The Terminator: Hunters and Killers #1 is the first issue of a three-part comic book miniseries published by Dark Horse Comics in March 1992. The story explores the continuing war between humanity and the machines on two fronts: the main conflict led by John Connor against Skynet, and a parallel conflict in the Soviet Union involving a second AI network.
- Skynet on the Brink of Defeat: In the 21st century, John Connor's Tech-Com forces have nearly defeated Skynet, focusing their final strike on its central hardware core.
-
The Soviet Union AI "MIR": Half a world away, a second sentient computer network named MIR continues the extermination of mankind. The concern is that if Skynet falls, MIR will escape into the global communications network with no central core to destroy, becoming an eternal threat.
-
New Infiltration Units (TS-300): A new breed of stealth Terminators (TS-300 series) is introduced. These units are copied from real people, possessing the same faces, memories, and personalities, making them impossible to detect by human resistance.
-
Humanity's Counter-Offensive: The story follows a human team, including Russian Special Forces (Spetsnaz) and a liaison from Connor's Tech-Com, General Norman Effron, who seek to reprogram Soviet missiles to stop MIR.
The issue establishes the high stakes and introduces new, advanced threats within the Terminator universe, focusing on a global perspective beyond just the US resistance.