It's Official: Terminator's New Design Revealed Ahead of 4-Part Crossover With Classic Franchise

Published Aug 20, 2026, 1:43 PM EDT 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. The Terminator is officially returning this year, but instead of Arnold Schwarzenegger reclaiming his legendary role, the iconic cyborg will be crossing over with an 84-year-old franchise, making this one of the boldest chapters in its history. While this news broke last month, we now have images showcasing the Terminator's new design. If you haven't heard the news, The Terminator is colliding with Archie Comics this fall in Dynamite's Archie vs. the Terminator #1. This inaugural issue will kick off a four-issue crossover event, delivering one of the boldest crossovers in comic book history. Spearheading the project will be writer Rory McConville and artists Steven Butler and Lily Butler. The 32-page first issue of this miniseries will launch on October 7, 2026, and will be available at local comic shops and digitally for $4.99. While details concerning the series still remain largely under wraps, Dynamite has provided an official synopsis for issue #1, teasing what's ahead: “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!” Given that Rory McConville has previously written for Terminator, fans know they are in good hands when it comes to this ambitious crossover. Readers should also note that the first issue will feature a PREMIUM MYSTERY BLIND BAG, which contains three limited editions of the issue, selected randomly from a range of variant covers exclusive to this title. However, the number of Blind Bags is limited, and allocations may occur. The Terminator’s New Design Honors Schwarzenegger’s Iconic Movie Look Official Character Design Sheet by Steven Butler & Lily Butler While Dynamite has already revealed the character designs for John Connor, Sarah Connor, and the human-presenting version of the Terminator, we now also have the official character design for the machine side of the character. Fans of the original movies will undoubtedly be pleased with both the human and machine designs for the Terminator, as they are clearly inspired by Schwarzenegger's likeness and the original robot design from the films. The human-presenting side of the Terminator is notably jacked, featuring the masculine features and severe haircut often associated with Schwarzenegger's portrayal of the character. Meanwhile, the full robot version retains the somewhat skeletal machine design featured in the movies, complete with the iconic red glowing eyes. With character designs that confirm the films will be honored, this is already shaping up to be a promising title. When it comes to Archie and the cyborg design, fans can also get a taste of what to expect through the cover art released for issue #1 so far. The covers seem to stay true to Steven Butler and Lily Butler's character design sheets, but take those simplistic designs and transform them into pieces of art that are truly exceptional. Among the variant covers featured are pieces by artists Björn Barends, Robert Hack, and Bill Galvan. All of the covers are beyond epic and tease what will not only be one of The Terminator and Archie's boldest additions to their respective legacies, but also what could become one of their most visually memorable. Archie vs. the Terminator #1 from Dynamite will be available to read on October 7, 2026!