Below you’ll find the solicitations information and cover artwork for all of Dark Horse Comics comic book titles released on December 9, 2015.

Spread #1
Written by Justin Jordan
Art by Kyle Strahm
Colors by Felipe Sobreiro
Letters by Crank!
Covers by Kyle Strahm and Felipe Sobreiro
Image Comics
Release Date: July 9, 2014
Cover Price: $3.50 (Digital $2.99)

A new plague has spread across the world, except this plague is less Avian Flu and more Lovecraftian horror. This plague is up a big, red monster with many tentacles and even more mouths. When it kills you, you don’t stay dead. You aren’t a standard Romero-style zombie, either. Your eyes grow mouths, and your mouth grows tentacles. Nary a panel is left blood-free in Spread #1, a new post-apocalyptic tale by writer Justin Jordan and illustrator Kyle Strahm.

The first issue tells the story of No, a man who is immune to the Spread. Immune from infection, that is. Those who are already infected are still able to kill him, however, with their eye-mouths, tentacles, etc. Of course, the red monster isn’t the only thing dangerous in the world. There are also Raiders who like to steal things and kill people.

Shadowman #6
Written by Justin Jordan
Art by Patrick Zircher, Lee Garbett and Neil Edwards
Color by Brian Reber and Guy Major
Letters by Rob Steen
Covers by Patrick Zircher and Dave Johnson
Valiant Entertainment
Release Date: April 3, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Welcome to my first review of a Valiant Entertainment comic! I present to you the delightfully dark Shadowman #6. Set in New Orleans, Louisiana, it really draws on that creepy voodoo-like vibe that one feels when they visit ‘The Big Easy.’  But it’s not just drawing on the world as we know it, Shadowman also reveals to us a world that we are completely unaware of in our mundane lives. We are shown the Deadside, a parallel universe of horrific nightmares that seeks to break down the tenuous barriers that separate our two dimensions from one another.

First off, we have Jack Boniface as the new Shadowman, having had his powers bestowed upon him by a loa (keeping with the regional theme of voodoo). His current (and ongoing) job is protecting our world from the Deadside. And while he may still be learning about his new abilities, he is being kept quite busy dealing with a group called the Brethren. We learn that these powerful Brethren are desperate to restore a necromancer named Master Darque to our world, which would bring about untold horrors and destroy our very existence. Then we have a very mysterious, tattooed gunman who is working a different angle against the Brethren at the behest of an old, almost forgotten, local deity named Baron Samedi. But this demi-god is in negotiations with Master Darque–negotiations that could prove troublesome for the Shadowman. Though, as with every underworld deal, not everything is as it seems.

The Legend of Luther Strode #2
Written by Justin Jordan
Art by Tradd Moore
Colors by Felipe Sobreiro
Image Comics
Release Date: January 9, 2013
Cover Price: $3.50

This is my first time reading any Luther Strode at all, so you’ll have to pardon any ignorance I have when it comes to this book. The Legend of Luther Strode #2 takes place 5 years after the first series, and honestly, after reading this issue, I could wait another 5 years to read another issue of this book.

Writer Justin Jordan turns out a book that’s not quite sure where it’s going. The character of Luther Strode is basically the Punisher Max with some sort of super powers. Strode is putting his fist right THROUGH people, pulling theirs heads literally off their bodies, and other such violence. Now, I am the LAST person that has a problem with graphic language, violence, or anything like that, but it just doesn’t work here. Jordan tries too hard to make everyone say the F word or any other colorful language that he can come up with. Also, Jordan takes a cue from a bunch of action movies, and has a young girl try and be the voice of reason for Strode. Again, it just doesn’t work for me.

The Legend of Luther Strode #1
Written by Justin Jordan
Art by Tradd Moore
Colors by Felipe Sobreiro
Image Comics
Release Date: December 5, 2012
Cover Price: $3.50

Oh boy, I’ve been waiting for the arrival of this book for a long time. From the moment I turned the last page of The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, I’ve been hungry for more blood, guts, and general mayhem. Well boys and girls, it is finally here. Fresh off of the Image presses, dripping with blood, The Legend of Luther Strode #1 is finally here. Now, the obvious next question is: was it worth the wait?

Before we dig up an answer to this loaded question, let’s consider the past and present of the Luther Strode comic book franchise. At the time of its release, The Strange Talent of Luther Strode was a highly acclaimed book, which revitalized the dog-tired superhero origin story genre. Writer Justin Jordan and artist Tradd Moore created a new superhero story that rejuvenated the public’s interest in the typical high school student turned super person story. Think of it like Peter Parker baptized in the collective blood of every drug deal and arsonist who ever raised a hand to the innocent. Needless to say, The Legend of Luther Strode had a lot to live up to.