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Lobster Johnson
Lobster Johnson, Vol. 1: The Iron Prometheus
After years of captivating fans from the pages of Hellboy and B.P.R.D., the pulp-style adventures of Lobster Johnson take the limelight in this collection of the Lobster's first solo series. Written and featuring a cover by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, and drawn by Jason Armstrong (Ferro City, The Sensational Spider-Man), Lobster Johnson: The Iron Prometheus is a wild ride full of fearsome monsters, mad scientists, and threats from the world beyond.
* Collects Lobster Johnson: Iron Prometheus #1-5, sketchbook section, plus The Secret History of Lobster Johnson.
* "This is pure pulp action-adventure fun. It's like Indiana Jones meets the Rocketeer meets the Shadow meets Doc Savage"--Wizard Magazine
* Collects Lobster Johnson: Iron Prometheus #1-5, sketchbook section, plus The Secret History of Lobster Johnson.
* "This is pure pulp action-adventure fun. It's like Indiana Jones meets the Rocketeer meets the Shadow meets Doc Savage"--Wizard Magazine
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2008
19 people are currently reading
743 people want to read
About the author
Mike Mignola
1,873 books2,543 followersMike Mignola was born September 16, 1960 in Berkeley, California and grew up in nearby Oakland. His fascination with ghosts and monsters began at an early age (he doesn't remember why) and reading Dracula at age 13 introduced him to Victorian literature and folklore from which he has never recovered.
In 1982, hoping to find a way to draw monsters for a living, he moved to New York City and began working for Marvel Comics, first as a (very terrible) inker and then as an artist on comics like Rocket Raccoon, Alpha Flight and The Hulk. By the late 80s he had begun to develop his signature style (thin lines, clunky shapes and lots of black) and moved onto higher profile commercial projects like Cosmic Odyssey (1988) and Gotham by Gaslight (1989) for DC Comics, and the not-so-commercial Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (1990) for Marvel. In 1992, he drew the comic book adaptation of the film Bram Stoker's Dracula for Topps Comics.
In 1993, Mike moved to Dark Horse comics and created Hellboy, a half-demon occult detective who may or may not be the Beast of the Apocalypse. While the first story line (Seed of Destruction, 1994) was co-written by John Byrne, Mike has continued writing the series himself. There are, at this moment, 13 Hellboy graphic novel collections (with more on the way), several spin-off titles (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien and Witchfinder), three anthologies of prose stories, several novels, two animated films and two live-action films staring Ron Perlman. Hellboy has earned numerous comic industry awards and is published in a great many countries.
Mike also created the award-winning comic book The Amazing Screw-on Head and has co-written two novels (Baltimore, or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire and Joe Golem and the Drowning City) with best-selling author Christopher Golden.
Mike worked (very briefly) with Francis Ford Coppola on his film Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), was a production designer on the Disney film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and was visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro on Blade II (2002), Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). He lives somewhere in Southern California with his wife, daughter, a lot of books and a cat.
In 1982, hoping to find a way to draw monsters for a living, he moved to New York City and began working for Marvel Comics, first as a (very terrible) inker and then as an artist on comics like Rocket Raccoon, Alpha Flight and The Hulk. By the late 80s he had begun to develop his signature style (thin lines, clunky shapes and lots of black) and moved onto higher profile commercial projects like Cosmic Odyssey (1988) and Gotham by Gaslight (1989) for DC Comics, and the not-so-commercial Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser (1990) for Marvel. In 1992, he drew the comic book adaptation of the film Bram Stoker's Dracula for Topps Comics.
In 1993, Mike moved to Dark Horse comics and created Hellboy, a half-demon occult detective who may or may not be the Beast of the Apocalypse. While the first story line (Seed of Destruction, 1994) was co-written by John Byrne, Mike has continued writing the series himself. There are, at this moment, 13 Hellboy graphic novel collections (with more on the way), several spin-off titles (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson, Abe Sapien and Witchfinder), three anthologies of prose stories, several novels, two animated films and two live-action films staring Ron Perlman. Hellboy has earned numerous comic industry awards and is published in a great many countries.
Mike also created the award-winning comic book The Amazing Screw-on Head and has co-written two novels (Baltimore, or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire and Joe Golem and the Drowning City) with best-selling author Christopher Golden.
Mike worked (very briefly) with Francis Ford Coppola on his film Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), was a production designer on the Disney film Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) and was visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro on Blade II (2002), Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). He lives somewhere in Southern California with his wife, daughter, a lot of books and a cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
January 1, 2019
Has the same feel as Hellboy but set in the pulp era of the thirties. Lobster Johnson has to take on Nazis, yeti monks, and advanced Atlantean technology. This was my favorite of the 5 volumes published so far as the later volumes are more gangster oriented. Jason Armstrong's art is just OK. It's too clunky for me.
April 18, 2020
This is the first Lobster Johnson book, a pulp/noir superhero book set in New York of the 1930's in the same universe as Mignola's Hellboy. The Lobster doesn't have any super-powers; he's just a costumed crime fighter relying on his strength, knowledge, and resources to fight evil. He has a secret base and loyal sidekicks and all of the trappings. It's a terrific homage to the genre; he would have fit right in with Doc Savage and The Spider and The Avenger and all of their brothers-in-arms. I was not as fond of Jason Armstrong's art as I was of Mignola's Hellboy, but I loved the read.
