The Strange Talent of Luther Strode

The Strange Talent of Luther Strode
The Strange Talent of Luther Strode Issue 06
Publication information
Publisher	Image Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Complete
Genre	Action, horror
Publication date	October, 2011 - March, 2012
No. of issues	6
Main character(s)	Luther Strode
Creative team
Created by	Justin Jordan Tradd Moore Felipe Sobreiro
Written by	Justin Jordan
Penciller(s)	Tradd Moore
Inker(s)	Tradd Moore
Colorist(s)	Felipe Sobreiro

The Strange Talent of Luther Strode is a serial appearing in American comic books published by Image Comics, and debuted in October 2011. The book features many historical, horror, pop culture, and Judeo-Christian theological references. Its writer was Justin Jordan, with art by Tradd Moore and colors by Felipe Sobreiro.

The series focuses on Luther Strode, a skinny teenager who lives with his mother. One day he orders a Charles Atlas analog, the Hercules Method, which gives him great strength, supernatural reflexes, enhanced speed, and the ability to heal at a superhuman rate. The creators wanted the story to be a slasher-style horror film combined with Spider-Man if Peter Parker didn't have Uncle Ben as a moral anchor.

Luther Strode comes home with his best friend Pete to find his mail order exercise manual for the Hercules Method has come in. He starts planning to use it immediately after Pete has left for the day. Luther trains by himself that night, but to his disappointment there are no visible results. A man bound from head to toe in a mysterious location is confronted by a bald man, identified as the Librarian; he approaches and tells the bound man they've found a candidate. Luther, meanwhile, has he has gained inhuman reflexes and speed, as seen when he catches a falling dish. At school, Pete pushes Luther into Petra, a girl who he's been pining for. Later at P.E. Pete is hit during a game of dodge ball; a bully, named Paul, takes a cheap throw at Luther, who isn't seemingly paying attention. Luther's reflexes kick in and he catches it and throws it back with enough force that it's later revealed he broke Paul's nose. Aboard a ship in an unknown location a single crewman is hunted and seemingly killed by the Librarian. Back at school, Pete and Luther are cornered by Paul and his friends in the bathroom; Luther at first takes the beating from Paul until Paul mentions Petra. Luther responds with a single punch that shatters Paul's jaw and disgusts everyone else.

A few weeks later, Luther returns to the school after being suspended for the punch, Paul gets in Luther's face again after spotting him. Uncharacteristically, as he stops Paul from going after Pete, Luther starts having visions of him starting a school massacre with just his bare hands. After relaxing and letting the Paul go on his way, he begins to notice he is starting to see people as their musculature, but it appears to stop. Petra approaches and after some talk that makes Pete leave her alone with Luther, Petra admits she mutually has feelings for Luther. Later that night, Paul is attacked and killed by the Librarian, who has already slaughtered his parents. Luther is training when Petra comes into his room, catching him in just his underwear. An unknown amount of time later, Luther recounts the night with Petra to Pete as they go to a liquor store, which gets held up. Luther uses his abilities to stop the robbery and Pete declares him a superhero.