First Impressions: The Phantom Stranger # 4

THE PHANTOM STRANGER # 4

Written by Dan Didio & J.M. DeMatteis
Art by Brent Anderson, Phillip Tan & Rob Hunter
DC  Comics


FLIPPING THROUGH:

            The Phantom Stranger is one of the books from DC’s Third Wave of New 52 that replaced other books that were cancelled (like Voodoo –ggrrrr).  Now, why a book like this? Well, it seems the book is being used to set up the upcoming Trinity War, that is due to come later this year, while showing us the mystical side of the DCU in a brand new way.
            The Spectre, Raven, Dr. 13 & more have all crossed paths with the Phantom Stranger. What makes The Phantom Stranger unique? After betraying his best friend, which seems to give all indications that he’s Judas from the Bible, he currently walks the world, performing disgusting actions under the guide of a “higher power” for the greater good.
            Don’t believe me? Well, it seems that The Phantom Stranger is responsible for making Jim Corrigan into The Spectre and stopping Trigon the Terrible from invading Earth … by handing him over Raven against her will.  Add the fact that he has changed his prison enough in the present to have a family and you got an interesting premise for a book.
            Which gets us to today’s little pearl of wisdom …

ART:

            Artistically, issue 4 was a nice common group of both normal life and the mystical reality that The Phantom Stranger walks in. And there seems to be a nice mix of classic comic book art style with Brent Anderson … mixed with kinetic yet rich inks/finishes by both Philip Tan and Rob Hunter.

            When you get to the mundane parts of  the Phantom Strangers life, you get nice, bright pencils with lighter inks to keep you focused on the real world. When you get to the more mystical stuff … this issue dealing with the Justice League Dark, the inks are darker. The colors and shading bring you are darker feel. It fits the atmosphere and characters with in the Justice League Dark.

            The Phantom Stranger looks regal in this issue. Giving him an imposing presence next to the slimy, manipulative bastard that is John Constantine. Constantine decided that he wants Phantom Stranger on Justice League Dark and the exchanges between those characters and our lead are gloriously and darkly depicted. When it was the real world, it was more vibrant but the shading and color matched the scene/panel art. A great job by Anderson, Tan and Hunter on a strong issue of Phantom Stranger

WRITING:

            Honestly, this book is a sleeper and I am wondering why more people are not reading it. Didio and DeMatteis script a wonderfully tormented yet human character in the inhuman Phantom Stranger. Phantom Stranger has sculpted his prison into something more of his liking with his family but we get shown how much of an Achellis heel they are this issue.

            Phantom Stranger’s imposing presence and action both highlighted his heavenly calling while also displayed his humanity in his human form. Constantine feels very much like how he is written in Justice League Dark and it was great. His usual manipulative ways … making sure he had something over Phantom Stranger to ensure cooperation while Phantom Stranger still had his own ideas. And the cliffhanger at the end just screamed for more. Especially considering that Pandora made an appearance and something does happen with our main characters family.  Deadman also had an interesting key focus on this issue, giving us more on what the Phantom Stranger really is. The rest of Justice League Dark were utilized somewhat well for exception of Black Orchid but …that is a minor misstep in an otherwise entrancing, tension filled issue.


OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            Constantine is a slimy bastard. The Phantom Stranger is definitely a very complex character. It is great to see a “good” that is just as complex as Constantine but in an entirely different way. This issue was a great showcase of the character and set up for more to come. The pacing was excellent. The art was good. The story was gripping. And the emotions felt authentic while the visuals were both fitting of tone and good to look at.

            The Phantom Stranger is indeed the sleeper book of the DC Universe right now. More people should pick it up if they want to know more about the mystical side of the universe. And with such big characters like the Justice League Dark, Pandora and a certain character at the end of the book showing up … there is much that this book offers. A great examination of learning how to make a prison for you while sometimes it reminds you that it is still a prison.

            I give The Phantom Stranger # 4 a 8.5 … out of 10.