Review: Lobo #4

I have never been a fan of Lobo, a parody character that somehow took on a life of his own. The crude humor and bloody action just doesn't grip me. So when Lobo was announced as a 'next level' book, I knew it wouldn't land on my pull list.

With Lobo a big part of the upcoming Supergirl movie, I figured a comic crossover between Supergirl and Lobo was bound to happen. And, in what I think is a sign of the times, Supergirl is the guest in Supergirl's book and not the other way around. Guest stars are supposed to tempt fans of the guest to try a book. Heck, I am trying this book I would otherwise be avoiding because this week's Lobo #4 has Kara front and center. In his heyday in the 90's, Lobo would be the guest to lure in readers.

Skottie Young is the writer of the Lobo book and brings to the proceedings what you would expect - loud, brash violence peppered with curses and lowbrow humor. If you are looking for that, you got it! In the issue here, Lobo is trying to break into an auxiliary Fortress of Solitude and runs into Supergirl. Mayhem ensues. Not much else happens here other than a few good quips.

Jorge Corona's art is the perfect style for this title. It veers near some Trencher-esque Giffen electricity. There also is a sort of Howard Porter feel to some of this, reminding me of the JLA 3001 book Kara starred in.  It is rough and almost blotchy in places, evoking the chaos of Lobo and his world. His Kara jumps right into the action, punching with her fists while still remaining cute and pouty. If I was a Lobo fan, I'd want someone like Corona on art.

On to the book.

The book starts with Lobo playing cards with a bulldog with the usual sort of repartee we get in these books. This includes such 'funny' images as an alien who urinates out of his ears.

The game is interrupted by a new job. Lobo is to break into a 'Fortress of Solitude' that Superman has set up on a vacation moon called Plinko Astra. This Fortress holds all the things that can't fit in the main Fortress, making it a storage unit of a sort. In a funny twist, Superman hides it in plain sight, as a sub-basement in phony Fortress museum.

Now Lobo has been tasked to get a crate filled with 'crows' which has to be a misreading or a code for something in Superman lore but I am coming up empty with what it could be.

Of course, when Lobo breaks in it must trigger an alarm.

Suddenly Supergirl shows up with Krypto to defend the place.

I like this opening shot of Supergirl. There is this odd but appealing mix of anger and poutiness that works. Love the wild hair too. 

In a running gag, Lobo calls Supergirl 'Kar-En', a riff on the 'Karen' being an annoying white woman trope.

Supergirl basically says it is time to throw down. But the humor about 'getting back on the horse' and the unsaid 'ride me' joke stopped by heat vision is what you read a Lobo book for.

And good for Supergirl for not letting him even get the words out.

Corona did a number of covers during the KO event and he shows he can handle fisticuffs well.

And when you get two heavy hitters like Supergirl and Lobo going at it, you have to bring the art.

Check out this cover of  Supergirl dealing a left cross to Lobo's jaw. Palpable and bloody. 

I usually don't include whole pages but this interaction is great. 

Kara isn't going to let casual misogyny go unanswered. 

She does hit like a girl. 

And that is some heat vision blast. 

Might be a 'best of' moment.

The authorities show up and somehow subdue to two and throw them in jail.

How is that possible? And why are they sitting there and not just breaking out.

Looks like I am for another issue to see how this wraps up. 

One of my quirks in comics is looking for homages and references that may or may not be real.

I know this cover design has been used a lot but I immediately thought of Supergirl #21 from the PAD run.

And for a Giffen homage, I thought of this although the Dutch Angle panel looking through prison bars is also a common take.

If you are a Lobo fan, this feels like a book for you. If you are a Supergirl fan, there are some fun moments.

Overall grade: B