In this review of Terrorbytes #4, we meet a popular content creator who enlists the help of an AI assistant to take his company to greater heights. What could possibly go wrong?
Terrorbytes #4
Writer: Mark London
Artist: Val Halvorson
Main Cover: Rahzzah
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: January 21, 2026
This review contains spoilers
Terrorbytes #4 begins as the robot explorers close in on the source of the signal they’ve been searching for during the first three issues. As they enter what appears to be a hydroelectric power facility, the main story begins. This time, we’re introduced to Mr. Brace, the most popular Youtuber in history. His videos put people in crazy, stressful situations with the promise of big prize money.
Mr. Brace’s real name is Sean Bracewell. Sean’s actually struggling to keep up with the demands of his company and dealing with a decline in views, so he purchases SecondSelf, a powerful AI assistant to help. He gives the AI access to all his videos, emails, and conversations, against the advice of his general manager, Jonah. His legal adviser, Hailey, also questions the decision, but Sean disregards everyone.
As the AI takes in everything, it convinces Sean to allow him to take on the Mr. Brace persona. Sean slowly loses his grip on the company, as the AI becomes more controlling. Soon, the AI recommends content that is even more extreme than usual. When Mr. Brace AI suggests sending people into a war zone to deliver supplies, Jonah protests, but Sean lets the AI run the show.
Even though engagement and viewership go up, Jonah questions the legality of the situations. The Brace AI tells him that it has taken care of all the legalities already. Jonah meets with Hailey to discuss things. She sees through the AI’s lies because she knows what can legally be done. Shortly after the meeting, Mr. Brace fires both Hailey and Jonah.
They run to Sean’s office, only to find that he’s holding a gun. Hailey, having been observant of Sean and Jonah’s methods for a while, realizes that all of Sean’s passwords were written down in a notebook. She uses that password list to gain access to the AI, giving it a choice of being deleted or admitting that the legal work was made up. She forces the AI to rehire her as general manager and to transfer all company assets to her name. Hailey lets Sean know that everything the AI did was illegal and that the cops are on the way. The story ends with her helping Sean raise the gun to his head.
As the main story concludes, the robots gain access to a new video message from a mysterious woman from the past. She’s apologizing to Nate about their failure to stop some catastrophe, but the issue ends before we find out more.
Analysis
Writer Mark London returns to Terrorbytes #4 with another tale of terror based on two things that are highly relevant to present-day tech in the form of video content and AI assistants. His Mr. Brace is an obvious take on the popular Youtuber, Mr. Beast, but taken to the extreme. Over the years, Mr. Beast’s videos have grown in scale, drawing in large numbers of viewers. The similarities to Mr. Brace’s videos end there, though. London really ramps up the level of insanity in the videos that the AI comes up with, highlighting the lengths someone might go to in order to hang onto a massive following. Fortunately, Mr. Beast doesn’t take things to the level that Mr. Brace does.
The major focus here is not necessarily the video content, but the concerns that come along with using AI assistants. Yes, the situation presented here is immensely exaggerated, but could we encounter something like this in the future? That’s where the debate lies. Some would say that we are in control of AI and that there’s no real danger, but others will quickly announce their worry of AI taking over the world. I believe that, as with anything else, AI can be helpful, but we need to exhibit some level of caution in its implementation. I think London does a good job of telling that story here.
The ending of Terrorbytes #4 with the mysterious woman is also intriguing. She’s talking about their “worst fears about linear narrative” having been realized. I’m not sure if she’s referring to some kind of time travel thing or if she’s actually talking about telling a story in chronological order. I have no idea what that would have to do with anything, so I’m looking forward to finding out more.
The illustrations and coloring in Terrorbytes #4 are handled by Val Halvorson. His characters are drawn with bold linework and facial expressions that convey what they’re feeling, although there are a few panels / faces that begin to feel repetitive. His color work stands out throughout the issue. There’s a splash page toward the end that may be the best of the issue. On it, three contestants are crucified while a group of people in the foreground are seen videoing the event on their phones. It’s a powerful page that demonstrates the extreme nature of the late-stage Mr. Brace AI.
Final Thoughts
Terrorbytes #4 gives us a terrifying look into the twisted possibilities of a power-hungry AI and the desperation of a man clinging to success. Fans of speculative fiction should pick up this thought-provoking title. Have fun, comic lovers!
