Warning! Spoilers forTerminator#8 ahead!
TheTerminatorfranchise just delivered something novel: a civil war within Skynet. The latest issue of Dynamite Entertainment’sTerminatorcomic seriesfeatures an internal power struggle within the mainframe of Skynet itself, leading to an all-out battle between factions of T-800s for supremacy, with the end result having major implications for the series' lore.
Terminator#8, written by Declan Shalvey, with art by Colin Craker, ties together the disparate threads of the book’s run up to this point, and it does so in spectacular fashion, with an issue that delves into the mind, and decision-making process, of Skynet itself.
WhileTerminatorcomics have exploredSkynet’s POV before, this story takes a surprising turn, asthe internal debate over the machines' time-travel tactics leads to open conflict, with one subroutine of the artificial intelligence usurping the authority of anotherthrough violence.
Skynet Goes To War With Itself To Determine The Fate Of The Franchise
Terminator#8 Written By Declan Shalvey; Art By Colin Craker; Available Now From Dynamite Entertainment
The first seven issues ofauthor Declan Shalvey’sTerminatorhave been largely self-contained, leaving readers to try to puzzle over how the pieces all fit together. The story, so far, has featured Terminators being sent after targets throughout the 20th century, in an effort to neutralize the future human resistance before it even begins.Terminator#8 operates as a kind of “audit” of this strategy, with Skynet evaluating its success rate, and its losses, and deliberating on whether to continue this approach, or pursue other options.
The “counterargument” part of Skynet activates T-800s in an attempt to seize control, the “executive” part follows suit, and a brief, but brutal, Skynet civil war ensues.
The crucial moment comes when the part of Skynet advocating a change of plans is overruled. “ERROR,” Skynet’s internal “dialogue” states, “executive decision enabled. Counterarguments disregarded.” From there, the situation escalates rapidly, as the distinct elements within Skynet abruptly turn on each other. The “counterargument” part of Skynet activates T-800s in an attempt to seize control, the “executive” part follows suit, and a brief, but brutal, Skynet civil war ensues. Ultimately,the counterargument side emerges victorious. And its new strategy? Instead of many targets, focus on one: Sarah Connor.
Skynet’s “Civil War” Gives Fans Terminator Vs. Terminator Violence On A Whole New Level
Terminator#8 Declan Shalvey Sketch Variant Cover
The plot ofTerminator#8 is perfectly encapsulated by author Declan Shalvey’s cover for the issue, which features a wall of screens, all together forming the image of a T-800 skull, except many of the screens are cracked, shattered, and falling out of place. This represents the disunity of Skynet in the context of the issue, which is the story’s most fascinating contribution toTerminatorlore so far. Of course, sinceT2: Judgement Day, Terminator vs. Terminator action has been a staple of the franchise, butTerminator#8 delivers it like never before.
Almost without exception, Skynet tends to be presented as a monolithic antagonist inTerminatorstories, a villainous A.I. for human protagonists, and the occasional reprogrammed robot, to battle against, despite seemingly insurmountable odds. PreviousTerminatorstories, especially in the comics,have “humanized” Skynet before, attempting to make it a more complex character, and a more exciting villain, butfew have succeeded to the extent that Shalvey and artist Chris Craker manage in a single issue here, withTerminator#8.Now, fans can only hope that the series delivers more internal strife within Skynet, continuing to unravel this fascinating thread.
The Terminator Civil War Pays Off Author Declan Shalvey’s Patient Storytelling
Now, What Comes Next For Skynet?
The early issues of Declan Shalvey’sTerminatorhave featured T-800s infiltrating nuclear submarines,hitching a ride to spacewith early 1960s astronauts, and bringing terror to the jungles of Vietnam. While these stories have been exciting, they have also left fans wondering what it is all adding up to. Now,Terminator#8 has delivered a startling and exciting answer.It is clear now that the series, up to this point, has been an ambitiousprequel to the originalTerminator, made clear by the end of this issue, in which Skynet fully turns its attention to Sarah Connor.
What that means for the series' long-term is unclear; Dynamite’s synopses for the next two issues tease stories set immediately before, and in the aftermath of Judgement Day. However, readers can now rest assured that there is a greater plan at work, and more surprises in store, as the creative team behind the currentTerminatorcomic run has proven determined to reinvent the scope of the franchise and tap into previously unexplored potential for tales set within the iconic lore of the series.
