Review by Ian Keogh

Lobo was a bona fide DC superstar in the 1990s, but his early progress was squandered, whereas Deadpool, another 1990s maverick, has maintained his status and eased into the broader public consciousness via cinema screens. Lobo’s reintroduction via DC’s ‘New 52’ reboot was a misguided damp squib, so will a high profile guest shot in a prestige Superman project resurrect his appeal? It’s unlikely, although Lobo is well treated.

Co-writers Sarah Beattie and Tim Seeley alight on the connection between Superman and Lobo being they’re both the sole survivors of their race (with some slight fudging regarding Kryptonians ignored). It’s of great interest to a new alien character studying the races of the universe, and ultimately becomes the main point. That’s after moving Lex Luthor’s hatred of Superman into the modern era via social media posts spreading vitriol and exploited by Lobo.

Given that many might not even be familiar with Lobo and his abilities, the writers don’t go overboard with explanations for potential new readers. They establish a contrary and brutal character well enough, but offer no explanation for his having half an arm chewed off, yet being back to the full complement three panels later. It’s about the most gruesome scene in a project issued as an expensive hardcover under the Black Label imprint aimed at an adult audience, yet the content is no more boundary pushing than a standard DC comic. It smacks of mercenary motives when this might have been a normal trade.

Panel by panel Mirka Andolfo’s art can be extremely attractive, and she certainly picks up on the humorous cues with plenty of illustrations of Lobo’s embarrassment, but the pages are generally cramped and packed. As the story continues, time is obviously an issue also as the detail present in the opening chapter is more sparingly applied in what follows. Nor is there a great deal of emotion in tragic circumstances.

The best part of Beattie and Seeley’s overall plot is splitting it into three distinct chapters, and one of their new characters is quirky and interesting. The other doesn’t look human, but is a standard device rather than interesting in their own right. There’s also a well worked ending, but getting there is a real slog with the only real surprise worked to death. It involves too much switching back and regrouping, and the obvious route is the one taken on almost every occasion in what’s extended way too long.