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The Terminator graphic novels
Terminator: The Burning Earth
Witness the birth of an artistic legend, in Eisner Award–winning painter Alex Ross’s first professional work! As Skynet prepares a nuclear strike to wipe out humanity, John Connor leads a small team to destroy the sinister AI’s mainframe.
* This definitive collection features a new cover painting by Ross!
* Foreword by Brandon Graham (Prophet)!
* Experience the machine war that leads into the classic film!
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 1, 2023
Nice prequel story to the 1st movie. nice read. recommended
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May 4, 2021Cindy Crawford Terminator is really the only reason to read this.
Not bothering with a star rating out of respect for Mr. Ross's subsequent magisterial work.
Not bothering with a star rating out of respect for Mr. Ross's subsequent magisterial work.
July 23, 2018
An artful and memorizing graphic novel, Terminator: The Burning Earth presents an extraordinary vision that expands on James Cameron’s icon film. The story follows John Connor and a group of his resistance fighters as they mount a final assault against Skynet at its home base at NORAD. Written before T2, there are some inconsistencies with the cinematic universe; but even so, it works nicely as a self-contained war story. Author Ron Fortier does a good job at creating gritty, realistic character, but it’s Alex Ross’s captivating artwork that steals the show. The use of color is quite impressive, and sets a cold and desolate tone for this world. A beautiful looking comic, Terminator: The Burning Earth is a visual wonder.
May 25, 2021
Alex Ross' depictions of the robots and vehicles and explosions are awesome and the best part of this series. The story on the other hand is... how do we defeat the evil robots? Unplug them! Let's outrun some nukes so we can unplug the computers before they destroy everything! It's certainly an old plot. And it's interesting that this is the "sequel" to Terminator without knowing that T2 would ever exist, so it's trying to make a continuation out of a supposed one-off story. Fleshing out the world on its own, trying to make it a compelling sci-fi action series.
December 2, 2019
This was a great book. Sure, it may not make sense from the perspective of the larger timeline of the Terminator series, but given the time it was released it was a pretty ambitious work and one that really stayed true to the spirit of the original movie. Throw in some early yet still beautiful Alex Ross art defining the rather evocative feel of the whole series and it's a unique visual experience.
May 25, 2021
A fast-paced read, but not much happens and the ending is expected. This is basically an extension of the opening "future" scene from T2, with a resolution. Decent enough painted art, but this book is only for die-hard Terminator fans.
March 8, 2025
When originally serialised in the early 1990s, The Burning Earth was a landmark for being among the first Terminator stories in comics. While it’s now published by Dark Horse, it predated their acquisition of the Terminator licence, their first collection being Tempest. However, the greater significance now is The Burning Earth being the first professional comics produced by Alex Ross, five fully painted chapters in which he takes giant steps forward toward becoming the artist who’d establish himself with Marvels.
Ross has long been a perfectionist, and credit to him for providing an afterword when his comments suggest he’d have preferred his earliest work remain secret, but he’s too harsh on himself, and many lesser artists would still point to much of The Burning Earth with pride. Writer Ron Fortier’s introduction notes his amazement on seeing the quality of the earliest pages from a new artist (the left hand sample art is the fourth), and Ross continues to present interesting viewpoints, great design and complete detail from start to finish. As it is his first work, there are signs of the novice. Some figures are distorted, and the faces don’t have the almost photo realism of his later painting, but the ambition is immense, and it’s debatable whether the vastly more experienced Ross could now paint such flowing action sequences.
Fortier’s editors tasked him with wrapping up the Terminator continuity as per the first movie, with the groundbreaking second not released at the time. Despite the SF trappings, it’s a desperate last stand war story. John Connor, here referred to as Bear, is a man in late middle age, and he and his ragtag band of allies have been fighting Skynet their entire lives. An inspirational sacrifice in the opening chapter sees Bear’s mojo restored, and subsequent events persuade him the time has come for a do or die, all-out assault on Skynet. Fortier’s dialogue is sometimes clunky, very formal, his transfers from one scene to another can be clumsy, and the cast never transcend action thriller archetypes to become anyone we can care about, but the plot just about works until the ending. Even allowing for the story being written in 1990 it’s hardly imaginative, Skynet revealed to have a conveniently vulnerable soft centre.
There are fluctuations in the art, the penultimate chapter showing signs of deadline problems despite the detail from midway, but seeing Ross take a completely different approach is fascinating. The pages are dark and scratchy, naturalistic, but not in the almost photo realistic manner of Ross’ subsequent work, with the imagination applied to the layouts ambitious for a novice artist. One consistently strange aspect, not addressed anywhere, is many Terminators resembling the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica, although humanoid variations on the Arnie model are also used.
