The Legend of Luther Strode #1
Written by Justin Jordan
Art by Tradd Moore
Colors by Felipe Sobreiro
Image Comics
Release Date: December 5, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

Oh boy, I’ve been waiting for the arrival of this book for a long time. From the moment I turned the last page of The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, I’ve been hungry for more blood, guts, and general mayhem. Well boys and girls, it is finally here. Fresh off of the Image presses, dripping with blood, The Legend of Luther Strode #1 is finally here. Now, the obvious next question is: was it worth the wait?

Before we dig up an answer to this loaded question, let’s consider the past and present of the Luther Strode comic book franchise. At the time of its release, The Strange Talent of Luther Strode was a highly acclaimed book, which revitalized the dog-tired superhero origin story genre. Writer Justin Jordan and artist Tradd Moore created a new superhero story that rejuvenated the public’s interest in the typical high school student turned super person story. Think of it like Peter Parker baptized in the collective blood of every drug deal and arsonist who ever raised a hand to the innocent. Needless to say, The Legend of Luther Strode had a lot to live up to.

I wanted this book to be stained with blood. With the Tarantino-inspired penchant for spurting arteries that artist Tradd Moore illustrates with, this book, by all accounts, should be dripping. Luckily, Moore and Jordan don’t disappoint. With more than a few henchmen biting the dust, Moore’s raw ability for gross-outs is able to shine.

This of course is not to say that The Legend of Luther Strode is all gore and violence. While Luther haunts most of this book’s pages like a vengeful apparition, much of issue one opens up the possibility for Jordan to build the upcoming story.

This book was in a tough spot simply because it demanded to be split into two parts. The first being a simple enough story that new readers could easily pick up and devour it. The second more polarizing aspect of this book needed to wink and nod at returning readers as to satisfy their fanboy lust for continuity. Jordan pulls this off stunningly as old ghosts glide through issue one in a mist of new-reader-friendly hyper violence.

The Legend of Luther Strode has begun like a furious freight train with its brakes cut. As we all know, once something starts so wrathfully the pace must heighten or risk becoming stagnant. Being familiar with this team’s past work, the likelihood of this book slowing down is slim. If The Legend of Luther Strode #1 is any indicator of how things will progress for this book in the future, get ready for one completely mind-blowing experience.