Lobster Johnson: Satan Smells A Rat
Publisher: Dark Horse
Story: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Art: Kevin Nowlan
Lobster Johnson was always one of my favorite parts of the Hellboy mythos. A mysterious and violent vigilante dealing with crimes linked to the supernatural. This story by Mignola, Arcudi, and Nowlan continues that tradition in this latest adventure for Lobster Johnson.
In this story, Halloween night culminates with a trail of murders as Johnson tracks a killer down to find out who is really behind these heinous acts. What occurs is a shootout that brings in forbidden science and an ending that may not really ever end.
The art in this story is really clean and smooth, which is generally a great thing for a comic. Though for my preference, I like my noir stories to have a bit rougher and grimier look to them. This artwork is great, but I’m more for jagged and thick lining for such eerie and dark stories. This is just how I view noir stories, don’t let that stop you from enjoying the work. Nowlan can draw violent scenes and dead bodies with a good level of creepiness to more than make up for what I think is too clean.
With my biggest complaint being that the art looks way too nice, I think you can see that this is maybe a book worth reading. The story gives plenty of action and unnerving science as one man tries to get what he wants by taking from those he finds to be wasting their life. A classic mad science quest for power without morals, and that’s when Lobster Johnson steps in.
If you like pulp or noir stories that have a supernatural bent to them, you should give Lobster Johnson: Satan Smells A Rat a try. Its greatest sin may very well be that once it’s over you’ll crave more.
Alexander Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net
