Have you ever wondered, “What would it be like if someone depicted Lobo in a violent and villainous way?” This is your week for fun. Kyle Starks and Kyle Hotz bring you the coolest Lobo epic of all time, not only because the art is understated, but because it captures everything that’s good about Lobo, which is a testament to just how badass he is.
The Lobo Cancellation Special begins on a farm somewhere between Omega Men #13 and Superman #15. He’s locked up because of some asshole who stole his Space Hog, and the only remaining alien on the planet he hasn’t killed wants him dead. The tone is black comedy, to say the least. After a thorough rundown of how he got there, an alien comes by to offer him a job. This leads to the underwriting of the contract, which leads to a self-proclaimed awesome guy who might just match Lobo’s abilities.
Thus begins an epic adventure with well-crafted motivations and transitions for Lobo. The book is 41 pages long and doesn’t delve too deeply into the characters, but it was a satisfying read. The story is divided into logical set pieces, from an alien world at the beginning to a bar and finally a world at war. This allows Lobo to kill a variety of people in each location, from innocents to self-proclaimed badasses. In each case, Lobo has something to prove.
Ouch. That must hurt.
Credit: DC Comics
Along the way, Starks presents “Lobo Facts,” which show that Lobo has some convictions, even as he casually kills innocent aliens. By the end of the issue, a strong argument has been made that Lobo can’t be killed, can’t be punched, and that he cares very little about anything outside of his own reputation.
Hotz’s art is stunning to say the least. It reminds me of the work of Simon Bisley, who further defined the character’s looks, but at times with much more creativity and control. The variety and level of detail in each panel is impressive. This book is very gory, especially for a DC comic, with eyes popping out and blood spurting everywhere. In the final battle, Lobo pulls off an incredible chain of moves that are beautiful to watch. His spaceship is also impressively drawn.
The only element that I found lacking is the comedy, which doesn’t always work. Robo repeats the line “fetal gizz” over and over again, which didn’t really make me laugh. I was hoping for a bit more comedy in this one. That said, it does have a sense of humor, which might suit you.
Lobo Cancelled Special is a ton of fun. It’s packed with violent action, lots of attitude, and some of the best art you’ll see this year. It’s pure action, gore, and attitude, but the characters are thin. That may be because Lobo never had much depth to begin with.
The first installment of “Robocancel Special” is a violent visual feast
Robo Cancel Special #1
Lobo Cancelled Special is a ton of fun. It’s packed with violent action, lots of attitude, and some of the best art you’ll see this year. It’s pure action, gore, and attitude, but the characters are thin. That may be because Lobo never had much depth to begin with.
The artwork is great, that’s all.
The storyline is smooth and never gets boring.
The comedy, for the most part, didn’t suit me.
