COMIC BOOK REVIEW - Lobo: The Last Czarnian
By The Masked Medic
Remember last week when I said that I would start reading older novels, from previous volumes, to understand certain characters better and learn about them? Well, I’m still on that hype, and I decided and a good place to start would be someone whose New 52 run was very short but seems to be a popular character: Lobo. The universe renown bounty hunter has popped up multiple times over the years, but it was only in 1990 that he got his own run!
‘The Last Czarnian’ sees Lobo being tasked by Vril Dox, aka Brainiac 2, of L.E.G.I.O.N. to take on a mission to bring in a person of interest alive. Lobo isn’t particularly keen but unfortunately has to keep his word as he lost in a fight against Dox. The only problem is that the person of interest is none other than his fourth-grade teacher, and the woman responsible for writing his not-so-nice biography. More than the biography, Lobo is riled up as he believed that he had killed all Czarnians and that he was the only one left. However, here she was Mrs Tribb. The mission is to bring her in alive, and Lobo reluctantly agrees. However, where Lobo goes, chaos always follows. Mrs Tribb, despite her innocent exterior, is unknowingly being pursued by a group of militant grannies, because they did not approve of her book. Initially Lobo and his former teacher stop at an intergalactic pit stop where Mrs Tribb badmouths a couple of vicious bikers. Although Lobo shares their sentiments, he is left with no choice but to beat them up. From there the bounty hunter and his ward, escape to an unknown world where it appears that there is an opera that thrives on violence. As Lobo does what he does best, we see that another enemy enters the fold. The Galactic police are after Lobo as he murdered one of their own. Dox, as a member of L.E.G.I.O.N., sees all of this but does nothing to stop it because he believes that Lobo will take out all these factions. But can Dox account for the chaos that Lobo spreads? And just how will Lobo control his anger about his former teacher?
First things first, this novel is so very 90’s. It’s evident from the get-go. Make of that what you will, but I felt like it needed to be said, haha! This novel for me was quintessential Lobo. The chaotic but very self-sufficient bounty hunter character is evident in this and naturally, there is also a level of humour involved in the whole novel. I have to say, I was quite intrigued at the addition of Viril Dox, who if I’m being honest, I don’t know is the version of the character we all know. There was enough action, but perhaps I would have enjoyed a little more development of the enemies that Lobo was facing. On the surface, the novel was akin to something I’d expect from Deadpool, and I do not like that guy.
The artwork was probably not to my liking at all. There wasn’t anything wrong with it, but it felt like a lot of the illustration was the background effect of Lobo punching and smashing things. I’m not sure if this is because it’s unlikely that artwork was done digitally, so it’s a lot more difficult to draw. The covers were the only saving grace from the artwork perspective. Overall, it was an interesting read, but not particularly one that I enjoyed!
Favourite Panel:
Hahaha! Imagine being a bounty hunter and your target is your fourth-grade teacher! Hilarious
Favourite Character:
This Lobo is definitely very unhinged, but doesn’t attempt to be anything else tbh!
Rating:
Story Arc: ★★½
Character Development: ★★
Artwork: ★★
Enjoyability: ★★½
Re-readability: ★½
Level: Advanced