SPOILERS AHEAD!!
Initial Thoughts on Lobo #3
Lobo #3 takes us back to Lobo’s childhood and tries to give us a little peek into how he went on to become the Main Man we know today. Lobo, now trying to recover from losing his comfy corporate reality TV job, is now in search of being a bounty hunter and finding himself again. Lobo was clearly a massive problem for the Czarnians, but what will be interesting to see is Skottie Young’s take on how that messed with Lobo. So far, the tracks have been laid for what should be a very intriguing story.
Looking ahead, it appears that each issue will interweave two narratives: the present, in which Lobo struggles to regain stability, and the past, which chronicles the downfall of Czarnian civilization through Lobo’s actions. Though the story has been uneven and slow to build, Lobo #3 marks the point where the plot gains focus. The payoff will depend on Young’s skill in merging both timelines.
Supergirl is on the Way!
From the last sentence in Lobo #3, it looks like Supergirl is joining just in time for the blockbuster movie this summer—synergy! How will Supergirl fit into the story Young is telling? I hope Kara becomes a mainstay here, telling a story that complements Lobo's upbringing. It sounds likely this will be a short one-off, as has been the theme so far. It'll be fun to see how the summer of Supergirl starts with Lobo #4.
The story now splits into past and present. A new artist provides visual separation between timelines. I think this is a masterstroke in making Lobo more relatable. How will both stories and Supergirl come together? I trust Skottie Young to show us!
Lobo is…..Endearing…Kinda?
I do like that, in Lobo #3, even though you kind of want to punch Lobo (lol), for as annoying and self-centered as he is, he is very deep, deep, deep down inside a very good Czarnian. Through the Mauve Lantern, we learn that Lobo, even regardless of how twisted he is, still has an abundance of glee and has childlike wonder. It humanizes--is that the word for an alien--Lobo to a point where he doesn't come off as a complete Neanderthal. I know it's a played-out trope, but I love it when we find something redeemable within an irredeemable character.
I really don't know where this story is headed, so I guess that is a good thing. However, given how frantic the storytelling has been, it can be hard to predict any worthwhile story points that we, as readers, want to latch onto. I'm just about to contradict myself! I do think, however, that what will be the best part of this run will be how Skottie Young will treat Lobo’s backstory. It will not only give us a new version of Lobo, but also serve as the transition between the DC K.O. and the next chapter in DC. Lobo will be at the forefront of that.
Start and Stop Story
Between issues, Lobo moves like a 1990s cartoon, where the character who just lost everything in the previous issue ends up getting the same job in the next episode. A la Homer Simpson and the Power Plant. I know that is part of the appeal of the comic book: to make it feel like an episodic series; however, it feels very disjointed for what is supposed to be a solo run. The story across these three issues feels very stop-and-start, with three different stories told. Luckily, it looks like Lobo #3 will finally tell a cohesive story once it settles in. One that can keep the yucks and the worthwhile storytelling.
Other than that, though, Lobo #3 does a fabulous job of getting the story back on track, as it seemed the first two issues could have been a #0 issue. Now, we are building momentum for Lobo’s future while exploring his past and uncovering what happened in Czarnia. Based on the therapist session he was having, Lobo doesn't seem proud of killing his entire race, so we are going to delve deep into what that says about Lobo. Once Young gets this right, all the funny bits will work even better with Lobo's emotional vulnerabilities.
The Art is a Two Person Front
The art was separated into two sections: the present—Jorge Corona, who has been the main artist in the first two issues—and the past—by newcomer Nicoletta Baldari. Present-day Lobo from Corona is still as crazy as in the first two issues. Now, Baldari’s addition brings a layered storytelling technique that separates two different timelines. Baldari’s art is a little softer. It's still hectic and very “Lobo,” but it also hints at warmth and portrays Czarnia as the utopia it was supposed to be.
Despite being softer, Baldari’s art style still fits with the Lobo “DIY” punk aesthetic. The introduction of the Mauve Lantern wasn't just a comedy bit. It was a tool for Baldari to really flex her style in contrast to Corona’s rough-around-the-edges art. It takes us back to a simpler time for Lobo in Czarnia. This period is much more subdued than the present, which is reflected in Corona’s art style.
One thing that should not be overlooked is the talent and versatility of Jean-Francois Baldari's color palette. He is able to work with both Corona’s and Baldari’s art styles. Both are very different types of art. Baldari works with both. The collaboration among all three artists has added an extra element to Skottie Young’s vision. It helps readers mentally transition between the two timelines.
Final Verdict
Lobo #3 now seems to be the unofficial restart of the Scottie Young Lobo era. Although far from perfect, the good outweighs the bad, and Lobo #3 ends up being an endearing story of the start of Lobo's childhood trauma. The entire Young and Corona run reads like a start/stop saga where we can't get a grip on exactly what the endgame will be; however, this issue is the most concrete evidence we have at the start of the larger story for Lobo. The art from Nicolette Baldari and Jorge Corona transports us to two very different periods in Lobo's life.
While Lobo has been an up-and-down affair, as far as storytelling goes, Lobo #3 seems to be the unofficial start of the official story. With Supergirl around the corner, Lobo is set to ramp up right in time for the summer.