Mr. Terrific: Year One (2025-) #1

by Al Letson, Valentine De Landro (Artist), Edwin Galmon (Artist)

Brilliant young inventor Michael Holt’s life was destined for greatness…yet everything screeched to a halt when his wife Paula and unborn sonwere killed in a car accident. The Holts once shared ambitious dreamsof using their technology to help others, but after the tragedy, Michaelretreats from society and sells Holt Industries to mysterious and craventech billionaire Athena Prescott. The domino effect of Michael’s actions setoff an explosive chain of events that take a not-so-ordinary man from thedepths of despair to the heights of heroism!Meanwhile, in the present day, Mr. Terrific continues his research intowhat became of Darkseid after the events of the DC All-In Special…andcomes to realize that his past and the present might be inextricablylinked…Discover all the secrets, sorrows, and triumphs of Mr. Terrific and how hecame to be in this thrilling modern retelling and expansion of his originstory by DC Writer’s Workshop alumnus and multiple-award-winning TVwriter Al Letson ( Legacy of Monsters) and British Fantasy Award-winning artist Valentine De Landro (Black Manta, Bitch Planet)

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Comic Book

Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2025

Reviews

[Justine Syrard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pour vrai c’est bon, MAIS YAY JAI ATTEINT MON OBJECTIF!!! (Zéro dernière minute, zéro en mode désespoir)

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting start to a miniseries on the origin of Mr terrific.

[Machiavelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just read Mr. Terrific: Year One #1 by Al Letson and I’m all in on this take. It’s a strong, thoughtful intro that lays real groundwork—both emotionally and narratively—for what feels like it could become a standout origin story. As someone new to Mr. Terrific, this was the perfect entry point. Excited to see where it goes from here.

[Joseph Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. My sinuses are killing me and this was a good distraction. Mr. Terrific seems really cool. We’ve been thrown into a difficult spot in his life it seems which is always a great entry point into a heroes life.

[Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

The death of his wife and unborn child left Michael Holt a modern day recluse and a shell of what he once was, but fate has other plans as a good friend of Michael puts them both in the crosshairs of business mogel wanting to shut them up for good.

This is my first introduction the Mr Terrific so I’m hoping this story wins me over and makes me devour more and more stuff with him in it. This first issue was pretty solid, I enjoyed the art and dialogue and the stage for Michael’s growth is pretty believable as it looks like we’ll be tacking grief, rekindling your passion / purpose, and fighting for the greater good.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Mister Terrific!!! But…I’ve never actually read his origin. I know he debuted in a spectre comic but I just haven’t gotten up to that point yet. So I’m very glad this series is taking is back to where it all began. But there is a very specific reason why we are going back now. When darkseid attacked the JLU watchtower it left behind an energy signature, one that Mr Terrific is sure he has seen before. But in order to confirm it he has to go back to gateway city!

As Michael goes back in the present, we go back in the past. It’s been a bit since Michael’s wife and child died and he has sold his company to a woman named Athena Prescott. The only contact he has with anyone is his personal trainer and friend, someone who recognizes his genius and is also trying to use it to get his personal training in everyone’s home through Michael’s tech, but with how limited on contact Michael is he also isn’t there to see all of the danger in the world that he could be helping. Specifically the reports of what is old company is doing. It seems they are working on a. New energy project but there are reports of people getting sick from it. Dre, Michael’s friend, thinks it would do a lot of good for amúchale to get back out and at least speak out against them. But apparently apart of his contract stipulated that he couldn’t speak out against the company. Michael claims that people get sick all the time and he can’t change the world…but Dre is the perfect person to remind in that changing the world is exactly why Michael started Holt industries with Paula in the first place.

As a council meeting takes place and the new energy project is approved, Michael heads out and visits his wife’s grave…taking everything that Dre said to him he can’t help b if feel that he messed up. But that night Prescott industries revived a few unwanted masked visitors. They used the skeleton key that Michael developed to get inside, no doubt meaning that Dre slipped it in his pocket when he was as Michael’s house earlier. They were able to get all the way to the reactor room to start downloading the data on it…before the security and a man named Cormorant came for them. As they traveled in a group a few of them were able to hold the guards off as the download finished and then two of them were able to escape right as Athena activated the engine. No doubt hurting and poisoning everyone in the room. To no surprise the thief who downloaded the data is revealed to be Dre, and after that cataclysmic failure the first person he calls is Michael. And of course Michael is the first to run out the door and help him, using his car, aptly named Etta, equipped with rocket boosters to get away. Once they got to a secluded location Dre was able to tell him about everything that just went down and hand over the tape with all the data. But right as he does…an assassin’s bullet takes down Dre! It doesn’t recognize Michael as he has a surveillance disrupter on his person. I can only assume that means the assassin’s bullet came from some form of drone. But wow no wonder Michael is so hesitant to revisit this part of his life.