December 15, 2019
This graphic novel combines the action of 1930s pulp novels with supernatural horror. The art is fantastic and the situations the characters are put in are pretty crazy. However, I wasn't very happy with the villain, who is a Fu Manchu type of Asian villain. The creators admit that in designing the character, they were going for a Yellow Peril type character. It doesn't look very good when you have an all white cast fighting against an Asian threat.
February 17, 2022
Nice read that combines a Pulp era feel with a nice comic style hero. Recommended
September 16, 2016
Lobster Johnson is a Mike Mignola work in the vein of Hellboy. The series is rather confusing, in terms of it's story and has a varied cast of villains from "The Devil" to Nazi's. Lobster Johnson himself, may be a member of the BPRD, but it is never really stated.
I enjoyed most of the Hellboy works I have read, but this one just didn't do it for me. The first problem was the story itself. While it is action oriented the sheer cast of characters from the Iron Man wanna-be in his VES suit to Lobster himself. Johnson seems to be a man, but he has this lobster claw symbol on his hand that he can use to brand or hurt enemies. Yeah, it is weird. He also uses guns and seems a good fighter. But again the story is all over the place. While the gist is using a power named Viril, a sorcerer calling himself the Devil is trying to use the Viril power to create an army of demons (though he calls them dragons). Along the way it seems the Nazi's want the VES suit. The rest I'll allow you to figure out if you ever read this.
The artwork, while similar to Mignola's style isn't the same. I like Mignola's unique style and enjoy the full splash pages. This artist whilst mimicking the style never really matches Mignola in bringing the characters and the background to life. It has a very pulp noir feel to it. From the settings, to the muted colors to the style of the clothes and dialogue it has the hallmarks of a 1940's serial novel.
While this is by no means a bad comic, it never quite measures up to the rest of the Mignola works I've read so far. Thus due to the not-so-great art style and the lack of a tightly structured story that never really explains who is who and what their motivations are beyond a generic "Oh he's bad" and "oh he's good" concept. Thus this one gets 2 stars. It's merely ok and good for any fan of BPRD/Hellboy...everyone else? I won't recommend this unless you have a soft spot for pulp noir style tales.
I enjoyed most of the Hellboy works I have read, but this one just didn't do it for me. The first problem was the story itself. While it is action oriented the sheer cast of characters from the Iron Man wanna-be in his VES suit to Lobster himself. Johnson seems to be a man, but he has this lobster claw symbol on his hand that he can use to brand or hurt enemies. Yeah, it is weird. He also uses guns and seems a good fighter. But again the story is all over the place. While the gist is using a power named Viril, a sorcerer calling himself the Devil is trying to use the Viril power to create an army of demons (though he calls them dragons). Along the way it seems the Nazi's want the VES suit. The rest I'll allow you to figure out if you ever read this.
The artwork, while similar to Mignola's style isn't the same. I like Mignola's unique style and enjoy the full splash pages. This artist whilst mimicking the style never really matches Mignola in bringing the characters and the background to life. It has a very pulp noir feel to it. From the settings, to the muted colors to the style of the clothes and dialogue it has the hallmarks of a 1940's serial novel.
While this is by no means a bad comic, it never quite measures up to the rest of the Mignola works I've read so far. Thus due to the not-so-great art style and the lack of a tightly structured story that never really explains who is who and what their motivations are beyond a generic "Oh he's bad" and "oh he's good" concept. Thus this one gets 2 stars. It's merely ok and good for any fan of BPRD/Hellboy...everyone else? I won't recommend this unless you have a soft spot for pulp noir style tales.
October 12, 2021
A decent spin-off series emerging from Hellboy.
The story takes place in the 30s and has a pulp/noir vibe to it. The artwork definitely adds to the overall atmosphere. The writing, however, is not Mignola's best. He has given Lobster Johnson different quirks, but has forgot to give him a character. After all the crazy adventures in Hellboy and BPRD series, this one feels a little pale.
Despite its flaws, the book is still enjoyable.
The story takes place in the 30s and has a pulp/noir vibe to it. The artwork definitely adds to the overall atmosphere. The writing, however, is not Mignola's best. He has given Lobster Johnson different quirks, but has forgot to give him a character. After all the crazy adventures in Hellboy and BPRD series, this one feels a little pale.
Despite its flaws, the book is still enjoyable.
August 17, 2020
Interesting start to a series dedicated to Lobster Johnson, an anti-hero tribute to those superheroes of the 40s-50s U.S. comic books. Its retro, it tries to tie-up nicely in the Hellboy universe with all the Memna Sah story, it might be a money grab, who knows. We'll see. In any case, that WWII nazi-covert-operations vibe is good enough for this one to keep reading the Lobster Johnson spin-off.
September 4, 2015
The devil is after you!
This is where it started, well not really, but this is where the story of Lobster Johnson began in terms of more than just a oddball character that showed up in the Hellboy books. I read Iron Prometheus after the newer trades so this one does feel a bit different, oh and Arcudi is not here yet so you really feel what he brings to the table.
