy of The Terminator, describing their connection as “the heart of the franchise”.
Declan Shalvey detailing the heart of The Terminator franchise can be found at the timestamp: 3:37!
Declan Shalvey: That’s really the heart of the franchise, that it’s about people and humans, and resisting against the impossible.
Shalvey understands that the original Terminator film wasn’t merely about the horror of a killer-robot from the future, or the action/adventure that that plot detail offers, but the relationship between Sarah and Kyle. Against all odds, Sarah and Kyle fell in love, which is an optimistic reminder that even in a franchise filled with machines, it’s still very much rooted in humanity – something Shalvey will be carrying into this new comic series.
Terminator Writer Promises a Return to Horror with Emphasis on Human Connection
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Enjoy these official covers and uncolored preview pages for The Terminator #1!
Everything Declan Shalvey touches on in this interview should make Terminator fans incredibly excited about this new series. The writer hit the nail on the head with the understanding that human relationships are the heart of the franchise, including and especially the most significant relationship in the entire series, Sarah and Kyle. However, that’s not the only thing fans should be excited about.
Shalvey also makes it clear that Dynamite’s Terminator series will have a heightened emphasis on horror, which is something that the franchise has greatly drifted away from, especially in the realm of the comics. Mostly, The Terminator franchise has been more rooted in Sci-Fi action/adventure way more than horror, especially with its crossovers with the likes of Transformers, RoboCop, and AvP. But now, Shalvey promises to return the franchise to its horror roots, while ensuring “the heart of the franchise” isn’t lost.
Terminator Writer Already Proved He Can Handle Sci-Fi/Horror Franchises
20th Century Studios’ Alien Vol. 3-4
If this interview wasn’t evidence enough that Declan Shalvey is more than capable of delivering an awesome Terminator series, then all fans have to do is look at his previous work with another classic Sci-Fi/action/horror franchise: Alien. Shalvey was the writer for 20th Century Studios’ Alien Vol. 3-4, and even used the opportunity to introduce a new strain of Xenomorphs to the franchise on an exciting (and terrifying) new world in Alien mythos.
Even without looking to Alien as further proof that Declan Shalvey’s new Terminator series will be an exciting addition to the larger mythos, this interview is proof enough of that, as it clearly shows that Shalvey understands what elements make a great Terminator storyline by perfectly defining the theme that’s “the heart of the franchise”.
The Terminator #1 will be available October 2024 from Dynamite Entertainment.
Source: Dynamite Comics/YouTube