Spread, Vol. 4: Outside

Spread #18-21

by Justin Jordan, John Bivens (Artist), Felipe Sobreiro (Artist)

Ravello has returned, gifted with terrible new abilities by the Spread, organizing the raiders of the Quarantine Zone into something the world has never seen. No and company are pushed to the limit in the penultimate volume of the SPREAD saga.
Collects SPREAD #18-21

Genres: Comics, Horror, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2017

About the author

Justin Jordan is an American comic book writer. He is known for writing and co-creating The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, Spread, Dead Body Road, Deep State, Dark Gods and Savage Things. He has also written Green Lantern: New Guardians, Superboy, Deathstroke and Team 7 for DC Comics and the relaunch of Shadowman for Valiant Entertainment.

In 2012, he was nominated for the Harvey Award for Most Promising New Talent.

Reviews

[CS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bullet Reivew:

Dear Justin,

Do you know where this is going? Or do you just throw together whatever sounds good?

I know, I'm a measly reader/reviewer and have never published a work, but dayum, you're stringing me along for a ride, aren't you? Will this "all make sense in the end"?

Why do I think the answer is one of the main character's cheesy pseudonym's? (Wow, record for longest time to learn a MC's real name...)

Sincerely,
C.S. Light

[Shadowdenizen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

While still readable, I feel like this is losing steam, rather than gaining it. It should be ramping up as there's only 1 volume left, if I read correctly.

Given that, I'll stick around to the end (I'm nothing if not a masochist), but not sure I'd recommend to new readers... We will see after the final volume.

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this universe is expanded in the one-shots and backstories. We finally find No's name, more about the Spread and how it was handled by the army. The ending, as far as I can tell, leads from one epic struggle to the final one where the humans face the Spread.

The QZ was created to contain the Spread by isolating it in an area surrounded by the fallout of nuclear explosions. The army claimed it had bombed the Zone itself and destroyed all traces of the Spread, but it was obviously a lie. They need to understand what makes the Spread tick or else blow it up. The second option risks releasing Spread spores in the upper atmosphere which might allow it to disperse over the whole planet. General Sean Shields sends Major Josiah Lamb to find the baby named Hope who can destroy the Spread.

Serena Shields is the leader of the Shield Maidens, a group who is trying to bring order to the QZ. She has been doing a good job of it and now has an empire. She is also No's sister. No's name is finally revealed - it's Sean. No and Serena share information related to the infected that think and look like humans, but also control the Spread like the Preacher did in the very beginning. These new creatures want to kill the baby Hope.

The infected stand little chance against the good guys until the infected Ravello shows up. The ne t volume is the final one and should be explosive if the current trend is kept.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might go as high as 3 and a half stars this time. This is definitely headed somewhere and the story is ramping up in intensity and stakes. This time out, we meet the Shield Maidens, a group made up largely of women, who are attempting to enforce some sort of law and order in the Quarantine Zone (and who may have an unexpected connection to our original heroes). And an Army Ranger does a HALO drop into the QZ, in search of the miracle baby, Hope. Plus, the Spread is showing signs of intelligence and is developing an army of mutated half-human, half-Spread soldiers, led by Ravello, who'd made an appearance previously in Molly's origin story. It's not terrible, though it never really rises to something more than the sum of its many parts. Again, artist Strahm is missing in action (which might actually be a good thing--the fill-in guy is much better). Might as well see this one out.

[Paul Allard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penultimate volume – starting to make sense

This comic collection continues the tale of a post-apocalyptic world in which the Spread continues to kill. This volume brings together all the different factions, either part of the Spread or struggling to survive and defeat it. Battle lines are drawn and it builds up nicely towards the final volume.

With much bloodshed and death as well as a lot of different characters, this volume delivers for those who enjoy this type of thing and, despite my objections to previous volumes, this one works.

[Angel (jurassicreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waited quite a while between reading vol 3. and 4 and that was a big mistake. At times, the story is a bit too disjointed to not binge-read all at once. I had to stop and re-start this in order to get myself back into the groove. I feel like it created more questions for me, but I was finally able to connect a bit more with 'No.' Development in the form of a VERY QUICK flashback helped humanize him a bit, although I still don't fully understand his motives/morals.

[Jennifer Juffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series isn’t boring and the art is fabulous.
I am appreciating how the story is developing into something more grand.
The question will remain if, like the spread, it can be contained.

I really enjoy the individual Spread comics from different artists.
This volume contained some really great ones. Short and to the point. A lesson in everyone.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

As this is the penultimate trade, it stands to reason this volume might give some answers for lingering mysteries...if this was the sort of series that actually answered mysteries. But there are some given away, and it looks like the heroes of the series are finally getting together to stop the Spread. If they can.

But that's for the final trade.

[Bene Vogt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just as the art has stopped getting in the way, the story feels like it’s treading water, as we get flashbacks either detail things that I have already been explained sufficiently are superfluous (one connection revealed in the last volume and expanded her seems unlikely to play any further role, seeing as it’s four issues left).

[Myk Pilgrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favourite of the Spread books I've read so far, but I think that's a natural side-effect of the story growing in scope.
The wider the view gets, the less in tune I feel with the folks on the ground.
No is always fun though.

[Highland G · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a mess. This book has been steadily going downhill since the original artist left. Its got almost no direction and is just doing random character issues.
What a waste of such a fun Trio of characters, this could have been so much better if the original team had slowed down and done it right.

[David Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot is finally moving forward toward what seems like an ending. Our crew has finally reunited, joined by others to help, but have run into Ravello and his Spread army. Again, I enjoyed the Tales from the Spread bonus shorts at the end.

[Benjamin Barham · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok, The Spread, but it's not great. It keeps being not great. And am I sad that this is the penultimate volume? No.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all seems so hopeless.

[Nadinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

so awesome. seeing kind of how 'the others' live and how that relates to Hope's origins was interesting.