The Good
The world of SPREAD just got a whole lot more interesting. Now that we know the basics of this post-apocalyptic land, writer Justin Jordan is really beginning to flesh out these characters and get the narrative moving along. The stage has been set and it's time to see how everything trucks forward. Spoiler alert: It progresses with quite a bit of blood and violence. But seeing as this is a horror book (you got a look at that stunning cover, yes?) that has already been packed with bloody madness, that shouldn't come as much of a surprise, should it? This chapter basically dishes out a blend of the kinds of action we've already seen and adds a little more twisted fun into the mix. We have everything from a vicious display by the Spread to No showing how swift he is with blades before finally meeting his match. Heck, Molly even gets a moment to unleash. It's great how Jordan's making the story progress while thrilling us with crazy action.
This issue really expands what we know about Fat Jack, Ravello, and the Spread. We receive a little more insight into the deal the two human groups have made and the contrast between the two is pretty amusing. Fat Jack's as blunt and uncensored as they get and Ravello's shockingly calm and optimistic despite being surrounded by dirt, chaos and despair. The tall and creepy guy -- you know who I'm talking about if you're following along -- finally gets his moment in the spotlight and the reveal is completely gripping. Additionally, we get a glimpse of Molly's past and it helps grow our emotional connection to the character just a bit. I'm really hoping Jordan follows-up on this and we see what happens if Ravello spots her. Would he recognize her without her hair? How will she react? We saw how she responds when cornered, so it'll definitely be interesting to see what Jordan does with the character. No's the only one that doesn't get much development here, but that's countered by the fact he gets a killer fight scene and another chance to amuse with his limited vocabulary.
Being in the world of SPREAD would be a nightmare and artist Kyle Strahm and colorist Felipe Sobreiro do a fine job pulling us into this horrific setting. There's a scene involving Molly trying to hide and the handling of it is amazingly cinematic. It was a flawless way to deliver just how terrifying the situation must be for her. And if you didn't think Molly's lost it just yet, Strahm and Sobreiro have one excellent panel where it looks like she's beyond crazy.
The Bad
Between Ravello's crew, Fat Jack's people, our regular leads, and the Church of the Risen God, there's some really, really crowded panels in this one. I'm still loving Strahm's work, but you can see there's quite a few panels that feel very feel rushed compared to other ones. There's still some jaw-dropping displays, but many don't feel on par with the previous chapters.
The Verdict
SPREAD #4 juggles a lot of things and never slows down the pace. There's terror, savage action, character development, and the world continues to grow. "I can't wait to read the next issue" is a saying that gets tossed around a lot, but that's how I honestly feel after every chapter of SPREAD. I want to see more of the frightening things this place has to offer and I really want to see how the "heroes" will overcome the twisted obstacles. Jordan and Strahm really are doing great things with this series and I'm hooked. They've not only created a seriously messed up and fascinating scenario, but they've also built characters that I want to learn about and root for. I've said it before and I'll say it again: You've got to read SPREAD if you're a horror fan.