Tag Archives: lobster johnson: get the lobster

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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BOOM_Evil_Empire_001_AIt’s a new week of comics and there’s a lot to choose from. Some of the Graphic Policy staff has put our heads together to pick some books we think you’d be doing yourself a favor in checking out. For this week I looked and Andrew’s choices and decided to not double up (I’d of picked a few of his) that way we’re giving you the skinny on a whole bunch of books so you have the best idea of what to check out!

Andrew

Top Pick: Moon Knight #1 (Marvel) – I’ve been looking forward to this number one issue since Marvel first announced it. Though it’s been awhile since I’ve picked up a Moon Knight book, he was one of my favorite characters growing up, so I hope it meets expectations.

Afterlife with Archie #4 (Archie) – I’m pretty confident this is unanimously revered by the team at Graphic Policy headquarters. I’m still blown away that Archie comics took the chance on a mature, violent, and dark Archie series. Exceptional.

Lobster Johnson Get the Lobster #2 (Dark Horse) – I was slightly disappointed with the previous issue (not enough Lobster), but this one redeems the entire series with a possible origin story, which LJ fans have yet to see.

Veil #1 (Dark Horse) – Greg Rucka’s new woman-wakes-up-nude-in-subway-with-powers series looks trippy…and good.

Trade Paperback/Graphic Novel: TMNT Villains Microseries TP Vol. 2 (IDW) – I’ve been on a mutant ninja turtles bender the last couple weeks, so this is a must read for me. It’s the second compilation of villain origin stories, and this one includes Shredder…yes please.

Brett

Top Pick: Evil Empire #1 (BOOM! Studios) – Max Bemis’ new series from BOOM! that takes us through a society as it crumbles. It’s a fascinating story that I was so excited about, I made sure I could interview Max about it.

Rogue Trooper #1 (IDW Publishing) – The classic series is back courtesy of IDW!

She-Hulk #2 (Marvel) – I loved the first issue written by Charles Soule that perfectly mixed humor, law and superheroing.

Starlight #1 (Image Comics) – Mark Millar’s new series that pays homage to Flash Gordan.

Wild Blue Yonder #4 (IDW Publishing) – It’s been a while since the third issue, but that hasn’t made my anticipation diminish for this series that’s fun, and beautiful to look at.

Trade Paperback/Graphic Novel: X-Men: Days of Future Past (Marvel) – Catch the classic tale before the summer movie!

Review: Lobster Johnson: Get the Lobster #1 (of 5)

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20140131-181606.jpgOur pulpy crustacean is back. Dark Horse greenlit the return of fan-favorite vigilante Lobster Johnson in a five-issue series, Get the Lobster. Having just battled maniacal primates and a deadly assassin in last year’s Scent of Lotus, this latest run is off to a promising, but slower start. Creator Mike Mignola and writer John Arcudi are at the helm again as LJ (yes, we’re on a nickname basis) tracks down a pair of murderous wrestlers that just wreaked havoc on Madison Square Gardens.

I blame the slow start on not enough Lobster. He was strangely…absent. After last year’s exceptional, albeit brief, two-comic story I went back and read Johnson’s entire crime fighting body of work, minus Hellboy and B.P.R.D tie-ins. Comparing this latest book to the impressive likes of The Iron Prometheus, The Burning Hand, and Satan Smells a Rat, one can understand why this issue was slightly underwhelming. Hopefully I’m unfairly judging the slow first act of an amazing five-act play.

The talented artistic team is back as well with illustrator Tonci Zonjic and colorist Dave Stewart bringing their pulp touch to 1930s New York City. Sadly, as with the writing, none of the panels wowed me. Scent of Lotus seriously spoiled me…our gun toting hero scaling rooftops, his piercing orange eyes illuminating the snowy backdrop. How do you beat that?? It wasn’t that the art and writing were done poorly, it’s just that they were ordinary…and this character deserves better.

I don’t write this review lightly. Lobster Johnson, along with Mouse Guard, was last year’s where-have-you-been-all-my-life comic. As mentioned, I’m praying that the longer run, which affords the creative team more time, explains away the slower start. Mignola, Arcudi, and Zonjic know what they’re doing, in this issue though, the Lobster just…didn’t taste right.

Story: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi Art: Tonci Zonjic
Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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The_Punisher_1_CoverIt’s a new week of comic goodness and the team has put together some of their choices of comics you should be checking out this week!

Andrew

TOP PICK: Lobster Johnson Get the Lobster #1 (Dark Horse) – I couldn’t have been more excited when Dark Horse announced a five-issue Lobster run. The last two-comic series, Scent of Lotus, was WAY too short. Can LJ stop murderous professional wrestlers??

Black Widow #3 (Marvel) – One of the few Marvel series I currently read. Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto deliver a stunning, 70s-esque series that brings the Black Widow back to her gritty yet refined roots.

Five Ghosts #9 (Image) – Not going to lie, these latest follow-up issues to the original, tour-de-force story arc have been anticlimactic, but I’m still in it to win it…for now. I feel like Fabian has been trying to steal a boat the last three books.

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 (Dynamite) – Admittedly, I thought this was a late 90s Nintendo 64 game before I knew it was a comic from the 50s. Native Americans battling dinosaurs? Tough to pass up.

Brett

TOP PICK: Punisher #1 (Marvel) – I’m a Punisher fan, and the string of series Marvel’s released recently have been solid. A new ongoing series is finally launching taking the Punisher to the west coast.

Loki: Agent of Asgard #1 (Marvel) – Loki has been revitalized between the movies and his younger version that was most recently in Young Avengers. He gets the spotlight now in his own series. I really want to see what this is, but a bit nervous.

Ms. Marvel #1 (Marvel) – One of the more interesting recent releases by Marvel. I expect to be a lot of love or hate about this one, which sees a young Jersey girl take on the Ms. Marvel mantle. I’m willing to give it a shot, it should be interesting.

Revelations #2 (BOOM! Studios) – I loved the first issue which saw a detective head to the Vatican to solve a murder. It’s blasphemous noir. I love it!

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 (Dynamite) – Turok is back! The classic Gold Key character, who I got to know through Valiant, is back in a revitalization of the Gold Key line. The first issue is an interesting an entertaining start.