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Info From Previews:
Written by: Hilary J. Bader
Art by: Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh
Cover by: Ronnie DelCarmen
Summary:
The villain formerly known as Terminal has been cured of his evil persona, but
his former gang of Jokerz will stop at nothing to turn him back to his criminal
self. Can Batman keep him on the straight and narrow?
Pages: 32
Cover Price: $1.99
Ships on: Aug. 30th, 2000
Review:
Title: Terminal
Velocity
Writer: Hilary J.
Bader
Penciller: Craig Rousseau
Inker: Terry Beatty
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Tim Harkins
Cover Art: Ronnie Del Carman
Summary:
When ex-Jokerz leader Terminal is cured, he wants to become a normal teen again,
but his ex-gang members have other plans.
Description:
This issue opens with Carter Wilson shooting a gun off panel. We then see
that he's shooting a picture of his old Terminal alias. This little scenario is
actually encouraged by the staff and patients at the hospital Carter Wilson is
being treated at. It's supposed to signify that Carter is killing off Terminal,
his ex-alias. Things seem to be going fine until a couple fellow patients begin
to rough up the place and try to escape. Luckily Batman is nearby and is able to
make his way over there. The other patients try to convince Carter to join them
but he refuses. Batman and Carter are able to finish off some patients and help
restore peace.
Thanks to this incident, Carter is deemed fit for
society, and goes to school the next day where he's met with glances and
comments. Terry and Max make quick friends with him. Carter opens his locker and
is splattered with paint balls. He also picks up a note from his old Jokerz
pals, wanting him to return as their leader.
Later on that same day, Carter's old doctor is
abducted by a gang of Jokerz and taken to a secret hideout location. He begs to
know what they want from him, and they tell him. The doc looks up and sees
Terminal. The doctor is shocked. Terminal wants Carter Wilson dead. The next day
Carter, and Max are walking through Gotham when three Jokerz from Carter's gang
attack them! Max begins to run, and calls Terry for some help. Meanwhile, Carter
takes on the gang by himself, but is quickly overtaken, which is when Batman shows
up and, once again, helps Carter finish off the Jokerz. When Carter discovers
that Max is missing, the gang is able to get away...with Max. Carter blames
himself. We then cut to Max and Carter's doctor in the warehouse. Both are
trapped there, by Terminal's gang, and Terminal himself. Why? Because both of
them are bait for Carter and Batman.
Terry and Carter are trying to figure out this
whole situation when Carter is once again attacked (poor guy!) by the Jokerz.
Terry "runs for help" and never returns, basically. Carter is abducted
and taken to the warehouse. Carter is confused to see his doctor. The Jokerz
keep mentioning the impending arrival of Terminal, which confuses Carter more
and more. He tells his doctor that Terminal is dead, but it turns out that the
doctor didn't do that great of a job. Terminal is alive and well, and living
inside Carter, as another personality. When Terminal's make-up is applied,
Terminal takes over.
Just then Batman breaks in and attempts to finish
this once and for all, but Terminal and his gang are able to temporarily take
him outta commission by dousing him with a lot of cream filling. (I think)
Batman subdues the gang and take son Terminal. During their fight, Batman wipes
away a bit of his make-up to reveal half of Carter's face. This causes him to
snap out of his Terminal mode for just a moment, then he snaps right back into
Terminal mode. Then back out again. And back in. Then back out again. Both
'Carter' and 'Terminal' are now two separate identities inside of Carter's body.
In the closing of this issue, we see Carter back
in the mental hospital. In the final panel we see Carter's new look: half Carter
-- half Terminal (a la Two-Face, basically).
Comments:
A huge improvement over last issues horrible installment. A real good story with
some great art makes this issue a bonus! I was considering dropping this title,
but I'll stay on it a bit longer. The art seems to be getting better and better,
and I don't wanna jinx it! Rousseau taking a couple issues off is a good idea to
keep the art at it's prime. Bader pulls in a surprisingly good story, although I
see one little flaw. Terminal seems to be changing into a 'Two-Face' kinda villain.
I hope we see some other changes in Terminal so he doesn't become a blatant
Two-Face knock-off. Overall, an enjoyable read!
Ratings: 
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