THE LEGACY OF LUTHER STRODE #1 Reveiw

Legacy of Luther Strode #1 offers the final chapter for the titular character. That’s a lot of potential to promise, but with a 40 page opening issue, it’s certainly off to a good start.

The official description from Image:

Luther Strode returns. For five years, Luther Strode and Petra have been on the run. Now the time for running is over, and the Murder Cult is going down. The road to Cain starts here. JUSTIN JORDAN (SPREAD) and TRADD MOORE (All-New Ghost Rider) bring back Luther and Petra for their final adventure. The last chapter in the hit trilogy begins NOW. Special double-sized issue!

I’ll be honest – I’m not that familiar with Luther Strode. I’m aware of it, but I’m more or less going in blind. Fortunately, while this issue really does little to explain the backstory, it does enough to grab, excite and entertain. So far it’s not a problem, as whats available is more or less good enough to get a semi-decent understanding.

In terms of the writing, Justin Jordan isn’t afraid to let the art do the talking. The opening few pages are some of the best, as they instantly grab the reader, asking a few questions and delivering little in the way of answers. Still, Jordan than seques into the main plot and there’s a big sense of things yet to come. It’s not perfect, but Jordan’s attempts to nail down a ‘final chapter’ sort of vibe aren’t all completely in vain.

Visually, as I’ve said, Jordan lets the artwork do a lot of the talking. This is good, because Tradd Moore’s pencils are absolulely beautiful. Granted, some people might find his wavy nature – especially when it comes to faces – a little abstract or off-putting, but the clear, crisp attention to detail more than makes up for it. As for colors, Felipe Sobreiro keeps it simple, yet bright and vibrant.

All in all, I’m pretty happy with this opening issue. Sure, a greater knowledge of Luther Strode would be a big advantage, but there’s no issue in simply enjoying this chapter for what it is.