Lobo #1 Review: DC Misses The Mark And The Point

[JamesBr]

While I agree that new Lobo is a travesty, I'd like to point out that he first appeared in Omega Men #3 (which was actually a Green Lantern spinoff), in 1983. He is NOT actually a parody of The Dark Age of Comics, as he predates that era by about 3 years. If anything, he's the ur-example of what was to eventually dominate comics for over a decade after The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen were published in '86.

 

[Ashley Blalock]

Well on the bright side at least it answers the question of what will DC mess up next?

Ugh, I wonder how much longer it is until we can get a universe reboot to this universe reboot to make DC fun again?

 

[Jetsetneo]

I really *cant* stand the original lobo. Parody characters (and by extension similar ones like Deadpool) trying to exist in the same reality as 'serious' superheros always rubs me the wrong way. Marvel already does plenty of self-hate in their movies, and DC is just self-hating, but these characters are like focal points I can't stand. While I'll admit the new lobo is a non-character, hes miles closer to what I'd rather read than the original.

 

[Trishbot]

I really *cant* stand the original lobo. Parody characters (and by extension similar ones like Deadpool) trying to exist in the same reality as 'serious' superheros always rubs me the wrong way. Marvel already does plenty of self-hate in their movies, and DC is just self-hating, but these characters are like focal points I can't stand. While I'll admit the new lobo is a non-character, hes miles closer to what I'd rather read than the original.

But there are dozens upon dozens of characters, brooding, mysterious, antisocial loner badasses, in the comic book world that are played straight. You can read about them right now, from Wolverine to The Punisher to Deathstroke to Spawn to countless others. There is literally no shortage of them.

There was one, and only one, Main Man Lobo. Only one character who was just the embodiment of the love of violence. There was nothing else like him before, and now there is nothing else like him after. Even Lobo has a message to fans of the new version:

Lobo was something comics once did well: just ENJOY being a medium only comics can tell or get away with. He was a parody that was played straight, the Naked Gun of comic book characters. He was hysterical whether you knew he was a parody or not, and his comics were crass and violence in the same way an Itchy & Scratchy cartoon were.

But it was always done in good fun. Always. There's a reason that, when it came time to do the #1,000,000 issue, they took him and turned him into a giant, goofy, over-the-hill has-been who became a fat circus attraction.

The original may have been violent and crass and funny, but the comic was also razor sharp and SMART. It knew exactly what to satirize and how to do it. The new comic is serious, not as violent, not funny, and thus it's unoriginal and, well, dumb. There's no real wit behind it.

I'd rather take something bizarre and unique over yet another brooding anti-hero with the perfect body and dreamy hair. I mean, we already had this EXACT CHARACTER done by Top Cow only a few years ago:

Been there, done that, DC...

 

[VoidWanderer]

Ugh... I can't imagine a single Lobo fan approving of this change. Fuck you, DC. Fuck you and the horse you rode in on.

I applaud DC for their bravery in showcasing why some characters need to stay silly. Not that Deadpool didn't prove it could be done though. But bravo DC, your standards in comics seems to declining steadily.

Well done.

Idiots

 

[Avalanche91]

I like to think that this started out as making fun of the brooding superhero stereotypes. He cut out his own memories to forget the pain but his recovery ability keeps restoring them, so he cuts his wrists instead. He tries holding an angsty monologue atop of a rooftop to look cool but a mugging interupts him. He kills both the muggers and the muggee for breaking his concentration and imediately turns around to wonder what kind of monster he became.

Then someone else got put in charge of the project and thought the first guy was being serious.

 

[Queen Michael]

Marvel already does plenty of self-hate in their movies, and DC is just self-hating...

Care to give a few examples?

 

[Darth Sea Bass]

I used to read Lobo when i was younger, and iv'e got to say this new version sounds fucking awful! Let's hope the main man comes back and kills this whiney douchebag.

 

[camazotz]

I was reluctant to take an Escapist review at face value so I've read the first three issues.....and you know what, it's pretty meh, when it shouldn't be. Problems I noticed:

1. New Lobo is actually just a space dude version of the Red Hood. In fact it kind of feels like someone thought they needed an official "Space Red Hood/Star Lord" dude to add to the roster and decided to capitalize on the Lobo title to do it.

2. New Lobo is not funny. The very modest efforts at funny are not funny. The book could be funny, even with this character, but it's not.

3. DC might have confused Liefield's abuse of the character in New 52 previously as a sign people didn't like old Lobo (in Deathstroke iirc). They failed to realize that it's not that people didn't like Lobo, they don't like Liefield.

4. Three issues in and most of the space stuff is in flashbacks revising New Lobo's angsty history with Czarnia, the ost egregious retcon in all retcons to date. Needs more space.

5. The only saving grace is that they can do to the new Lobo what he did to the old Lobo in issue one pretty easily, and i hope they do. I was there in 1983 for his first appearance in Omega Men, and I'd like to see that guy come back. Not picking up issue 4 or any more until the real Lobo returns.

 

[camazotz]

Gah double post. Old Lobo must return and consume the new Lobo. Ideally he will reconsitute in whatever trash dumpster he was deposited and finish off Angsty Fauxbo around issue 5 at the latest, please.