Robert Kirkman’s Invincible series has exploded in popularity in the last few years, so it’s only natural that the acclaimed creator would take another stab at the superhero genre. While that alone should be enough to get comic fans excited, the all-star list of talent Kirkman is working with takes the hype to new levels.
Robert Kirkman’s Terminal Could Be The Biggest Superhero Franchise In Years
Announced at the ComicsPro convention, Kirkman’s new Terminal superhero universe centers around a morally grey conflict between two factions of superpowered individuals.
There is a secret war being waged across the world by two violent forces with superhuman abilities who blur the lines between good and evil.
When Marilyn Howe’s search for her missing sister Alessandra puts her in the center of this conflict, she’ll learn that the power to save the world comes from unlocking your genetic code and giving up everything you thought you knew about yourself…if you survive the experience.
In addition to the plot description, Terminal’s creative team has also been revealed. Working on the project with Kirkman will be Joe Casey, Andy Kubert, David Finch, Arthur Adams, Dave McCaig, and Rus Wooton. Kirkman seemed quite enthusiastic about the collaboration, speaking highly of his team.
Listen, I’ve done my fair share of press release quotes, but never for anything this cool. This will be the coolest comic on the market by the best creative team ever assembled. I dare you to find a book with a more stunning array of artistic talent. Go on, I’ll wait! You can’t! I’m co-creating another vast superhero universe and I’m getting to do it along with Joe Casey, Andy Kubert, David Finch and Arthur Adams! It’s going to be great!
Terminal #1 will release on July 22nd, 2026, and will be published by Kirkman’s Skybound imprint of Image Comics.
Robert Kirkman Already Reinvented the Superhero Genre Once
In the wake of the animated series’ unreasonable success, Invincible has become one of the few big superhero franchises not under the Marvel or DC umbrella.
Kirkman’s work, alongside Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, on Invincible is truly remarkable and felt like a breath of fresh air when the series first premiered in 2003. Invincible understands superhero stories well enough to know what to subvert and what to play straight about the genre.
The result is so consistently well-executed that Invincible often outclasses its inspirations. What Kirkman’s own The Walking Dead did for zombie stories, Invincible did for superhero stories.
Kirkman’s First Post-Invincible Superhero Series Already Looks Incredible
In addition to a variety of covers shown for the series’ first issue, a host of preview pages were revealed. They seem to depict the series protagonist, Marilyn Howe, being attacked by one side of the superhero conflict before being rescued by the other.
Though not much is known about Terminal beyond its basic plot description, what is known is intriguing. The idea of two warring superhero factions isn’t exactly new ground for the genre, but it’s still uncommon enough to be worth exploring in depth. This will hopefully ensure that Terminal ends up with a much different feel from Invincible.
It will also be interesting to see what themes Kirkman didn’t get a chance to explore with Invincible that he can now examine in Terminal.
A Little-Known Invincible Spinoff Is Finally Ready to Make a Huge Comeback
Robert Kirkman is bringing back his pre-Invincible superhero book, “Capes,” which will now be part of Invincible, as revealed at Comic Con this year.
What makes Terminal so exciting, however, is the collaborative element of it. Joe Casey is an incredible writer famous for some of the best X-Men comics of all time.
Meanwhile, artists Andy Kubert, David Finch, and Arthur Adams are absolute superstars in the industry. Each has an immediately recognizable style, so it will be interesting to see how each contributes to Terminal’s visual identity. What’s already visible in the available preview pages and covers is impressive, so fans have every reason to expect Terminal to be a good-looking series.
All of it adds up to something truly impressive. While Invincible grows in popularity, Robert Kirkman is clearly forging a new path with Terminal, and the results could be incredible.
- Release Date
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March 26, 2021
- Network
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Amazon Prime Video