Broken Frontier

Licensed properties such as Star Wars and Star Trek have long been treasure troves of great comic stories. If successful, these supplementary comics expand and deepen fans’ understanding and appreciation of the source material by exploring heretofore undiscovered corners of their favorite universes. X-Wing Rogue Squadron is a prime example of an ongoing series that successfully complimented the core saga by chronicling the adventures of minor supporting cast members and their missions to unseen sectors of the Star Wars galaxy.

Typically, the popular Terminator franchise has enjoyed a reputation for blockbusting sci-fi action set against the familiar backdrop of the world outside our windows. Until the most recent film installment, audiences have only been treated to brief glimpses of Skynet’s apocalyptic future. With The Terminator: 2029, Zack Whedon and Andy MacDonald are poised to plunge into the deep end of the Terminator universe and infuse it with their own unique vision.

“Less is more” is a lesson Zack Whedon seems to have learned working with his older brother Joss, creator of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, and Firefly. Like his famous brother, Whedon knows that all good stories spring from the well of fully realized, relatable characters. His treatment of the central protagonist, Kyle Reese, is spot on, but it’s his portrayal of his supporting cast that showcases his strength as a storyteller.

In the opening sequence, Whedon introduces two intriguing new characters in Ben and Paige, immediately drawing the audience in with the realistic dialogue between the two comrades and would-be lovers. It’s an odd beginning for a property known for its violent thrills and gritty tone but the hope inherent in their conversation perfectly encapsulates the motivation of a fractured human resistance fighting against its machine oppressors despite overwhelming odds.

Whedon also realizes the importance of a complete, textured setting to storytelling and turns to his collaborator Andy MacDonald to help develop this often forgotten silent “character”. Thanks to the limited exposure of most readers to the futuristic setting of Terminator: 2029, Whedon and MacDonald enjoy far more latitude in its depiction.
MacDonald makes effective use of large, open shots to establish the widespread desolation of this dystopian future, creating a true sense of its breadth and depth. His backgrounds are more than just afterthoughts, featuring plenty of realistic details to make his vision strange yet familiar to today’s readers.

The goal of Terminator: 2029 is to delve deeper into the character of Kyle Reese and the events leading up to the first film. As a known quantity, he tends to share the spotlight with Ben and Paige but it’s through their relationship with him and each other, that Whedon and MacDonald explore this untold chapter of the history of a pivotal character in Terminator universe.