The Burning Earth is no lost masterpiece. It’s a steep learning curve for Ross, while time and sequels have long demolished Fortier’s idea of wrapping up the Terminator world. It leaves a curiosity, but more an itch to be scratched at discount than full price.
Ross has long been a perfectionist, and credit to him for providing an afterword when his comments suggest he’d have preferred his earliest work remain secret, but he’s too harsh on himself, and many lesser artists would still point to much of The Burning Earth with pride. Writer Ron Fortier’s introduction notes his amazement on seeing the quality of the earliest pages from a new artist (the left hand sample art is the fourth), and Ross continues to present interesting viewpoints, great design and complete detail from start to finish. As it is his first work, there are signs of the novice. Some figures are distorted, and the faces don’t have the almost photo realism of his later painting, but the ambition is immense, and it’s debatable whether the vastly more experienced Ross could now paint such flowing action sequences.
Fortier’s editors tasked him with wrapping up the Terminator continuity as per the first movie, with the groundbreaking second not released at the time. Despite the SF trappings, it’s a desperate last stand war story. John Connor, here referred to as Bear, is a man in late middle age, and he and his ragtag band of allies have been fighting Skynet their entire lives. An inspirational sacrifice in the opening chapter sees Bear’s mojo restored, and subsequent events persuade him the time has come for a do or die, all-out assault on Skynet. Fortier’s dialogue is sometimes clunky, very formal, his transfers from one scene to another can be clumsy, and the cast never transcend action thriller archetypes to become anyone we can care about, but the plot just about works until the ending. Even allowing for the story being written in 1990 it’s hardly imaginative, Skynet revealed to have a conveniently vulnerable soft centre.
There are fluctuations in the art, the penultimate chapter showing signs of deadline problems despite the detail from midway, but seeing Ross take a completely different approach is fascinating. The pages are dark and scratchy, naturalistic, but not in the almost photo realistic manner of Ross’ subsequent work, with the imagination applied to the layouts ambitious for a novice artist. One consistently strange aspect, not addressed anywhere, is many Terminators resembling the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica, although humanoid variations on the Arnie model are also used.
The Burning Earth is no lost masterpiece. It’s a steep learning curve for Ross, while time and sequels have long demolished Fortier’s idea of wrapping up the Terminator world. It leaves a curiosity, but more an itch to be scratched at discount than full price.
August 29, 2024
Got this as part of a Humble Bundle full of Terminator comics. Apparently, this is a conclusion of sorts to a Terminator comic series that ran for 17 issues prior to this mini. Maybe that's why I feel like I didn't get to know certain characters very well in this. But it has such a cinematic feel, with Alex Ross doing these amazing paint illustrations that made me realize the future war needs more yellows onscreen. It's also fascinating that this came out a year before T2 was a thing and the original film was the only cinematic frame of reference. It takes place after 40 years of fighting, so I guess in 2037 or so, though the people don't remember what year it is. And that feels like something that would happen in this type of future. A really good read even if only for historical purposes.
October 2, 2025
3.5 Stars (overall enjoyable but definitely lacking on depth)
This was a fairly neat read, especially given it was created before Terminator 2.
been intrigued in the future war since first watching the movies so it was pretty awesome getting to explore that some more. Given the context of the books creation being they were given 5 issues to wrap up a whole comic series, i cant fault it for being a bit barebones in details and not expanding on things as much as i would like.
One thing that did disappoint me was the lack of usage of the T-808, with how it was introduced and portrayed, i was hoping it would be a bigger player in the story rather than a side plot for a few pages and then unceremoniously appearing in the last chapter to get blown up.
This was a fairly neat read, especially given it was created before Terminator 2.
been intrigued in the future war since first watching the movies so it was pretty awesome getting to explore that some more. Given the context of the books creation being they were given 5 issues to wrap up a whole comic series, i cant fault it for being a bit barebones in details and not expanding on things as much as i would like.
One thing that did disappoint me was the lack of usage of the T-808, with how it was introduced and portrayed, i was hoping it would be a bigger player in the story rather than a side plot for a few pages and then unceremoniously appearing in the last chapter to get blown up.
August 16, 2021
Great follow up script by Ron Fortier to the original Terminator movie. The painted artwork is the first professional work by Alex Ross and it tends toward muddiness, but improves as the series goes on, and exhibits his storytelling ability with images.
I read this decades ago when it was released in an original five-issue mini-series but picked it up in the new collected graphic novel version. The passing years hasn't diminished my enjoyment of it.
I read this decades ago when it was released in an original five-issue mini-series but picked it up in the new collected graphic novel version. The passing years hasn't diminished my enjoyment of it.
