Lobster Johnson : Metal Monsters of Midtown #2 Early Review
Writer: John Arcudi
Artist: Tonci Zonjic
Publisher: Dark Horse
Release Date: June 29, 2016
Rating: 9 out of 10
Synopsis: Lobster Johnson and the crew return in a three issue mini-series full of metal mayhem!
Our Thoughts: After a series of one-shots, Lobster fans can rejoice at the prospects of a new mini-series! This series picks up directly after the events of “The Forgotten Man” and it throws the reader into the deep end of the pool, in the middle of a showdown between the police, LJ, and giant robots. Fans of the Mignolaverse have a lot of titles to choose from these days, but Lobster Johnson is consistently the most fun. Arcudi does an excellent job of working with the pulp hero and science fiction/horror motifs of the era that the book is set in, yet they are always filtered through a modern storyteller’s lens. The Hemingway via Lester Dent dialogue and tough demeanor are ever present, as are the lovable and less hard-boiled supporting cast.
Tonci Zonjic’s art is the perfect complement to Arcudi’s scripts and Zonjic has become the perennial (if not quintessential) Lobster Johnson artist. His illustrations are reminiscent of Bruce Timm’s Batman and his style captures the 1930’s era heroes and villains with understated detail. Much of the story telling in this issue is script-free, and Zonjic handles the unfolding story with expert technique.
If you have been reluctant to branch off from the BPRD or Abe Sapien, now is the time to give the Lobster the chance he deserves. With connections to the modern tales set in the BPRD-Universe such as the origins of the Zinco Corporation in this issue, Lobster Johnson doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon!
