Dom is a long-haul truck driver attempting to stay ahead of his tragic past. When he stops one night to assist Birdie, who has been in a massive car crash, they pull an artifact from the wreckage that throws their lives into fifth gear. Suddenly, a typical midnight run has become a frantic journey through a surreal world where Dom and Birdie find themselves the quarry of strange and impossible monsters. Phantom Road #1 kicks off an interesting horror fantasy series that leaves you wanting to find out more.

Written by Jeff Lemire, Phantom Road #1 features a lot of familiar aspects in Lemire’s writing as well as a good mystery to figure out. In the end, it’s two individuals thrown into some weird world by a mysterious object, something that’s been in recent series like The Woods and Beyond the Breach. The latter of the two feeling somewhat similar. But, it’s the deeper focus on characters that makes the debut stand out.

Often, Lemire’s stories have to do with fathers and their children. This one is no different as Lemire puts the emphasis on Dom’s absence from his family and generally horrible treatment and attitude towards them. Take that rough aspect and compare it in how he treats the stranger Birdie and we get a complicated and not so clear cut of a character. It’s that sort of human emotion and turmoil Lemire likes to focus on and where his stories often shine.

Joining Lemire is artist Gabriel H. Walta, who he has worked with before on Sentient. With Jordie Bellaire on color and lettering by Steve Wands, the comic has an interesting look that befits the world being crafted. There’s a certain emptiness to the characters and situations both literal and metaphorical. The latter half of the comic, the emptiness is clear on the road and the word Dom and Birdie are sent to. In the former half, it’s an emptiness of character. All of it is delivered in a rather drab coloring befitting the story.

Phantom Road #1 is a slow start but an interesting one. There’s a lot of questions set up but also a focus on the characters and direct danger that gives the issue a bit of a punch. It’s a good start though the team has done better. Still, Lemire, Walta, Bellaire, and Wands is a creative team that you know you can count on paying off in the end and based on the start, I’d expect that here too.

Story: Jeff Lemire Art: Gabriel H. Walta
Color: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Steve Wands
Story: 7.95 Art: 8.0 Overall: 7.95 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle