Legacy of Luther Strode #4

By Justin Jordan, Tradd Moore & Felipe Sobreiro

It wasn’t until recently that I finally entered the brilliant world of Luther Strode (literally three weeks ago). Starting with The Strange Talent of Luther Strode all the way up to the current storyline, The Legacy of Luther Strode, all the material was consumed in one night voraciously. Needless to say, this issue has been eagerly anticipated and it doesn’t disappoint! Delving further into the history/mythos of this story, Luther, Petra, and Delilah continue their trek to Cain. As they stand upon the precipice of their destination, their shaky alliance falls apart and many secrets are revealed…

The delay in the release is well worth the wait because one can see the tender care and attention that is paid to this title. This is Justin Jordan, Tradd Moore, and Felipe Sobreiro’s final act in the journey of Luther Strode, so they not only want to satisfy fan expectations, but their own as well. Moore designs and illustrates each page differently, making every panel count. He is able to bring to life the intense and in-depth narrative that Jordan is writing in this concluding arc. The amount of world building and expansion that has been done in the recent issues is astounding.

Tradd’s style has changed with each story arc; one only needs to look at the two main characters’ designs. Whether it be in service of the material or just pure artist expression, seeing an artist evolve is fascinating to experience. Rarely does one have the opportunity to see such a journey in sequential art. Manga readers will no doubt greatly appreciate the character designs as well. The heightened, exaggerated physical physiques call to mind the brilliant work of Keisuke Itagaki (Grappler Baki) and Hirohiko Araki (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure). The essential icing on the cake is Sobreiro’s color work. His efforts bring about a clean, detailed world. Perhaps his best work is on display on the montage pages. Each panel is prescribed its own unique palette, depending on the content or tone intended. Blood and the color red are very poignant in this issue, so be sure to take note.

This latest issue continues the utterly entertaining and fascinating tapestry that is Luther Strode’s story. The entire creative team is working on all cylinders. As the series draws to a close one may become a little misty eyed, but fear not because the creators will not let this wonderful comic go out without a bang! Fans should absolutely continue picking the series and those who are new to the book or are behind need to pick up the two past trades. This is a legacy worth keeping alive.