The Strange Talent of Luther Strode

The Strange Talent of Luther Strode is an American comic book published by Image Comics written by Justin Jordan and with art by Tradd Moore and colors by Felipe Sobreiro. It debuted in October 2011. It features historical, horror, pop culture, and Judeo-Christian references to weave the narrative. Premise Luther Strode, a skinny teenager living alone with his mother, acquires enhanced physical abilities from a Charles Atlas analog: The Hercules Method. The creators intended the story as a slasher movie combined with the premise of Spider-Man-- Or in layman's terms: "What if Peter Parker didn't have the moral anchor of his Uncle Ben to guide him?" Plot Luther 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 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 the latter mentions Petra. Luther responds with a single punch that shatters Paul's jaw and disgusts everyone else. A few weeks later, Luther returns to school after being suspended for the punch. Paul again tries to pick a fight. 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 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.