Welcome to Comic You Should Be Reading, a weekly feature where I recommend a great comic – whether it’s a single issue, an ongoing series, or a special event. I’ll introduce it without spoiling the story, so both longtime readers and newcomers can enjoy it. This month, we’re getting into the Halloween spirit by showcasing some fantastic horror and spooky comics you won’t want to miss!
Though ’80s horror is often remembered for slasher films and alien invasions, the decade also saw a comeback for terrifying robots. Killer robots have been a staple of science fiction for years, with each decade introducing its own iconic mechanical monster. But the ’80s really took things to the next level, with several films attempting to replicate the success and impact of James Cameron’s 1984 blockbuster.
While many consider *Terminator 2: Judgment Day* to be the equal of the first *Terminator* film, a lesser-known comic book released in July 1991 still managed to deeply frighten me as a young reader. *The Terminator: One-Shot*, by James Robinson and Matt Wagner, was a smaller, self-contained story compared to later *Terminator* comics, but it was incredibly effective. It presented a new, untold story with a unique Terminator, and it came from two creators who would later become major names in the comic book industry.
The Terminator: One-Shot Explores a Brutal Untold Story
The 1984 film *The Terminator* features a relentless robot, the T-800, sent from the future to kill Sarah Connor before she can give birth to the future leader of the resistance. After witnessing this time travel through Skynet’s technology, John Connor sends a soldier, Kyle Reese, back in time to protect Sarah. The comic book *The Terminator*, by Robinson and Wagner, unfolds at the same time as the film but introduces the idea of another Sarah Connor living nearby.
In the movie *Terminator*, the cyborg known as the Schwarze-Terminator surprisingly used a phone book to find Sarah Connor – an old-fashioned method for such an advanced being. The first T-800, however, began its search using online directories, which, though outdated, were more current than the phone book. This led to a new version of Sarah Connor for the Terminator to pursue in *Terminator: One Shot*. This Sarah Connor had a troubled past, setting her apart from the original, but she proved just as challenging for the Terminator to find.
Knowing he was destined to lead the human resistance, John Connor anticipated the arrival of a second Terminator and prepared accordingly. He realized Skynet might have sent multiple machines, so he arranged for reinforcements. This also gave both readers and the new version of Sarah Connor someone to help them understand this previously unknown part of *The Terminator* story. That’s where Ellis Ruggles comes in – a character even tougher than Kyle Reese, and not just because he had a pet monkey named Peanut.
The experienced soldier from the future faced a tough challenge when sent to the past. It wasn’t a standard Terminator like the T-800; this was one of the very first female Terminators in the series, and many fans are unaware she even exists.
The T-800 Terminatrix is Often Overlooked in Her Sorority
The Terminator in *The Terminator: One-Shot* is very similar to the original T-800. Its outer layer, designed to hide the powerful metal skeleton underneath, even looks a little like a female version of Arnold Schwarzenegger. This Terminator was one of the first of its kind introduced in the series.
The first Terminator designed as a female cyborg, known as the Terminatrix, appeared in the 2003 film *Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines*. Played by Kristanna Loken, the T-X was a unique creation, combining the liquid metal form of the T-1000 with the robotic structure of previous Terminators. Its ability to shapeshift allowed it to take on a female appearance, earning it the name Terminatrix, though it wasn’t the first female Terminator ever created.
Okay, so I was doing some deep dives into Terminator comics, and it blew my mind to learn Aurora actually showed up *before* the T-800 from that famous one-shot! She first appeared in Alex Ross’s early work, *Terminator: The Burning Earth* back in the 90s. And get this – another female Terminator, the C850.D, was in *The Terminator: Tempest* a year before the one-shot. While those earlier models weren’t quite as focused on, you know, *eliminating* their targets like Aurora, I seriously think she deserves way more credit. She’s a total badass and nobody talks about her enough!
Matt Wagner’s Art Creates a Neon-Lit ’80s Nightmare
Matt Wagner was already a well-known comic artist when he and James Robinson began working together on Grendel and other Terminator comics. While they collaborated on multiple projects, they truly showcased each other’s talents in *The Terminator: One-Shot*.
Fans of *The Terminator* will enjoy this comic, as it successfully captures the look and feel of the original film, but with even more energy. The story, set at night, uses neon lights and explosions – a clear nod to John Carpenter’s style. This female Terminator is just as frightening as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s version, and the way her human appearance slowly falls apart makes her even more terrifying. With each fight, she loses more of her human disguise, culminating in a final showdown that reveals the deadly robotic skeleton beneath.
Wagner’s work brilliantly establishes the time and setting while maintaining the suspense through focused action, rather than letting the action dominate. The resulting chase through San Francisco’s familiar locations isn’t just exciting—it’s a chilling continuation of the original film’s horror, focusing on a relentless pursuer and expanding the story.
The Terminator’s Sci-Fi Works Best With Horror
The original *Terminator* movie skillfully combined horror and science fiction, but the series has explored different genres since then. Action is always a key part of *Terminator* films, but leaning too heavily into action – as happened with *Terminator: Salvation* – can alienate viewers. Similarly, focusing *too* much on science fiction can also turn audiences away.
Like the original *Terminator* film, *One-Shot* effectively uses horror to build tension. The relentless pursuit of Sarah Connor, her husband, and their friend Ruggles by the T-800—an unstoppable force—creates a similar feeling of dread. The story doesn’t rely on action alone; it emphasizes the futility of trying to escape. *One-Shot* feels true to the original series and includes a surprising twist that many viewers have overlooked. It’s a dark and compelling addition to *The Terminator* story.
You should read it.
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2025-10-18 23:10