September 2, 2021
It's interesting for a look at where someone thought the story might go with only the information presented in the first movie, but even with that it's a pretty predictable read. The art is also worth a look for Alex Ross fans. I enjoy his covers, but I usually find his interior work to be incredibly stiff and posed. That's not the case here. While not as detailed or realistic as he's become, this is also much more dynamic than pretty much anything of his I've read later.
December 30, 2021
Forty years ago, the war against the machines began. But nobody is keeping track of time anymore. Skynet nearly ends humanity entirely in this story, with amazing artwork by the incomparable Alex Ross, even utilizing a nuclear warhead to do maximum damage. Meanwhile, John Connor and the Resistance have breached Thunder Mountain, the home of Skynet's mainframe. Fans of Cameron's film series as well as Ross's artwork will love this.
October 23, 2025
One of the few Terminator comics not done by Dark Horse to be worth reading. Beautiful painted art and a coherent story. Personally, I could have done without that last panel. Certainly a must for Terminator fans, it's better than any movie beyond T2. Why didn't they do a movie about the final war? I have no answer.
February 4, 2020
Recommend
I recommend this comic for terminator fans. This story timeline of the future war is what the film's should be concentrating on instead of the cash-grab of recent years. The one-sided time travel back in the past routine is getting old.
I recommend this comic for terminator fans. This story timeline of the future war is what the film's should be concentrating on instead of the cash-grab of recent years. The one-sided time travel back in the past routine is getting old.
February 25, 2020
Six out of ten. CBR format.
Led by an adult John Conner, the resistance has battled it's way into Skynet's stronghold. They finally have the opportunity to destroy the computer that's caused all this destruction.
May 31, 2021
Even proto Alex Ross has an element of the amazing about it, even if the story is a tad bit simple. The blank canvas that existed before T2 in 1992, and the poor attempt in the plot/script to fill it out.
August 30, 2020
Amazing illustrations
January 30, 2021
The first work of a master for a sequel to the Terminator that existed before T2.
May 18, 2021
Feels a lot like a less convoluted,more simple version of terminator salvation.
March 18, 2025
It was alright!! They showed us one cool Terminator design and I feel like it could be used more but u can only do much in a 5 issue comic!
November 18, 2025
Great art as you would expect...pacing and writing were meh. Cool to see Alex at this early stage of his career.
May 12, 2021
Underwhelming.
January 22, 2014
Reprints Terminator: The Burning Earth #1-5 (March 1990-July 1990). John Connor is leading the war on Skynet. When Skynet goes for a final nuclear strike to eliminate the humans of Earth, Connor must lead a final assault on the Skynet headquarters and take out Skynet at the root. Connor is going after the CPU of Skynet, but Skynet has an army of Terminators waiting for him and his freedom fighters.
Written by Ron Fortier, Terminator: The Burning Earth was produced by NOW Comics but has since been released by Dark Horse and ibooks. The limited series is noted for being part of the pre-Terminator 2 mythology but more significantly as the first professional work of famed comic artist Alex Ross.
It is hard to read Terminator: The Burning Earth without thinking about the Terminator saga that came after it was released. The story in this comic is only based on The Terminator which was released in 1984. Terminator 2 really changed the franchise, but this comic still fits into the world at least created in that movie. The comic stands on its own, but also has some faults.
The comic doesn’t have much substance. The characters have a fight with Skynet, realize Skynet is going nuclear, go to Thunder Mountain, and take out Skynet. It almost could be an ending to the film series (though there is a reveal that Skynet isn’t completely dead in the end panel).
Part of the problem is that other than John Connor, there aren’t very many distinguishable characters. They all seem like rather generic freedom fighters, and it makes a bit hard to follow some of the plotlines which involves a team split up (and you don’t care if they live or die).
Alex Ross is the appeal and part of the problem with this series. His painted art is pretty raw at this point and not as finessed as in things like Marvels or Kingdom Come. The characters aren’t entirely distinguishable and the art is much, much darker than some of the other art he’s put out.
Terminator: The Burning Earth is a quick read and worth seeking out if you are a fan of the Terminator series. The movies don’t spend a lot of time focusing on the future so it is nice to see how Skynet functions as an independent entity, but the story is sadly a bit lacking. Shortly after this run, Terminator jumped to Dark Horse Comics and T2 changed everything for the series in 1991.
Written by Ron Fortier, Terminator: The Burning Earth was produced by NOW Comics but has since been released by Dark Horse and ibooks. The limited series is noted for being part of the pre-Terminator 2 mythology but more significantly as the first professional work of famed comic artist Alex Ross.
