In the aftermath of a nuclear first strike that has left the East Coast uninhabitable, five teenagers are being sent west, away from the wreckage that was once their home. Halfway through the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, the shuttle that promised safety has broken down, stranding them in the middle of nowhere with only one another to count on.
When you read the above description, you think a traditional survival story with an apocalyptic wasteland full of dangers and mutants and stuff like that. Going in to Low Road West #1, that’s exactly what I expected. Then there’s a twist and things get… strange.
What starts off as a story about a post-nuclear attack world turns into something more magical with a fantasy element to it that is beyond intriguing and engaging. Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson as expected knocks it out of the park and delivers a comic that feels like it’s blending genres. After this first issue, it’s completely unknown as to where things are going.
Johnson makes sure to focus on the characters as he builds this world around them. We get a quick sense as to who they are and what will and won’t work as far as their personalities. There’s some great additions for details that really add depth to each character. The use of a video game system or how something’s said through lettering by Jim Campell.
Those sorts of details are helped through the art by Flaviano. The series goes from a dusty post nuclear wasteland into something else. That something else is full of small detail that it begs you to linger on the page to get an even better idea as to what’s going on. That transition is helped through the colors of Miquel Muerto who has us going from the yellow/brown dust filled land to a magical house full of hues of blue.
I expected one thing and this debut is something else by books end which has me only more excited to see where it’s all going from here.
Story: Phillip Kennedy Johnson Art: Flaviano
Main Cover: Flaviano Intermix Cover: David Lafuente
Color: Miquel Muerto Letterer: Jim Campell
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.2 Overall: 8.45 Recommendation: Buy
BOOM! Studios provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
