The official description from IMAGE:

“The trap has been sprung on Luther Strode. As he fends off the attack on his life and home, he discovers that his enemies are much more powerful than he knew, and for the first time in years, Luther Strode finds himself struggling not just to win, but to survive.”

Issue number three of The Legend of Luther Strode was one of the few issues, so far, that slows down long enough to briefly explain the history of Luther’s powers and his connection to Binder. Issue four jumps right into the bloody, violent and action-packed battle Luther has with Jack and the fun is just beginning. Binder joins the fight and it rages on with reckless abandon with the single bit of new knowledge revealed to Petra that Binder wants to save Luther not kill him. Hard to believe since he is the one who released Jack to do the honors with Petra being his reward. By the last page it is Petra who actually gets rewarded.

Writer Justin Jordan has created a fever pitch story and has just the right touch of humanity needed to set it apart from your standard action book. The violence is off the charts but Jordan tells it in such a way so that it feels necessary and organic rather than simple exploitation. One of the most difficult jobs a writer has with a character so powerful is maintaining that power and still making them feel relatable and Jordan accomplishes that in spades. Artist Tradd Moore handles all this action with great finesse and the pace is frenetic. I often found myself intentionally slowing down, re-reading, re-examining panels to make sure I absorbed ever detail. His style and Felipe Sobreiro’s colors are a perfect fit.

In the end the fight has no real resolution but with Luther Strode it’s merely a chance for us to catch our breath before the next issue. The Legend of Luther Strode is a non-stop thrill ride and mostly overlooked among Jordan’s other work but should be a staple for fans of hardcore heroes.

4.5/5