Writer Rob Williams delivers equal doses of spectacle and story in “Terminator/RoboCop: Kill Human” (2011), a four-issue series from Dynamite Comics that stands alone as a narrative even though it is the second comic-book meeting between these two icons of high-tech sci-fi.
Something for fans of both
It’s primarily a character study of Murphy (a.k.a. RoboCop, as played by Peter Weller on screen) as he makes outward decisions amid his inner reflections on whether or not he’s still human. However, there’s plenty here for “Terminator” fans as well, since Murphy drops into the heart of the “T2” narrative.
“Kill Human” hits us with some pretty cool ideas: In the Future War, Lauren thinks she’s the last human on Earth as she stumbles into Skynet’s museum of human history. This is one of those cases where the coolness of the idea overcomes the question of whether Skynet is the type of entity that would appreciate a museum. In the museum are Murphy plus a DE-209.
“Terminator/RoboCop: Kill Human” (2011)
Four issues, Dynamite Comics
Writer: Rob Williams
Artists: P.J. Holden, Rainer Petters
Granted, it’s extremely convenient that these robots are fully functional, but there wouldn’t be story otherwise, so I went with it.
Twists and oddities
Williams comes up with some fun twists and turns to get RoboCop to travel back in time to “T2” – but also some inconsistencies. Namely: How the heck can the metal-heavy RoboCop use the time bubble?
Also odd: Skynet takes control of RoboCop, making him kill Lauren, the last human. But then it teaches him how to use the time-displacement equipment because it considers him no threat. That’s machine logic for ya, I guess.
“Kill Human’s” conflict comes from a slight disconnect in the goals of Sarah and Murphy, even though both are good guys. Sarah wants to protect John and stop Skynet from emerging. Murphy merely wants to stop Skynet from emerging, so he has no problem using John as bait. That suggests that he’s more machine than man. Williams keeps the question of Murphy’s humanity in play until the final panel.
All told, this is pulpy stuff – especially when combined with P.J. Holden’s and Rainer Petters’ gaudy (if still good) art. But it’s a fun way to get a new story by mashing up the central “RoboCop” theme with the well-known events of “T2.”
CHARACTERS
Murphy/RoboCop: He’s been preserved in a Skynet Museum for decades, and he’s finally revived by a desperate human survivor named Lauren. Is Murphy the last man on Earth as the Future War winds down, or is he just another robot? He aims to prove he’s the former, as he travels back in time to try to write a better future.
Sarah Connor: In her usual “T2” role.
John Connor: In his usual “T2” role.
Dick Jones: A villain in the “RoboCop” movie, he’s RoboCop’s ally here; Dick is happy to be on the side of someone who fast-tracks his career and makes him rich.
Lauren: The last human left alive on Earth during the Future War (unless you count Murphy).
TERMINATORS
The “Uncle Bob” T-800: In his usual “T2” role of protecting John.
T-1000: In his usual “T2” role of trying to kill John and see that Skynet lives on.
CONTINUITY AND CONTRADICTIONS
The action starts in the waning (undated) days of the Future War in Los Angeles; Lauren thinks she’s the last human on Earth, and Skynet later confirms to Murphy that she indeed was. Then Murphy time-travels back to 1990 L.A. in order to be ready to alter the future during the events of “T2” in 1995 – where the bulk of the narrative takes place. Off-panel from 1990-95, Murphy had been fast-tracking his old employers’ production of ED-209s.
RoboCop says “Come with me if you want to live” to Sarah and John after he dispatches the friendly “Uncle Bob” T-800, which he doesn’t trust because it’s a Terminator. Rather narrow thinking there.
Murphy wisely sets up the showdown with the T-1000 for the middle of the ocean, knowing that surrounding yourself with water is a good defense against Terminators. The Resistance in “Salvation” likewise employs water-based headquarters.
TIMELINES AND TIME TRAVEL
After Skynet (believing Murphy to be no threat, since he’s not a human) tells Murphy how to use the TDE, he travels from the future back to 1990. Then he takes part in the events of “T2” in 1995 – specifically our heroes’ raid on Cyberdyne.
Things go in the familiar fashion of the movie until RoboCop kills the good T-800; from that point on, RoboCop controls the narrative as he aims to stop the T-1000 and Skynet. He doesn’t necessarily want harm to come to Sarah or John, but his primary objective is to see that humanity as a whole survives.
RoboCop is able to use the time bubble even though he has more than a few machine parts. This is inconsistent with all other portrayals in “Terminator” lore. There might be an explanation for this, but if so, it happens entirely off-panel — and this is too central to the lore to be an off-panel thing.
RoboCop’s time bubble appears where someone is standing, thus killing that person. Luckily this person was a bad guy. This same visual gag is used in “2029-1984.”
By accessing Skynet’s files, Murphy presumably learns the entire events from “T1” through at least “T3” (or a similar story wherein J-Day occurs). As such, he knows the events of “T2” do not stop Judgment Day, they merely postpone it.
This is Murphy’s second appearance in the “Terminator” universe, the previous one being in “RoboCop vs. The Terminator” (1992, Dark Horse Comics). That series is set in 1992 in Detroit, obviously on a distinct timeline. It’s not referenced by Murphy here, and also the specifics of time travel are different in that story. (“Distinct timeline” is the in-universe reason. The real-world reason is that Dark Horse held the “T1” license and Dynamite held the “T2” license, and the RoboCop license switched hands in the meantime.)