By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Announced at San Diego Comic-Con, Dynamite Entertainment and Studiocanal are launching a new Terminator comic book series for the franchise’s 40th anniversary celebration.
The licensing partnership with Dynamite Entertainment was brokered by Creative Licensing agency on behalf of its long-standing client, Studiocanal.
The upcoming Terminator comic book series is created by acclaimed writer and artist Declan Shalvey and Luke Sparrow.
The new series will follow the aftermath of the villainous Skynet’s failed attempt to kill Sarah and John Connor in the classic 1984 Terminator film.
Skynet takes a new approach to eliminate future resistance by dispatching Terminator agents throughout time to target both current resistance fighters at vulnerable moments and their ancient ancestors.
This new approach will result in a wide variety of episodic storylines that include a range of different characters, settings and historical time periods.
“The approach of this series is new situations, new dilemmas in each issue,” said writer Declan Shalvey. “Mostly done-in-one stories, but as the series progresses there may be some recognizable faces. We’re going for a more stripped-down, pulpy approach to the book. As innovative and groundbreaking as the first film was, it was also grounded in its environment, being noirish and moody as hell,” added Shalvey. “An unstoppable force is coming to kill you — that’s the element of the franchise I want to lean into.”
The first issue of the upcoming series, called The Terminator #1, features a special-edition Icon Cover for comic book collectors that presents classic artwork by Alex Ross from the Burning Earth storyline that was initially published in 1990.
Additional volumes in the new Terminator comic series will include high-quality cover art from Declan Shalvey, Edwin Galmon, Joshua Swaby and David Cousens.
The Terminator #1 will be prominently featured in the Diamond Comic Distributors’ August 2024 Previews catalog prior to its official debut in October 2024.
The first volume is currently available for preorder through select comic book retailers.
The series will also be available for individual customer purchase through Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus and more.
A Canal+ company, Studiocanal is an entertainment company that produces, distributes and licenses feature film and TV properties.
Studiocanal is the current owner of the rights to the Terminator franchise, which is managed on their behalf by Creative Licensing Corporation.
Creative Licensing Corp is an independent full-service licensing agency that specializes in long-term brand development and high-quality merchandise collaborations.
Initially founded in 1982, Creative Licensing currently represents an extensive catalogue of classic films and entertainment properties.
Dynamite Entertainment is an American comic publishing company that focuses on releasing original series and officially licensed comic book adaptations of entertainment properties.
Dynamite Entertainment currently represents an extensive brand portfolio that includes more than 3,000 character IPs.
The Terminator Returns to the Present With 40th Anniversary Comics