World: Jason Armstrong is a good artist, he has the ability to illustrate the book in a style similar to Mignola, I like that. The framing and the line work and the colors are wonderful making this book pretty in the Mignola sense. The world here is wonderful, there is so much world building here that it seeps into every panel. The Hyperborean storyline is always something that I enjoy about Mignola and having this be the first Lobster story is wonderful and ties it firmly into the Mignolaverse.
Story: Mysterious just like the Lobster. Full of intrigue, Lovecraftian, Nazis and dragon monsters. The pacing is good, and the amount of world building here is wonderful. I don't want to give too much away as I found the story interesting. However I did feel that sometimes the action sequences were a bit unclear as to what was happening, I think this is not intentional, I think in Armstrong and Mignola's mind it was very cinematic and sometimes I feel the art doesn't do a good enough job of showing what Mignola is trying to show (but this also goes for his own art). The snippets of the history of the Lobster were great, offering even more background on the mysterious character. It was a fun read, but lacked character development and also the introduction of the team was a bit too nonchalant, this is where the absence of Arcudi is mostly felt. It's a wonderful tale but lacks the connection that the reader wants with the crew and the Lobster.
Characters: Full force playing on the mystery of the Lobster, which is good as I like how his identity and his origins is still a mystery to the reader. Mignola and Arcudi in later books has done well in sustaining this mystery without it feeling dragged out. However, character development is lacking this arc, sure there is the Vril suit, the professor and the daughter which get a big chunk of development, but the main cast of the Lobster and crew get none. Lobster gets the newpaper articles which is great, but the rest of the team get jack and I wish there was more for the reader to connect with this team as in later arcs they are also a strong part of the story. Good, not great.
This being the first arc it's understandable that the bulk of the story was serving world building, as this is Mignola's forte. I do miss Arcudi this time around and I see now what he brings to the table, character depth. I still highly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to see where the story will take us.
Onward to the next book!
This is where it started, well not really, but this is where the story of Lobster Johnson began in terms of more than just a oddball character that showed up in the Hellboy books. I read Iron Prometheus after the newer trades so this one does feel a bit different, oh and Arcudi is not here yet so you really feel what he brings to the table.
World: Jason Armstrong is a good artist, he has the ability to illustrate the book in a style similar to Mignola, I like that. The framing and the line work and the colors are wonderful making this book pretty in the Mignola sense. The world here is wonderful, there is so much world building here that it seeps into every panel. The Hyperborean storyline is always something that I enjoy about Mignola and having this be the first Lobster story is wonderful and ties it firmly into the Mignolaverse.
Story: Mysterious just like the Lobster. Full of intrigue, Lovecraftian, Nazis and dragon monsters. The pacing is good, and the amount of world building here is wonderful. I don't want to give too much away as I found the story interesting. However I did feel that sometimes the action sequences were a bit unclear as to what was happening, I think this is not intentional, I think in Armstrong and Mignola's mind it was very cinematic and sometimes I feel the art doesn't do a good enough job of showing what Mignola is trying to show (but this also goes for his own art). The snippets of the history of the Lobster were great, offering even more background on the mysterious character. It was a fun read, but lacked character development and also the introduction of the team was a bit too nonchalant, this is where the absence of Arcudi is mostly felt. It's a wonderful tale but lacks the connection that the reader wants with the crew and the Lobster.
Characters: Full force playing on the mystery of the Lobster, which is good as I like how his identity and his origins is still a mystery to the reader. Mignola and Arcudi in later books has done well in sustaining this mystery without it feeling dragged out. However, character development is lacking this arc, sure there is the Vril suit, the professor and the daughter which get a big chunk of development, but the main cast of the Lobster and crew get none. Lobster gets the newpaper articles which is great, but the rest of the team get jack and I wish there was more for the reader to connect with this team as in later arcs they are also a strong part of the story. Good, not great.
This being the first arc it's understandable that the bulk of the story was serving world building, as this is Mignola's forte. I do miss Arcudi this time around and I see now what he brings to the table, character depth. I still highly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to see where the story will take us.
Onward to the next book!
October 27, 2020
(4 of 5 for the perfect start for the legend of Claw justice)
I like Hellboyverse, it is so complex but perfectly interconnected. One of the major parts is Lobster Johnson's line. He is basically human Hellboy, fighting evil - from gangsters to spies, nazis to mysterious and supernatural beings. He specializes in human criminals but often got involved in supernatural matters, on the contrary Hellboy specializes in supernatural but often needs to confront human criminals. Together they cover the whole spectrum with one flaw - their time of activity overlapped only a bit. And those guys would be great partners. The best (no hard feeling Abe, you complement Hellboy, but those two would by double power, many times desperately needed).
Anyway, the first book about Lobster is fun, action-packed, full of Hellboyverse lore, playful and visually fitting.
I like Hellboyverse, it is so complex but perfectly interconnected. One of the major parts is Lobster Johnson's line. He is basically human Hellboy, fighting evil - from gangsters to spies, nazis to mysterious and supernatural beings. He specializes in human criminals but often got involved in supernatural matters, on the contrary Hellboy specializes in supernatural but often needs to confront human criminals. Together they cover the whole spectrum with one flaw - their time of activity overlapped only a bit. And those guys would be great partners. The best (no hard feeling Abe, you complement Hellboy, but those two would by double power, many times desperately needed).
