That’s more like it.
After two ho-hum introductory issues, Phantom Road has found its voice in the latest installment. Curiously, the main story of a truck driver and his companion who are mysteriously transported to an alternate reality takes a back seat in this issue.
Instead, the action shifts to FBI agent Theresa Weaver who is investigating a mysterious dead creature left on the road. The creature, which looks like the inhabitants of the other reality seen in previous issues, has no features. And it seems strangely familiar to Weaver.
Writer Jeff Lemire has performed a significant pivot in this issue – and it’s a welcome change. The first two installments didn’t live up to Lemire’s usual stellar storytelling abilities. This time, though, he’s veering into the realm of police procedurals. But there’s nothing standard about this story. While familiar, it’s quite compelling.
Despite a lackluster cover, Gabriel H. Walta’s artwork seems to benefit from the story shift as well. Instead of lots of featureless creatures chasing a tractor trailer through a desert, he gets to draw cops, motels and some service stations. He also, quite unexpectedly, depicts Weaver in the shower. It’s pretty much full frontal, and definitely NSFW.
Jordie Bellaire’s colors help to bring our reality to life, particularly when compared to the drab neutral tones in the alt world. There aren’t many bright colors in the book, but when they appear, the pop that much more.
It will be interesting to see how long Lemire and the creative team stick in the more interesting real-world part of the story or if they will immediately shift back to the alt reality. Perhaps they will juxtapose the related tales together. There’s no doubt that this team can pull off just about anything. It should be refreshing to see what happens next.
Phantom Road #3 will be available for purchase on next Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
That’s more like it. After two ho-hum introductory issues, Phantom Road has found its voice in the latest installment. Curiously,COMICONRead More