Lobster Johnson #1 (of 5)
Lobster Johnson #1 (of 5)
Writer: Mike Mignola
Art : Jason Armstrong
Before I picked this up, I knew nothing of Lobster Johnson...now....well...after reading this issue I am gonna hunt me down some Hellboy issues. The story and art within this title are both top notch and hit all the right notes with this first issue.
Mignola's sometimes gritty writing style plays up well against the initial 1930s backdrop for the story. A random man in an experimental suit is being hunted by pretty much everyone from the start. Lobster takes this Mr. Sacks under his wing, protecting him from monsters, mobsters, nazis, and every other form of bad guy you can think of. Eventually you are drawn more and more into the story as Sacks (the guy in the suit) starts to show what the suit, he is in, can really do. I won't go into the abilities of the suit too much other then to say..he's sort of a big-ass bug zapper you don't wanna piss off. As the story progresses further you learn Sacks is just an assistant who escaped before the suit's inventor and daughter were captured by a group of warriors. Through a clue later on Lobster learns these warriors to be a tribe of fighters who fought for Genghis Khan long ago but had since disappeared after Khan's death. In a roundabout way, I think the suit and all of this may lead to some plot they have to ressurect Genghis Khan....I could be wrong though. There are other high points in this story but, I don't wanna ruin the whole thing for you. Needless to say asskicking occurs throughout this story and it's goood.
Jason Armstrong's art for this issue fit everything well, as the style closely matches Mignola's dirty/gritty style and follows along the lines of traditional artwork from past Mignola projects as well. Lots of shadows are used to great effect in evoking a sense of dread within the reader. Nothing is safe, nothing is normal, everything is chaotic, that's the general feel your gonna get at times by Armstrong's art.
So, for those that have not yet picked this weird little title out, go pick it up, try something different. Come on, it's a guy named Lobster Johnson who is a pulp 30s vigilante/detective that beats up Nazis and monsters....do you really need anymore of a reason!! For those still unconvinced I give you a preview. Now go buy it already! A+
Not disappointing by any means, I love Lobster Johnson and always have, I just really want some of his character development, but shit I'll take whatever I can get, ditto grade wise for me!
Lobster Johnson is a joke and Mignola is a one trick pony. Byrne was gracious enough to give him the rights back and Mike acted like a dick towards him.
Someone being a dick toward Byrne, SAY IT AIN'T SO!!! I'd like to ask Byrne how his own medicine tastes.
Taylor you are a joke, and so is Lobster Johnson, its also a comic book, chill out, Lobster is a great tribute to the pulp fiction era of the 20's-40's, and you need to check out a few more mignola projects before you say one trick pony, just because that particular pony went on to be a thorobred doesn't mean the farm stopped trying to enter other pony's!