Review: Lobster Johnson - The Burning Hand #1

Lobster Johnson isquite possibly my favorite character to come from “the pages of Hellboy.” Thereis just something cool and classic about his character, almost as if he were across between Batman (the one that used guns!) and The Phantom (he also uses guns!). Iflike me you were wondering where the follow up to Who Is Jake Ellis was, well it looks like artist Tonci Zonjic wasbusy putting together this throwback pulp inspired book set in the universe ofHellboy.

Our story opens with a couple walking home from a moviedate. They’ve just watched the first Buster Keaton movie with sound, when theycome across a police officer tied to a lamp post and scalped. Before they canflee, ghostly painted Indians try to attack them. The couple corner themselvesat the end of an alley and are about to face certain death when Lobster Johnsonbusts through a window and shoots the crap out of the ghost Indians. The nextday the police are left with a pile of dead “ghost” Indians that are actuallyItalian mobsters. The only person that seems to have a clue as to what’shappening is Cindy Tynan from the Herald Tribune, which could land her in amess of trouble.

Hey you know who’s a great writing team? Mike Mignola andJohn Arcudi! These two didn’t put out a stink all last year and they’re off toa great start with this mini as well. I think it’s some of the smartest storyand business strategy to have a constant flow of mini-series in theHellboyverse. What also makes this book stand out is the attention to thedetail that it pays. Giving readers a historical reference with the BusterKeaton movie is a nice touch and shows that thought and research went into thistimeline.

Since we already know so much about the writing team andtheir numerous talents, I figured I would just move on to the art. If youfollowed me at my pervious site, you’ll know that I really like Tonci Zonjic’swork on Who Is Jake Ellis, but withany creator though you wonder if you’ll enjoy their next work as much.Thankfully Zonjic has another impressive display. His style is a bit differentfor this series as it adapts to the type of story, but his overall style isstill there and still good. With JakeEllis he used a ton of thick lines and solid colors, but with Lobster his line work is much morerefined and the coloring is more fitting of a classic pulp comic than anythingelse.

I know that I gush about the Hellboyverse a lot, but thereis a reason that this franchise has lasted this long… it’s that damn good. Whatother franchise has lasted this long while existing as mini-series and oneshots? I doubt you could come up with another title. If you like Hellboy, crimefighting, pulp or sassy reporters that actually talk like reporters than givethis book a shot. If you don’t like things that are good then pull your headout of your ass and give this book a shot any ways. If anything you should checkit out for the amazing last panel of the book.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi

Art: Tonci Zonjic

Color: Dave Stewart

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Price: $3.50

Release Date: 1/11/2012