Terminator’s New Era Is Here, All Returning & New Characters
TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator will ALWAYS be a fan favorite. However, fans of the franchise will be excited to learn that Terminator’s next era is here, with a brand-new series that brings back classic characters while introducing ‘new’ ones to the franchise. Although this marks a new era separate from Schwarzenegger’s Terminator, the series also features an EPIC Terminator 2: Judgment Day Easter egg.
October 14, 2026, marked the launch of Dynamite’s new Archie vs. Terminator series… yes, you read that correctly. Dynamite is delivering perhaps one of the most unexpected crossovers of 2026, and better yet, the first issue shows all the signs of writer Rory McConville and artists Steven and Lily Butler pulling off something that is going to be nothing short of awesome.
While we will avoid major spoilers when discussing Archie vs. Terminator #1, we will break down the returning characters from both franchises. For those wanting a general idea of what the series is about, Dynamite has provided a short yet sweet synopsis: “The crossover no one saw coming is here! When a teenage John Connor enrolls at Riverdale High, Archie and the gang soon find themselves in the crosshairs of a Terminator!”
Terminator Collides With Riverdale: Returning Characters & EPIC Easter Egg Explained
Cover C Robert Hack Variant for Archie vs. Terminator #1 (2026)
The first impression readers will get when cracking open Archie vs. Terminator is that the Butler duo have absolutely nailed the artistic style typically associated with Archie Comics, making the iconic Riverdale residents instantly recognizable. With the opening pages set on the campus of Riverdale High, we are introduced to the familiar faces of the Archie gang, including Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, and Jughead Jones.
Also notable is the appearance of Reggie Mantle, Archie’s rival and friend. Of course, these characters all have a long and storied history in Archie Comics, a legacy that was loosely expanded upon by The CW’s Riverdale series. However, within the context of the Terminator franchise, these characters are making their debut, marking a historic moment for the Archie franchise.
Following the introduction of the Archie gang, Terminator fans are soon met with a familiar face: John Connor, the newest student at Riverdale High. However, when introducing himself to the Archie gang, he goes by Max. Fans of Terminator 2: Judgment Day likely zeroed in on this name immediately, as it appears to be an Easter egg referencing what many would consider one of the most iconic scenes in the franchise.
Those who have seen the movie will remember that Max was a German Shepherd who lived with the Connors. In the film, the T-1000 (Robert Patrick) tries to trick John by impersonating his foster mother. However, the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) cleverly impersonates John’s voice and asks about his dog, ‘Wolfie,’ to which the T-1000 confirms that Wolfie is doing fine.
The catch is that the dog’s name isn’t Wolfie, but Max. This is how the T-800 and John confirm that something is very wrong and that the person they are talking to on the phone isn’t John’s foster mother. If it were really her, she would have known that the dog’s name wasn’t Wolfie.
By introducing himself as Max to the Archie gang, John’s choice of name feels like a very intentional and epic Easter egg, proving that Rory McConville is a true Terminator fan. In addition to John himself, this issue also sees the return of the Terminator and Sarah Connor. While only so much could be packed into 32 pages, this already feels like an exceptional start, especially with the return of so many iconic characters from both the Terminator and Archie Comics franchises.
Archie vs. the Terminator #1 from Dynamite is now available to read!
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