Though marred by some very heavy handed social and political commentary (it’s written by Frank Miller, after all), the first few issues of RoboCop vs The Terminator were saved by a clever premise and Walt Simonson’s superb art.

The second issue was definitely weaker, in its attempts to be edgy and dark – in the way that was incredibly common in the supposedly ‘mature’ comics throughout the 90s.

Though far from subtle – as if Frank Miller knows the meaning of the word – some smart, timey wimey twists really help to make issue 3 much more satisfying.

Intriguingly, the climax of the second issue sees our heroes winning; RoboCop triumphing over the Terminators in the present and our future soldier ready to close any potential loopholes by taking out the cybernetic police officer.

Yet SkyNet still sees an opportunity to rewrite time once more, even as the machines fall.

Which leads to some bleak, but very interesting developments – including a unique Terminator model, sent to take Murphy by force in the present.

For some reason, it all clicks a lot better than the second issue; however, it’s still littered with Miller’s expected and unnecessary misogyny.

Simonson again gives the reader some brilliantly striking imagery, with another jaunt into cyberspace being a particular highlight.

Though very far from perfect – or even great – RoboCop vs The Terminator is a unique time capsule of an awkward phase for the comics industry.

A decade where comics were struggling to meaningfully grow up alongside their readers without resorting to mindless violence and titillation – yet, in the same era, the freedom of being shorn of the restrictive Comics Code really saw licensed comics able to hit their stride without feeling neutered.