Anyway, the first book about Lobster is fun, action-packed, full of Hellboyverse lore, playful and visually fitting.
April 11, 2009
Stunning blast of fast paced pulp. Weird technology, giant Nazi subs, the Yeti, ancient conspiracies and lots of action. Ridiculously sublime entertainment. Fans of 30’s pulp like the Shadow, Doc Savage etc. need this.
January 3, 2011
That was extremely painful. Giving something by Mignola only 2 stars. Painful indeed. Because I love Mike Mignola in the same way I had high school crushes. But it seems that in the same way my affection for him is erroding over time and becoming blurry, only hints of why I orginially thought him a genius. Reading this rather awful book was like finding your high school crush on facebook 15 years later to see them still single, hagard, their profile picture of them with a drink in hand, beaten up by one too many nights out at the bar, and having a different photo album to commemorate each of their six month long relationships, and making status updates about regretting last night's decisions. It is disenchanting. And a complete disappointment.
It was the early 90's when I became enamored of Mike Mignola for his work on Gotham by Gaslight. I was young then, too young to fully grasp what was happening within the book on all levels, but I was dran to the artwork and the dark imagery. It was something else entirely, not a superhero book, but something else, something sinister lurking in the shadows behind the mainstream melodrama. And I liked it although I wasn't entirely sure why at the time, outside of the fact that the book was dark and I liked dark things because I was that teenager- listening to Slayer, reading Poe, and watching Army of Darkness.
When I came across his Hellboy series I completely got it for the first time. I was a little older. I understood it completely and loved it more for the art and the spare style of storytelling, the lean dialogue. It was thin, almost emaciated. I like it for that because it seemed to speak louder for these things.
And now this. This book. This solo Lobster tale. I just didn't get it and could not care for any of it. He left the artwork to someone else, an inferior artist with no sense of the hard edges Mignola can craft. An artist without a sense of contrast and without a sense of shadow. An artist inferior to a host of other highly stylized artists of the same vein. It was hard to push through most of it, the seemingly lazy style of inks. And then the story showed more bloat than I have ever seen in a Mignola book. A dead body that had been sitting in a trunk of a car in a humid Tennessee back road. Grown gassy and full in the heat. Too much ialogue and still not enough of an explanation of the story. Too much action and not enough finesse. It left me wanting on all levels.
I understand the idea of the throwback comic book. I don't like it, but I understand it. I wanted to like Tom Strong more than I did, but just could not in good conscience. I feel the same way about the Lobster- it'smissing too much. It can't recapture the glory days of golden age books and it isn't even creating anything new. It's a pale imitation.
It was the early 90's when I became enamored of Mike Mignola for his work on Gotham by Gaslight. I was young then, too young to fully grasp what was happening within the book on all levels, but I was dran to the artwork and the dark imagery. It was something else entirely, not a superhero book, but something else, something sinister lurking in the shadows behind the mainstream melodrama. And I liked it although I wasn't entirely sure why at the time, outside of the fact that the book was dark and I liked dark things because I was that teenager- listening to Slayer, reading Poe, and watching Army of Darkness.
When I came across his Hellboy series I completely got it for the first time. I was a little older. I understood it completely and loved it more for the art and the spare style of storytelling, the lean dialogue. It was thin, almost emaciated. I like it for that because it seemed to speak louder for these things.
And now this. This book. This solo Lobster tale. I just didn't get it and could not care for any of it. He left the artwork to someone else, an inferior artist with no sense of the hard edges Mignola can craft. An artist without a sense of contrast and without a sense of shadow. An artist inferior to a host of other highly stylized artists of the same vein. It was hard to push through most of it, the seemingly lazy style of inks. And then the story showed more bloat than I have ever seen in a Mignola book. A dead body that had been sitting in a trunk of a car in a humid Tennessee back road. Grown gassy and full in the heat. Too much ialogue and still not enough of an explanation of the story. Too much action and not enough finesse. It left me wanting on all levels.
I understand the idea of the throwback comic book. I don't like it, but I understand it. I wanted to like Tom Strong more than I did, but just could not in good conscience. I feel the same way about the Lobster- it'smissing too much. It can't recapture the glory days of golden age books and it isn't even creating anything new. It's a pale imitation.
May 31, 2025
3.5 Stars
The first adventure of Lobster Johnson features Nazis as well as monsters and the pulpy action you'd expect. So far a great addition to the Hellboy Universe.
The first adventure of Lobster Johnson features Nazis as well as monsters and the pulpy action you'd expect. So far a great addition to the Hellboy Universe.
June 2, 2008
What's better than a guy named "Lobster Johnson" that kills nazis and has a lobster claw as an insignia, which he slaps on his victims' foreheads?! NOTHING!
June 20, 2019
Zrovna Humr Johnson mi z Hellboyova universa dost sednul.
April 28, 2019
Completed my Lobster run. Ups and downs. I feel like this volume really sums it all up. Cool art, fun story just never hits the highs Mignola has given me previously.
January 14, 2021
This is a fun first volume of backstory for the almost mythical Lobster Johnson character from the Hellboy universe. This also covers some of the history of Memnan Saa and what his endeavours in the 50's where compared to modern day. I have a feeling Johnson and this Lo-Pan type with finish each other off somehow (even though I think we know how both of their stories end already).
I'm not sure how much sense these comics would make sense to someone who hadn't read the BPRD graphic novels aswell, as this almost serves as a prequel for certain characters. But I'm enjoying it so far.
Sad volume 3 & 6 just don't exist but whateva
I'm not sure how much sense these comics would make sense to someone who hadn't read the BPRD graphic novels aswell, as this almost serves as a prequel for certain characters. But I'm enjoying it so far.
Sad volume 3 & 6 just don't exist but whateva
December 23, 2022
Příjemné překvapení! Parádní kresba a dobrý příběh. Kresba mi hodně sedla - něco mezi Mignolou a Darwinem Cookem. Nepostrádá to tu správnou hranatost a zjednodušení a zároveň je v tom spousta detailů. Líbil se mi i příběh. Má to sympatické postavy a poměrně jednoduchou zápletku, která zároveň poodhaluje karty k sérii Ú.P.V.O. Nemá to v podstatě žádné hluché místo a celý tenhle akční nářez jsem slupnul jako malinu. Velká spokojenost!
March 19, 2018
I am 100% present for pulp revivals, Nazis, yetis, gasmasks, mad scientists, tales of Hyperborea, super suits, brains in vats, the works.
July 5, 2021
So disappointed in this. Too much violence and too confusing as to what was even happening. I will not be continuing this series.
February 20, 2023
Silly name for a hero with vague powers. Anum's Fork is something that I want to look into more closely.
January 9, 2026
Quizás el mejor de toda la serie
September 1, 2017
In the 1960s, Marvel comics was widely known to have artists draw stories based on an outline, and then have Stan Lee comic in and write the dialog and narrative boxes to finish up the comics. It made for a particular style of comics that most modern readers might call "stilted". But it was a historically important style that helped propel the industry into something else. I don't believe this method is often employed in the 21st century, as it's much easier for an artist to draw action from a story than a writer to create a story just from the action.
This volume of Lobster Johnson Feels Like it was written art first, story second.
Jason Armstrong's art is five star here. I was barely through the first chapter of this volume when I realized the story wasn't going to be good. But the art was so incredible, I kept flipping back through the book, and not just because it was hard to keep track of what's going on.
I read this pretty soon after reading Mignola's Rise of the Black Flame, which is mind-numbingly slow. This, by contrast, reads like the world's most well-drawn and colored flipbook. There is no breathing room in this story. I love when a story like this leaves you breathless, as though you'd just run through an obstacle course full of monsters. Sadly, this felt like the breathlessness of finding yourself floating in space when the last thing you can remember is looking for cereal at the supermarket.
As an art book, this is an A+ Must Purchase collection. As a story, it's completely forgettable.
I would recommend this for die-hard Mignola fans, Hellboy completists, people who care more about art than story, and people who like Nazi villains to show up in stories for no discernable reason other than they must gain control of a magical amulet/suit/helmet/etc.
This volume of Lobster Johnson Feels Like it was written art first, story second.
Jason Armstrong's art is five star here. I was barely through the first chapter of this volume when I realized the story wasn't going to be good. But the art was so incredible, I kept flipping back through the book, and not just because it was hard to keep track of what's going on.
I read this pretty soon after reading Mignola's Rise of the Black Flame, which is mind-numbingly slow. This, by contrast, reads like the world's most well-drawn and colored flipbook. There is no breathing room in this story. I love when a story like this leaves you breathless, as though you'd just run through an obstacle course full of monsters. Sadly, this felt like the breathlessness of finding yourself floating in space when the last thing you can remember is looking for cereal at the supermarket.
As an art book, this is an A+ Must Purchase collection. As a story, it's completely forgettable.
I would recommend this for die-hard Mignola fans, Hellboy completists, people who care more about art than story, and people who like Nazi villains to show up in stories for no discernable reason other than they must gain control of a magical amulet/suit/helmet/etc.
August 12, 2018
Justice doled out by the Burning Claw of the Lobstaaaaaaaa! For my taste, the Lobstaa is the most fun especially because it's set in pre-WWII America: the primary period of pure pulp! The writing is the best you'll get out of UNAIDED Mignola which is a compliment. He excels in "on the surface" stories packed with action and resolution, unburdened by delving into depths of character/story/psychological nuance. When reviewing one of his titles I find it helpful to reference his "Mignolaverse" in general:
What makes that long list of titles and issues within is the interconnectedness of (nearly) all of them and the finality of the story-lines in which he doesn't shamefully resurrect characters- even though he keeps some are just as "alive" in hell. I love when he goes back before some of them die to give the character more action and depth like Doyle did in "The Hound of the Baskervilles".
