Terminator: Sector War #1 (Comics) Review

Terminator: Sector War takes the franchise back to where it all began, in the year 1984. Sort of. It’s the 80s alright, but this is a whole new story.

Back in time

Two Terminators went back in time to 1984, one to kill Sarah Conner, and another targeting NYPD Officer Lucy Castro, a rookie cop assigned to one of the worst sections of the city.  Isolated and unable to call for backup, Castro faces off against the relentless T800, relying on unlikely allies to see her through to dawn.

I am extremely torn about this comic, and I say that as a fan of the franchise (through T2 anyway). Sector War takes things back to the 80s for Terminator, which is a very good thing from where I sit. But even though it has a lot going for it, the story seems to have some T-800 sized holes in it. That’s a real shame, because I dug a lot of what writer Brian Wood worked out for this first of four issues.

This story takes place in 1984, at the same time as the original film. The catch is that this one takes place in New York City, and man is that a cool setting. I remember this era for the city pretty well, and it’s all here, from the boxy police cars, to the cops’ light blue uniform tops.

This is a Terminator… right?

You’ll notice I’m mentioning the police a few times there, and that’s because the main character is a member of the force. Lucy Castro doesn’t have a great life, with a loser boyfriend and brutal hours on the job. Of course, I’m sure that looks like heaven once a Terminator comes a-calling.

A Terminator, by the way, that does not look like actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the slightest. Sure he’s big, but he doesn’t have Arnold’s face at all. Maybe that’s due to licensing issues? I don’t know, but it’s one of the issues I had with this book, especially since the movies have basically established that the T-800s look alike.

He also doesn’t act like a typical Terminator. He’s… nice. Yes, he’s trying to kill Officer Castro, but he actually interacts with tertiary characters instead of ignoring them or treating them purely as fodder. While he has no problem killing his targets (there are more than one), he also unnecessarily says “thank you” to a bodega owner. It’s weird.

Maybe this is all going somewhere, so I don’t want to completely say I don’t like it, but I kind of don’t like it. As for Castro, she’s okay. I guess. She doesn’t really come across as super unique character. Though there’s nothing particularly wrong with her either, and she’s likable enough.

An interesting look

While the story isn’t where I’d like it to be (yet), the art isn’t bad at all. Jeff Stokely’s isn’t a name that I know, but he’s solid on Terminator. His work is almost manga-y, with a cartoony bent to it, yet it has a gritty edge. That might sound like a weird mishmash, but it comes across pretty well.

Again, his Terminator looks nothing like Arnold, but I’m going to guess that’s not the artist’s fault. He is nonetheless big and imposing, and when he incurs damage it looks cool. I also really liked the red eyes Stokely is using here, even though it’s not that film-accurate.

Stokely also gives NYC itself a nice and dirty look. The walls are covered with graffiti and the city is crime-ridden, all of which is perfect for the 80s. There’s also an Easter Egg for fans that calls back to the first Terminator movie. I won’t spoil it, but it’s just one panel, and it’s fun to see.

Final Thoughts

I guess I liked the look of this comic more than the story, though that’s not bad either. What’s throwing me is all the stuff that just doesn’t feel “Terminator” enough. Still, there’s more than enough here to get me to come back for issue two.

Though I’m not sure if I’d really recommend getting into the Sector War at all if you’re new to the franchise or more of a casual fan.

Terminator: Sector War #1 (of 4)
Release Date: August 15th, 2018
Format: Mini-series
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Written by: Brian Wood
Illustrated by: Jeff Stokely