Spread #1

Spread #1 See below for preview images

Credits:
Written: Justin Jordan
Artwork: Kyle Strahm
Cover Art: Felipe Sobreiro
Colors: Felipe Sobreiro
Letters: Crank!
 
This is another comic book I picked up initially just for the artwork.  As I read this first issue, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it.  Before I get going on my opinion of everything, let’s do a quick rundown.

OUR STORY

A horrible infection has swept across the land.  (It’s the red stuff you see on the cover.)  Most have been ravished by this “thing” called The Spread.  However, there are some people remaining that have not been afflicted.

One of these people is No.  (Yes, that’s his name, No.  I know, it throws me off while I’m reading the story.)  No is Spread immune.  He can walk about anywhere and not be at risk of “infection”, which basically means death.  Unfortunately, though, he’s no immortal superhero or anything like that.  So, if someone afflicted by The Spread comes at him, he can still be killed like a normal person, with knives or guns or what have you.

But know this, No, is one hell of a badass.  We’re talking Neo from The Matrix kind of badass.  He may not look like much of a threat but, this guy can really whoop on pretty much anyone that comes his way.  He has a conscience and he has a heart.  The deep, dark, broody type except he’s not good looking at all.  But then again, who’s to say anyone would be looking hot in such circumstances.

While No is roaming (we don’t know why), he comes upon a wounded woman carrying a satchel.  She’s been shot in the leg with an arrow.  She gets shot again.  The people chasing her, though not identified as of yet, are obviously bad guys, maybe renegades or rebels of some sort.  Anyway, before she bleeds out she motions for No to take the satchel and with her dying breath says one word “Hope”. 

No looks into the bag to find a baby girl.  He assumes her name is Hope, because of what the lady was saying.  Just as she dies and he’s about to leave he comes upon this band of thugs that shot our fair maiden.  They want No AND the baby.  It seems there is some bad blood between this group and No.

They can’t stop him though.  No swiftly defeats each of them only to be accosted by The Spread.  While it can’t infect him, it CAN kill his horse and it can use tentacle like arms to engage in battle. 

Doing just that, The Spread gets ahold of No and he thinks he’s done for.  He holds the baby as far from The Spread as he can.  As the child cries out, tears run down her face and drip to the ground below.  And onto The Spread. 

Suddenly, No realizes what HOPE really means.  This child’s tears melt The Spread like salt on a slug.  She could be the answer to eradicating The Spread and saving mankind.

Although No is aware this could be a wonderful thing, it is made clear to us that not everyone still alive is going to feel the same way.

THE END

This is going to be one of my new favorite series I believe.  I just found out today at the comic book store that there is only one more issue in the series left.  So, I’m just starting it and it’s already over at twenty-five issues.

But, man, what a ride!  This is truly a great story about a disgusting thing.  The artwork is great and the images of The Spread and the little nuances in other frames really lets you know just how powerful this “thing” is.  It’s a scary thought.  I mean, this thing roaming about everywhere, looking like bloody brains and intestines with teeth and has a mind of its own, slaughtering anyone in its path.

The story, as we find out at the end of this first issue, is being told by Hope. (I’m going to call her that until it is established that her name is something different.)  It’s got a definite vagueness as she tells us about what happened, it’s almost like she speaks kind of in vague riddles.  It reminds me of the way someone would explain something while they were in shock.  There’s a lack of fluidity and there’s an assumption from the storyteller that you already know what they are talking about.  However, this adds to the suspense aspect so it doesn’t really bother me.  I am anxious to get to the second issue and find out more about this Spread.  It seems like it could be some government genetics experiment gone wickedly awry.  It’ll be interesting to see where we go from here now that No has this kid he has to look after and protect.

I would only recommend this to people with a stronger stomach and a little patience.  Other than that, I don’t know that it’s gonna work for you.  It does have a zombie feel so, if you like zombies you might like this too.

RATINGS
Overall 4.5/5
Story 4.5/5
Artwork 4.5/5