It is hard to read Terminator: The Burning Earth without thinking about the Terminator saga that came after it was released. The story in this comic is only based on The Terminator which was released in 1984. Terminator 2 really changed the franchise, but this comic still fits into the world at least created in that movie. The comic stands on its own, but also has some faults.
The comic doesn’t have much substance. The characters have a fight with Skynet, realize Skynet is going nuclear, go to Thunder Mountain, and take out Skynet. It almost could be an ending to the film series (though there is a reveal that Skynet isn’t completely dead in the end panel).
Part of the problem is that other than John Connor, there aren’t very many distinguishable characters. They all seem like rather generic freedom fighters, and it makes a bit hard to follow some of the plotlines which involves a team split up (and you don’t care if they live or die).
Alex Ross is the appeal and part of the problem with this series. His painted art is pretty raw at this point and not as finessed as in things like Marvels or Kingdom Come. The characters aren’t entirely distinguishable and the art is much, much darker than some of the other art he’s put out.
Terminator: The Burning Earth is a quick read and worth seeking out if you are a fan of the Terminator series. The movies don’t spend a lot of time focusing on the future so it is nice to see how Skynet functions as an independent entity, but the story is sadly a bit lacking. Shortly after this run, Terminator jumped to Dark Horse Comics and T2 changed everything for the series in 1991.
June 6, 2013
This is not the Alex Ross you know and love. This is his first published comics work, and it shows. There is none of the seemingly effortless dimensionality and use of light from his later work. Instead, characters are rough and poorly detailed, their faces changing from panel to panel. That in itself would not be damning, but Ron Fortier's writing veers from bland to awful. The main conflict and mission in the book is so underwritten and straightforward, one wonders why the humans didn't make a play for Skynet decades earlier. Fortier attempts to feign tension by repeatedly having his characters lament that they "haven't got a prayer," but it's an obvious and disingenuous crutch.
And why is this book full of Cylons?
And why is this book full of Cylons?
August 27, 2021
If you are a fan of comics and the Terminator franchise then this is a must read. First of all this is important for the reason that this is Alex Ross' first attempt at doing art for comics. His art fit well to the gritty sci-fi story being told. Secondly, this was published right before T2 was announced. You can see how the culture of Terminator was evolving from the time of original movie. It is also fun to imagine how this story would have been told differently if it was released 6 months later or so.
The story is underwhelming and has a bundle of plot holes that all the reviewers have already point out. But the character interactions are still enjoyable. The main event of this book has to be the art. Each page has something that make you say, "Wow!"
The story is underwhelming and has a bundle of plot holes that all the reviewers have already point out. But the character interactions are still enjoyable. The main event of this book has to be the art. Each page has something that make you say, "Wow!"
November 30, 2013
Alex Ross' first venture into the world of comics.
Sure, he'd yet to develop his future iconic pseudo photo-realistic style, but still, this is a great start.
I'm not the greatest fan of comic book versions of movie material, sure there have been some pretty good ones, but most of em have fallen way short of the original material. This one is actually pretty darn good. The story's pretty simple and cliché, but the Ross art makes it shine, even if does show some rushed part in places.
Sure, he'd yet to develop his future iconic pseudo photo-realistic style, but still, this is a great start.
I'm not the greatest fan of comic book versions of movie material, sure there have been some pretty good ones, but most of em have fallen way short of the original material. This one is actually pretty darn good. The story's pretty simple and cliché, but the Ross art makes it shine, even if does show some rushed part in places.
September 14, 2016
Sería muy injusto criticar el trabajo de Alex Ross deciendo simplemente que es horrible, pero es que fue su primero. Y se nota. Lo que no tiene perdón es el guión, que convierte a este cómic en una auténtica basura contando una historia que no le importa a absolutamente a nadie (y que se nota que al primero que le dio igual después fue a Cameron, que ni se detuvo en el futuro más de lo necesario). Una obra completamente prescindible.
July 15, 2014
Okay, wait, so Skynet, that resides in NORAD is entirely 100% reliant on one tiny power generating station located well outside the base in the open where the only security is one chain link fence and two terminators?
And destroying this facility destroyed Skynet.
Skynet didn't, I don't know, have a backup power generator somewhere inside its vast underground facility?
Utter tosh.
And destroying this facility destroyed Skynet.
Skynet didn't, I don't know, have a backup power generator somewhere inside its vast underground facility?
Utter tosh.
July 23, 2015
I was excited because, y'know, Alex Ross... but Ross himself says in his note in the book that he's not very impressed with the work. There are some great panels here, but also some bad ones. The story is fine enough, but unremarkable. Still, worth looking at as a piece of history for one of comics' most celebrated artists.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews