It may be the Year of the Horse, but Dark Horse is setting this up to be the Year of the Lobster. Yup, LoJo is back!
Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Illustrated by Tonci ZonjicA Manhattan sporting event goes terribly wrong as the ref is killed in front of a live audience by two crazed—and seemingly bulletproof—wrestlers. Who is behind this new reign of terror?
Brian: Are there finer words strung together on a cold winter’s day than “Lobster Johnson” and “Tonci Zonjic?” Today there aren’t, as we get the first installment of a new 5-part miniseries, “Get the Lobster!” So, David, how did Mr. Zonjic’s return to the pulp hero treat you?
David: From the cover to the last page, this is guaranteed to be one of the best looking books of the week. Tonci Zonjic is a complete and utter art beast, and him being the regular artist on LoJo is the character and his books’ greatest attribute. Zonjic could draw damn near anything you could think of and I’d be absolutely riveted, perhaps especially stories of completely bonkers wrestlers like Kiril and Devil Dwarf going on a crime spree. As per usual, this issue was hardly about LoJo – although it is building a lot more about that here – but really setting up the world and situation with the characters we know (both good and bad) and one very large and one very small bad boys, all of whom Zonjic makes resonate with us as readers.
Brian, this is a really great looking comic.
Brian: I couldn’t agree more. Every single panel was constructed perfectly, and every brush stroke purposeful. This is a comic that looks great, but does so without being flashy or showy.
Let’s start with the wrestlers. This sequence was easily my favorite in the issue – I’m a sucker for pro wrestling, especially in comics – it really set the tone for the rest of the issue, which seems a little more amped up than past LoJo stories have been. The gunfire comes quick and plentiful, and it doesn’t really let up all issue long.
This sequence also begins the long con at the heart of the issue, to get the Lobster out in the open. All in all, it was a pretty ingenious way to start the mini and to bring us back into the world he occupies.
David: I loved the part with Devil Dwarf hanging out the window firing a Thompson. That was amazing, and I could read a comic just of that.
Now, the thing that throws me off about this, and it easily could be me not remembering exactly what happened before, but why is Cindy Tynan writing an expose on the Lobster? Do you remember?
And it doesn’t seem like they’re really trying to get him in the open, as the shrouded men on the roof at the end are clearly trying to make something else happen until the police show up. It seems to me that they’re trying to make him seem like a villain more than anything. It is an interesting turn for the series, and I have to wonder if this is them finally trying to shine some light on who and what LoJo is.
Brian: I don’t know why Cindy is doing an expose on the Lobster. I mean, she’s a reporter, and the truth about him might be more enticing to her than being in LoJo’s good graces.
That said – we, the reader, really don’t know who he is so I get why she’d be doing such a piece. Maybe she is using the threat of exposure as an invitation to the inner circle? We’ll see.
You mentioned Devil Dwarf beforehand and, by the end of the issue, he has been unmasked to reveal…what exactly? He appears to have a heavily operated upon head but, beyond that, we’re given no real clues to who he really is. Who or what do you think Devil Dwarf is?
David: You know, I have no idea. The way the issue ended it seemed like they wanted us to recognize him, but I honestly do not. I think he’s just a dude, but a rabid, little dude. So…I got nothin’. He’s awesome though, and I apologize in advance if I missed who he really is! Do you have thoughts on him?
Continued belowBrian: Not really, but I do think his pairing with Kiril is instructive. Kiril took, what, a dozen close range bullets before going down? He clearly isn’t “just” a man. I think the same goes for Devil Dwarf; something has been altered, manipulated, to make him into the rabid little man he is.
Aside from the bad guys, it appears that the Lobster’s supporting cast has been expanded as well, and their new digs is pretty impressive. It seems to me like this is just about as good as it gets for ol’ LoJo – he has a team working beneath him and a place to hide from the authorities. The wheels have to start coming off at some point, right?
David: Oh right, he’s definitely not “just” a man. I just meant he’s a rabid little dude in that he’s not someone we know. He’s certainly been altered, and is definitely a device of sorts for drawing out THE CLAW. Just a particularly awesome one.
As for the cast and the place they visit, I could be mistaken but I think all of the cast and the new digs have been seen before (either in previous issues of LoJo or in B.P.R.D.), but it is great seeing everyone together. If I remember correctly, and I get the feeling we’ll have something to really highlight his history soon, I think the team just kind of falls apart after LoJo gets in deep in World War II. I can’t remember where, but I think Henry walks us through exactly what happens in an issue of B.P.R.D.
But who knows how long they’ll have this last. In terms of LoJo centric comics, we could be years from 1939’s death of LoJo coming. If they’re the quality of this one, I hope that’s the case.
Brian: I agree. Let’s slap a grade on this baby. I’m feeling like this an 8, all day long.
David: Agreed. This is just a damn fine comic book adventure, with phenomenal work by Zonjic in particular. Welcome back LoJo.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – Buy
