Spread - Really Gross & Really Touching

Spread Volume #1 - No Hope

Spread is written by Justin Jordan, art by Kyle Strahm, colours by Felipe Sobreiro, letters by Crank! and published by Image Comics. Spread is not normally the sort of comic that I would pick up, with it's gory cover I would usually have lumped it together with comics like Crossed that are probably a one trick pony of graphic violent images but it was recommended by Nerd Burger so I thought I would give it a go and fortunately it ended up being a fantastic read that I really enjoyed and have added to my regular pull list.

Spread is set in a post apocalyptic world where everything is overtaken by the Spread, a
red, mold like creature that infects everything around it from land to animals to people and can't be destroyed. The story follows No, one of the few Spread immune, after he finds a woman dying in the snow who pleads with him to rescue the baby she was caring for calling her hope. No rescues the baby from a group of raiders but is immediately attacked by the Spread, as all looks lost one of the baby's tears falls on the Spread completely destroying it. No calls the baby Hope. No is luckily comes across some slavers transporting a lactating woman called Molly, or as most people call her Crazy Molly. After rescuing Molly she quickly becomes a mother to Hope as they head towards a small camp that passes for civilisation to gather supplies. As soon as they enter the town No senses that something is not quite right with the camp's leader, Fat Jack.

The art of Spread is disgusting, there is blood, pus, tentacles, decapitation, broken bones and vomit just to name a few but it actually works really well. The blood and gore is so over the top that while being gruesome and effective it falls short of being disturbing.

The characters are absolutely captivating and you desperately want them to be able to stick together and make it through this violent world. No is just trying to do the right thing in a world where the lines between right and wrong are no longer clear as he takes care of Hope and Molly just doing his best to make sure they are safe when there are no safe places. I find Molly by far the most sympathetic character as we know she has already experienced such a great loss after the death of her own baby but her instant love and desperate protection of Hope is just heartwarming.

Feels

Spread has such a well rounded story and interesting characters that during my first read through I actually forgot how gruesome the story was until my second read through. People that aren't usually fans of post-apocalyptic will probably still enjoy Spread because of the incredible story and post-apocalyptic fans will enjoy it because it is a great example of post-apocalyptic.

I give Spread 4.5 out of 5 Nos.

Find out more about Spread here.