Advance Review: Connecting Stories Make For A Better Tale In ‘Phantom Road’ #4
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
After a false start, this series is now on the right track, thanks to a more interesting and interconnected set of storylines. An innovative use of color and strong artwork also helps to convey the story – sometimes without having to read the script.
Overall
8.5/10Three issues ago, Phantom Road started off as a relatively straightforward story – or at least as straightforward as a tale about two people being transported to another dimension can be. The problem was that the story, by itself, just wasn’t interesting enough.
In issue #3, writer Jeff Lemire moved to a story involving an FBI agent who spent some time in that same parallel world – and things picked up considerably. Now he is weaving the two storylines together in an exciting way. And it’s precisely why Lemire is such a great storyteller.
In this fourth installment, Dom and Birdie remain trapped in the other world until they deliver a mysterious…thing. It looks like a piece of petrified wood but is clearly more important. Lemire uses the long drive to give us more background on Dom. He’s found Jesus, abandoned drugs and no longer has a family. Bridie is still a mystery, but there’s plenty of time for her exposition.
Meanwhile, on our Earth agent Weaver is being held hostage by the world’s worst interrogator. He doesn’t seem to have any facts correct about her or her background. But he does seem to know something more about the alternate reality.
Artist Gabriel H. Walta’s unique style feels appropriate given the story Lemire has laid out. For example, the faces he draws are deceptively simple, but we they are quite expressive. It’s easy to understand what the characters are thinking, without even reading the word bubbles.
Colorist Jordie Bellaire chooses an almost black-and-white approach to the pages, with one other dominant color depending on the setting. Teal dominates the parallel world at night, while a beige in the same place indicates a flashback to Weaver’s past. Her interrogation is green, and Birdie’s world goes florescent when she falls into danger. It’s an effective use of color as its own storyteller.
It’s refreshing to see this series turn the corner from a humdrum story to something that is much more interesting and even compelling. We need to go down this road more often.
Phantom Road #4 will be available for purchase tomorrow.
