Lobster Johnston #1: The Burning Hand Review: Goin’ Places

Headline: Couple gets attacked by ghost Indians and is saved by a mysterious figure with a symbol on his hand. Sounds like something out of a young adult novel? Wrong, it’s issue one of five of Dark Horse’s new comic series “Lobster Johnston” called “The Burning Hand.”

In issue one, you meet Cindy Tynan, a beat reporter for the Herald Tribune in 1930s New York. She investigates the weird occurrences of ghost Indians, who attack random people at night and a mysterious masked figure with a weird symbol on his hands. He puts this symbol on the heads of the victims.

The first thing that should be said about Lobster Johnston is that the artwork by Tonci Zonjic looks like those old 1930s pulp detective comics. Almost Dick Tracy like. It fits the comic’s theme well and it gives it that flavor that we all love about pulp stories.

The story itself, written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, is interesting and, unlike other stories in the genre, doesn’t go overboard with the weird. It doesn’t shove the idea that it’s the 1930s down your throat. It does, however, do a good job with its pacing and features good character interaction and dialogue. There are some characters who do use that 1930s lingo but, again, they don’t sound forced.

Now, the big question: Who is Lobster Johnston? We don’t find out who he is in this issue, but we will in later issues. All we know is that he’s the masked figure at the beginning who beats up the ghosts. He does have the Phantom vibe to him, with leaving a mark on his victim’s forehead and being a masked crusader with one liners.

If there is one negative to this comic it is that it hints that there may be a side-story involving Germans. Yes, it does fit with the era, but a story in the 1930s can work fine without the need to introduce Germans into the story. It feels tagged on for the sake of being tagged on.

Regardless, “Lobster Johnston #1: The Burning Hand” is a good 1930s pulp style comic that should not be missed by anyone. With artwork that harkens back to the 1930’s, a solid story and solid cast this series looks like it will go places. It’s perfect reading when you’re drinking bathtub gin in your favorite speakeasy.