[Fintan Geraghty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favourite page is the nexus engine activating. I really like the sketchy main style in this issue and particularly the way the intense light to the nexus engine is depicted. There's a pink wash with a yellow highlight scribbled over the characters and it's really effective and quite abstract way of depicting energy. I love the cover art here too although Terrific looks more like Edi Gathegi there than he does in the rest of the comic. I think Edi Gathegi is better cast than I've seen Terrific drawn. He looks like a nerd who bulked up. I prefer Michael Holt here compared to The Terrifics where he has a MetaHuman build. His scruffy beard here really uits this part of the story.

[Timothy Grubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The origins of the world’s smartest man…before he realized his full potential…

Mr Terrific Michael Holt has been a scientist…a tactician…a leader…a hero…

This story is set before all that…when he was an isolated man eternally mourning his wife…and he needed a ride to get him back on track…

Naturally I’ll be anxious to see what elements of Michael Holt’s comic history they use, but this is a solid start as it adds some new elements to his mythology…

Follow the stories of Mr Not Yet Terrific by a writer who I really respect…

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first comic I read about this character I'm starting because the character interested me in the recent superman movie, so keep that in mind I know fuck all when you read my review ahahaha.
This issue is pretty short but what it does offer is very good. The artstyle is interesting and pretty distinct, and there was a moment that reminded me very much of the spiderverse's reactor scene.
Tbh this is not the backstory I expected when I picked this up, but that's good because it makes me want to read further.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good start to this series. Didn’t read the previous Justice League story, but the author perfectly illustrated what happened and what’s to come for this character. Mr. Terrific and Dre had great back and forth dialogue that makes you love the duo pair. The story is also intriguing in how a company is making the city sick AND the company was originally Mr. Terrific’s. Can’t wait to see the repercussion of his actions later in the series.

[Powerman61 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Terrific: Year One (2025-) #1

I enjoyed reading Mr. Terrific: Year One (2025-) #1.
This is the first issue of Mr. Terrific that I have ever
read, and the writer did a good job of bringing me
up to speed. There's a reference to Black Lightning
and the Night Rider(tv show) that if you blinked you would
have missed. Looking forward to the next issue.

[corecollects · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems extremely promising, starts out with grief and loss. Transitions straight into a brotherly like talk and support even if it’s through tough love. Then disaster to end the issue, it’s got me pulled in that’s for sure and I love that the experimental engine thing seems like the machine in into the spiderverse.

[Paul wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Terrific Year One

This is a great reboot for Mr. Terrific and the art matches the story. He's come from almost obscurity right to the forefront of what's happening in DC now. Too bad about his friend Dre, seems like he was kind of Michael's lifeline to reality. Great work guys.

[alejandro galvez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its decent.

I just hope they find a better artist. The story is easy to follow and its not bad. I will keep reading. Its cool to see some more obscure characters get some more backstory to them.

[Franziska · Rating 4 out of 5]

The timeline was shitty; it took me out every time (and don't get me wrong here, I understand the jumps; it's not that I am missing the brain capacity for that, it just kicks me out of the reading trance)—chronological for the win.
Anyways, other than that, it was a cool story and a fun art style.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good beginning, but why did Holt have to start at the bottom?

[Alex Fyffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[O]

❤️

[JestersRaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good start to the story and the art I like the art style

[Craig Schorling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came into this completely blind and I really enjoyed it. It immediately made me care for the characters and the story. The art was decent too. I am all in on this one.

[James B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read any Mr Terrific so I have nothing to compare it to, but this was an awesome first issue.

[Vijay Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

T-pain.

[rhi]

dude he's so cool

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5-3 stars.

[Jaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

the art is so good I love it already❤️❤️

[Billiam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool intro into mr terrific’s story, excited to learn more about him after the new superman film.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was barely any meat to the story and the issue was really short, more ads for other comics than pages for Michael Holt/Mister Terrific.

I also wasn‘t a huge fan of the art. Disappointing.

[PsionOverlord (Thomas Stedman) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly astonished at how good this run is. I don't feel like I love Mr terrific, but this run does a great job of making me think he's compelling.

[grimbamreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

was just scrolling through readcomiconline and i saw this and ever since the new superman movie, ive always wanted to see more of god damn mister terrific and this first issue was a good gateway to him!