Captain Kirk’s Pick of the Week: Spread #2

I’m backdated on a bunch of titles. Reasons? Well, getting ready for Toronto’s own FanExpo (be prepared for an abundance of coverage on said comic convention in the next couple of weeks, by the way), trying to read the comics I love and of course getting my class ready for next year. That’s right my young geeks-in-embryo: it’s almost school-time.

Still, I’ve managed to identify some titles that I know young minds should read – all filled with violent futuristic versions of how the world should end up. Yup … nothing like dark world futures to entice a young person to read!

IDW Publishing

Anderson: Psi-Division #1 (of 4)

I’m a huge Judge Dredd fan and Judge Anderson, a psi-judge, has always been one of my favourite spin-off characters. I always thought that she deserved her own series. What’s a great bonus is that Matt Smith has given us a bit of a teaser about Anderson’s background. This comic is a great opportunity to flesh out more of this incredibly cool character. It’s something that IDW does really well with all of its licensed properties: going that one step further and adding details that accentuate rather than remake the character. If you are familiar with any of the Judge Dredd material, you really need to check this book out.

Squidder #1

Anything post-apocalyptic and you have my attention. The art is a little fuzzy on this but you can’t deny the intrigue. Squidders are technological/biological warriors designed to fight an invasion of giant, squid-like beings that have invaded the world.

I have to confess, I don’t know very much else about this comic – which is the way I like it. I don’t like to have preconceptions when I read comics, so that I can make a natural and fair judgement.

But you can’t deny the compelling story in this comic. In it, we find a lone, wandering hero trying to escape his past, but the past catches up to him in the form of a contract to hunt down a temple priestess devoted to the conquering Squid creatures. It’s a simple premise that introduces the character and sets up the adventure.

It was also a pleasant surprise to learn that the artist Menton3 is involved in this projects as a cover artist and “spirit guide.” We’re big fans here at PopMythology of Menton3. He’s a fabulous artist and a kind human being.

Anyway, this is definitely one to add to your pull list. Keep an eye out for this at your LCS.

Image

Spread #2

This one has already been out for a week – like I said, I’m a little backdated – but I’m just gonna jump the gun and get right to the point.

This one is my pick for this week.

Again, another post-apocalyptic goody for me to sink my comic fangs into, which is ironic, given that the Spread is a biological infestation that has an insatiable appetite … and fangs of its own.

The story is definitely reminiscent of Kazuo Koike’s Lone Wolf and Cub, with the hero – No, who often says “no” – wielding double blades as the guardian of an infant who promises to be more than she appears. This story has drama, intensity and an enigmatically curious pair of unlikely heroes who we can truly marvel at.

I have to give Justin Jordan and Kyle Strahm due props for this innovative and imaginative take on the post-apocalyptic motif. It’s definitely a unique version and I’m really drawn in by all its bloody, biological mess. The infant Hope (good name choice, says the father of his own aptly-named three year old daughter) is a really cool version of the unlikely hero figure. It’s definitely got my attention and I think it needs to have yours.

… And any young, eager reader ready to see how the world could end with a telepathic judge in a crime-filled city, a world invaded by domineering squid-like aliens or a carnivorous colony-like plant entity that consumes almost everything it encounters.

Ain’t reading grand?