Armstrong replicates Mignola's art but I'm only okay with that as A HUGE FAN OF PURE MIGNOLART. Many do the same with Guy Davis' art in other titles within the aforementioned "mignolaverse" but I also love Guy Davis (who also has many issues of his own) for his unapologetic art in the vein of (not copying) Sergio Aragonés!
I have a huge bone to pick with Mickey Migs when he puts his name as the top writing credit on the books he doesn't do alone because all he does is read legends and insert the interesting characters in his continuum who are then made unique and sink or swim by the likes of masters like JOHN ARCUDI. He owns up to this if you read between the lines of his praises for those writers yet still takes the top credit when he should put "Mike Mignola's (The Books Name) -Written by..."). There is obviously a better way but you get the idea. If I could make the decisions I'd have him drawing a non-monthly title while giving input on the writing until he retires.
*If you enjoy this check out DC/Vertigo's SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE*
What makes that long list of titles and issues within is the interconnectedness of (nearly) all of them and the finality of the story-lines in which he doesn't shamefully resurrect characters- even though he keeps some are just as "alive" in hell. I love when he goes back before some of them die to give the character more action and depth like Doyle did in "The Hound of the Baskervilles".
Armstrong replicates Mignola's art but I'm only okay with that as A HUGE FAN OF PURE MIGNOLART. Many do the same with Guy Davis' art in other titles within the aforementioned "mignolaverse" but I also love Guy Davis (who also has many issues of his own) for his unapologetic art in the vein of (not copying) Sergio Aragonés!
I have a huge bone to pick with Mickey Migs when he puts his name as the top writing credit on the books he doesn't do alone because all he does is read legends and insert the interesting characters in his continuum who are then made unique and sink or swim by the likes of masters like JOHN ARCUDI. He owns up to this if you read between the lines of his praises for those writers yet still takes the top credit when he should put "Mike Mignola's (The Books Name) -Written by..."). There is obviously a better way but you get the idea. If I could make the decisions I'd have him drawing a non-monthly title while giving input on the writing until he retires.
*If you enjoy this check out DC/Vertigo's SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE*
July 14, 2008
This Hellboy spin-off, written by creator Mike Mignola, really has the feel of an old pulp adventure. Lots of weird set-pieces take precedence over character, as we see what Lobster Johnson does and how he does it, but don't learn anything about who he is. Having said that, we do delve deeper into the supporting cast, although the emphasis is still very firmly on plot. The art, by Jason Armstrong, does a great job of communicating the spirit of Mignola's own work, but still has a clear style of its own.
Unfortunately, by tying the events from this book into current developments in the BPRD series, the story sacrifices a certain amount of closure. What it gains in being part of the overall Hellboy universe, it loses as a standalone title. Although I may be misjudging the book, since I do know that elements carry over into BPRD and Hellboy; if I wasn't aware of that, I might have found this one to have a perfectly fine, if slightly ambiguous, ending.
Unfortunately, by tying the events from this book into current developments in the BPRD series, the story sacrifices a certain amount of closure. What it gains in being part of the overall Hellboy universe, it loses as a standalone title. Although I may be misjudging the book, since I do know that elements carry over into BPRD and Hellboy; if I wasn't aware of that, I might have found this one to have a perfectly fine, if slightly ambiguous, ending.
October 15, 2009
Great mix of pulp action and Mike Mignola's special brand of mystery and horror. Great to see the Lobster in solo action and the text on his mythical publishing history was brilliant.
Only problems are that Johnson is so mysterious, he can come across as a bit flat and so much of Mignola's stuff has become so interconnected there were a couple bits that seemed to hinting at other stories of his that I felt I had missed something.
As the Hellboy-verse gets bigger, it seems that less effort is made for a story to stand alone and the writer assumes you've read everything.
This would still make a great movie though.
Only problems are that Johnson is so mysterious, he can come across as a bit flat and so much of Mignola's stuff has become so interconnected there were a couple bits that seemed to hinting at other stories of his that I felt I had missed something.
As the Hellboy-verse gets bigger, it seems that less effort is made for a story to stand alone and the writer assumes you've read everything.
This would still make a great movie though.
July 31, 2023
Reading all of Mike Mignola's Lobter Johnson Series for Reddit Fantasy's 2023 Bingo Square Superheroes. The whole series qualifies for hard mode as it is not related to DC or Marvel. This review is covers issue #1-#5 the Iron Prometheus arc.
Iron Prometheus #1 - 4⭐
Germans? Jeez I don't know much, but I read the papers. That Hitler looks like trouble, and I bet he'd love to get a hold of this suit.
Lobster Johnson follows a trail that leads to Mr. Jim Sacks, current wearer of the Iron Prometheus, a Vril suit so useful in combat, we already know various groups are going to be after it. Lobster Johnson has to protect the suit and rescue the scientist who created it, and his daughter, because that's what heroes do.
Iron Prometheus #2 - 4⭐
The only thing you're going to see, Doctor, is the Burning Hand of OVERDUE JUSTICE.
Lobster Johnson and Mr. Sacks raid an enemy base hoping to rescue the inventor and his daughter, but encounter a surprising amount of resistance.
Iron Prometheus #3 - 4⭐
Anum was destroyed, but the secret of how to harness the Vril was pass down to the first men, the Hyperboreans. That Power made Hyperborea a Paradise.
