By Alan Grant & Steve Pugh (DC Comics/Dark Horse Comics)
ISBN: 978-1-56971-476-8
I’ve never been all that partial to crossovers combining licensed characters. It seems to contravene an intrinsic law of narrative integrity simply for petty profit when two (or more) disparate headlining money-spinners are shoehorned into a story with scant regard for intrinsic values and often necessitating ludicrous plot-maguffins simply to make the match work. How many of these packages actually convert die-hards and newbies into comics fans?
Pleasantly countering that admittedly Grumpy Old Attitude is this rather effective star-sandwich that adds rather than combines the terrifying potential tomorrow of the Terminator films and Dark Horse comicbooks to the bright shiny world of Superman…
Sarah Connor and her son John are on the run and their prolonged flight has brought them to Metropolis, but even the home of Superman is not proof against unstoppable killer robots from a dystopian tomorrow where rogue computer Skynet has almost completed its program to exterminate humanity.
With Terminators ripping up his streets the Man of Steel is quick to step in and soon learns that the unconventional boy he’s protecting is destined to save mankind – but only if he isn’t murdered before he can begin…
Unknown to all, the cybernetic assassins have an ally: a techno-organic psychopath known as the Cyborg Superman. His insider knowledge allows Skynet to specifically upgrade its next wave of walking time-bombs against the Man of Tomorrow, and with the present looking shaky Superman is whisked into the turbulent future to join an old friend in taking the battle directly to Skynet.
With the capable Connors and Lois Lane holding the fort, assisted by Supergirl and Superboy, shady billionaire-technocrat Lex Luthor offers his double-edged assistance… but is he protecting his empire or prospecting for the future’s unborn secrets?
Meanwhile thirty years way Superman and humanity’s last defenders risk everything on a last-ditch raid on Skynet, but even with victory achieved there’s a nasty surprise awaiting the Caped Kryptonian when he gets back from the future…
Originally released as a four issue miniseries collaboration between DC and Dark Horse in 1999, this gripping script from the always-entertaining Alan Grant and stunning illustration from Steve Pugh, Mike Perkins and colourist David Stewart drive the high-octane, high-tension thriller with non-stop energy, delivering a killer punch that will delight fans of both franchises and perfectly proves that when it comes to spectacle and intensity, comics always have the home-ground advantage.
Text and illustrations © 1999, 2000 DC Comics, Inc., Canal+ DA and Dark Horse Comics, Inc. All other material © 2000 Dark Horse Comics Inc. All Rights Reserved.