Lobster Johnson now has to rescue Jim Sacks, along with the Professor and his daughter, all of whom are not in a very good state, to put it mildly.
Iron Prometheus #4 - 4⭐
The Power in evil hands can only produce evil, but you are a GOOD man, Jim.
It is revealed that the big bad guy is Hyperborean, and his plan is to harness the Vril energy to create "dragons" so he can begin conquest of the world and usher in a new Hyperborean age! Unfortunately for them the ghost professor persuades Jim it's not the power, so much as WHO wields it that matters, something that reminded me powerfully of this part from Captain America: The First Avenger
Iron Prometheus #5 - 4⭐
What are your bullets to me? I have the lives of a cat. And the patience of a serpent.
The Hypoborean Villain is something else! He's branded and taken control of Lobster, who may or may not realize this. The Nazis are in play! There's submarines and a rather Noir-ish end to this arc.
Iron Prometheus #1 - 4⭐
Germans? Jeez I don't know much, but I read the papers. That Hitler looks like trouble, and I bet he'd love to get a hold of this suit.
Lobster Johnson follows a trail that leads to Mr. Jim Sacks, current wearer of the Iron Prometheus, a Vril suit so useful in combat, we already know various groups are going to be after it. Lobster Johnson has to protect the suit and rescue the scientist who created it, and his daughter, because that's what heroes do.
Iron Prometheus #2 - 4⭐
The only thing you're going to see, Doctor, is the Burning Hand of OVERDUE JUSTICE.
Lobster Johnson and Mr. Sacks raid an enemy base hoping to rescue the inventor and his daughter, but encounter a surprising amount of resistance.
Iron Prometheus #3 - 4⭐
Anum was destroyed, but the secret of how to harness the Vril was pass down to the first men, the Hyperboreans. That Power made Hyperborea a Paradise.
Lobster Johnson now has to rescue Jim Sacks, along with the Professor and his daughter, all of whom are not in a very good state, to put it mildly.
Iron Prometheus #4 - 4⭐
The Power in evil hands can only produce evil, but you are a GOOD man, Jim.
It is revealed that the big bad guy is Hyperborean, and his plan is to harness the Vril energy to create "dragons" so he can begin conquest of the world and usher in a new Hyperborean age! Unfortunately for them the ghost professor persuades Jim it's not the power, so much as WHO wields it that matters, something that reminded me powerfully of this part from Captain America: The First Avenger
Iron Prometheus #5 - 4⭐
What are your bullets to me? I have the lives of a cat. And the patience of a serpent.
The Hypoborean Villain is something else! He's branded and taken control of Lobster, who may or may not realize this. The Nazis are in play! There's submarines and a rather Noir-ish end to this arc.
February 4, 2022
“I like that suit.”
This one has it all – A Yeti, Nazi Cyborgs, Giant Snakes, Floating Brains. You know – the good stuff.
Set in 1930’s New York, Jim Sacks arrives at a friend’s apartment. Jim’s not alone in the apartment. Enter the Yeti and Lobster Johnson, our hero. We’re only on page 4 and it’s already “holy crap” action. Jim enters the fray to dispatch the Yeti. Jim worked as a lab assistant for Professor Gallaragas and his daughter Helena. Jim is now in the possession of a very unique suit. The Vril Energy Suit. Vril being the power of God as long time Hellboy/B.P.R.D readers might know.
More action as The Lobster and Jim cut down would-be assassins. Enter Dr. Waxman and his henchman who has a mechanical claw of his own. Enter Memnan Saa, his giant snakes, and his own agenda regarding Jim’s suit. Exit Dr. Waxman as he is chomped by one of Saa’s snakes. The Lobster and Saa have words. Saa says, “…Never raise a hand against me.”
The Lobster encounters the Professor’s daughter. Jim encounters the Professor or what’s left of him, a floating brain in a jar. The Professor recounts the history of Vril.
Re-enter Memnan Saa with different reptiles this time – a man transformed into a Dragon. Jim falls in battle with the Dragon-Man. But he rises again, much more than human. The Dragon-Man has no chance against the transformed Jim. Meanwhile, the Lobster shoots Saa and they have another confrontation.
And there’s still more - fighting a Mandrill in the sewers, more Nazi fighting action (underwater combat this time), more Yeti fighting action, and Lobster Johnson manages to survive the final pages as does the Professor’s daughter.
Needless to say but I’ll say it, Great Pulp action!!! Where’s the movie?
This one has it all – A Yeti, Nazi Cyborgs, Giant Snakes, Floating Brains. You know – the good stuff.
Set in 1930’s New York, Jim Sacks arrives at a friend’s apartment. Jim’s not alone in the apartment. Enter the Yeti and Lobster Johnson, our hero. We’re only on page 4 and it’s already “holy crap” action. Jim enters the fray to dispatch the Yeti. Jim worked as a lab assistant for Professor Gallaragas and his daughter Helena. Jim is now in the possession of a very unique suit. The Vril Energy Suit. Vril being the power of God as long time Hellboy/B.P.R.D readers might know.
More action as The Lobster and Jim cut down would-be assassins. Enter Dr. Waxman and his henchman who has a mechanical claw of his own. Enter Memnan Saa, his giant snakes, and his own agenda regarding Jim’s suit. Exit Dr. Waxman as he is chomped by one of Saa’s snakes. The Lobster and Saa have words. Saa says, “…Never raise a hand against me.”
The Lobster encounters the Professor’s daughter. Jim encounters the Professor or what’s left of him, a floating brain in a jar. The Professor recounts the history of Vril.
Re-enter Memnan Saa with different reptiles this time – a man transformed into a Dragon. Jim falls in battle with the Dragon-Man. But he rises again, much more than human. The Dragon-Man has no chance against the transformed Jim. Meanwhile, the Lobster shoots Saa and they have another confrontation.
And there’s still more - fighting a Mandrill in the sewers, more Nazi fighting action (underwater combat this time), more Yeti fighting action, and Lobster Johnson manages to survive the final pages as does the Professor’s daughter.
Needless to say but I’ll say it, Great Pulp action!!! Where’s the movie?
March 12, 2021
Series: Lobster Johnson #1
Rating: 5 stars - I loved it!
This is a pulp-style comic focusing on the adventures of Lobster Johnson, who is a minor character frequently mentioned in the Hellboy and B.R.P.D. series. Lobster Johnson is an antihero who takes on Nazis, monks, robots, and the mob.
I have been a huge fan of Lobster Johnson since I first read the Hellboy comics and he was mentioned. Lobster Johnson is a crime fighter who doesn’t follow the rules and has very cheesy lines. He also burns a lobster claw into the head of his victims so they can “Feel the Claw!” Also, Lobster Johnson doesn’t have any special abilities, he is just relying on his own strength, knowledge, and resources to fight evil. He is kind of like Batman in that aspect.
The Lobster’s adventures take place, at least in this volume, at the beginning of WWII. This is before the creation of the B.R.P.D. and before Hellboy comes to earth. The power suit in this one was very interesting and I know it will play a role in future comics (i.e. Sledgehammer 44).
Overall, I really enjoyed this comic about Lobster Johnson. I can’t wait to read the next volume. Also if you are going to read this, don’t take it too seriously because this is supposed to be a pulp-style story and they are never very serious.
You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
Rating: 5 stars - I loved it!
This is a pulp-style comic focusing on the adventures of Lobster Johnson, who is a minor character frequently mentioned in the Hellboy and B.R.P.D. series. Lobster Johnson is an antihero who takes on Nazis, monks, robots, and the mob.
I have been a huge fan of Lobster Johnson since I first read the Hellboy comics and he was mentioned. Lobster Johnson is a crime fighter who doesn’t follow the rules and has very cheesy lines. He also burns a lobster claw into the head of his victims so they can “Feel the Claw!” Also, Lobster Johnson doesn’t have any special abilities, he is just relying on his own strength, knowledge, and resources to fight evil. He is kind of like Batman in that aspect.
The Lobster’s adventures take place, at least in this volume, at the beginning of WWII. This is before the creation of the B.R.P.D. and before Hellboy comes to earth. The power suit in this one was very interesting and I know it will play a role in future comics (i.e. Sledgehammer 44).
Overall, I really enjoyed this comic about Lobster Johnson. I can’t wait to read the next volume. Also if you are going to read this, don’t take it too seriously because this is supposed to be a pulp-style story and they are never very serious.
You can also find my reviews at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
August 22, 2021
Retro story with an amazing aesthetic
Great throwback adventure story with a cool protagonist. The Lobster is a tough and cool character, hunting down and killing Nazi spies in New York, as well as other baddies. Fun mystical adventure. Like a pulp novel from the time, and the storytelling really makes you feel as if The Lobster is some beloved character that you’ve been hearing about forever. Kind of echoes of The Phantom, The Shadow, a little Indiana Jones in there as well.
The one negative feeling it kicked up was the depiction of the big bad in the story. A mysterious Asian man with mysterious Asian styled magic. It reminded me somewhat of the offensive orientalism type of storytelling of that time. It doesn’t have some of the styling of that, offensive speech pattern or other markers…however the dress and style of magic makes me wonder what an Asian individual might feel about this, I hesitate to say whether it should or shouldn’t be considered offensive. Has a weird feel to it. Not sure if I’ll go on to #2 because of it. We shall see.
Great throwback adventure story with a cool protagonist. The Lobster is a tough and cool character, hunting down and killing Nazi spies in New York, as well as other baddies. Fun mystical adventure. Like a pulp novel from the time, and the storytelling really makes you feel as if The Lobster is some beloved character that you’ve been hearing about forever. Kind of echoes of The Phantom, The Shadow, a little Indiana Jones in there as well.
The one negative feeling it kicked up was the depiction of the big bad in the story. A mysterious Asian man with mysterious Asian styled magic. It reminded me somewhat of the offensive orientalism type of storytelling of that time. It doesn’t have some of the styling of that, offensive speech pattern or other markers…however the dress and style of magic makes me wonder what an Asian individual might feel about this, I hesitate to say whether it should or shouldn’t be considered offensive. Has a weird feel to it. Not sure if I’ll go on to #2 because of it. We shall see.
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