Initial Thoughts
In Lobo #6, the Last Czarnian goes to Hell to take on the Tooth Fairy and make sure she stops cheating the big galactic corporation out of their money. Yeah, that's a real sentence, and this issue was just as fun to read as it was to type out. Lobo and his trusty companion make it to hell only to be welcomed by a bunch of fairies. The juxtaposition of having fairies in Hell was a fun iteration, and if you know anything about writer Scotty Young, you saw it coming, with how he likes to buck these sacred beliefs.
Lobo #6 seems (I say that cautiously) to be stabilizing into a more cohesive story, as there was a reveal at the end that makes this seem like all of this chaotic storytelling will finally hone in on something bigger. This is the most cohesive Lobo has been as a series, and it gives me hope that we are on track to something that tells a bigger story, instead of individual stories per issue. That said, the chaotic nature of the art from guest artist Riley Rossmo was a fantastic way to bring Hell to life with his take on the underworld. The takeaway is that the series feels more focused now, even if it stays chaotic.
See You in Hell!
The fight between Lobo and the Tooth Fairy was fine enough, but I think most people will remember Young and Rossmo’s interpretation of Hell. If you've read any of my other reviews—namely The Deadman and Swamp Thing:1989—I'm a big fan of DC’s version of Hell and its supernatural element. I'll be honest, I didn’t see it coming in this Lobo series, but Skottie Young and Riley Rossmo know how to integrate it seamlessly into the story. I think it was hilarious that the Tooth Fairy is stationed in Hell. I mean, it makes sense. She takes our teeth? That's weird! I highly doubt that we will visit Hell again in this series, but it was fun to see.
Lobo #6 is the issue that finally brings all the threads together and makes the rest of the story feel more concise and cohesive. That's what I enjoyed most about this issue. It's been a major complaint of mine throughout the run, but as schizophrenic as this series has been, this issue finally pulled all the strings into what seems like one single narrative. That is what will ultimately make this issue a success, and what I think makes this the best issue thus far.
Finally, a Big Bad?
Ultimately, this entire issue seems meant to set us up for the finale. After taking down the Tooth Fairy and looking to get paid, Lobo is unaware that someone is keeping an eye on him—someone he has a past with and who has presumably “ruined his life.” Rumor has it this is the Mauve Lantern from Lobo #3, which, if true, would bring everything together- something I've wanted since the very start of the issue. If it's not the Mauve Lantern, who could it be? I would assume it is someone who has appeared in this series, not someone out of nowhere.
There is at least one comedic bit that cracks me up in every issue. Say what you will, but Skottie Young knows how to write comedy, and even if you don't find all of his jokes funny, there will be one that absolutely cracks you up. For me, in this issue, it's Lobo killing the guards even though his fairy guide had the door key. I don't know why that had such an effect on me, but it was so damn funny. This has probably been the one constant throughout the issue: how funny at least one joke is.
Two Artist, One Goal
The art from guest artist Riley Rossmo was right up my alley, and it took me back to a different time. Rossmo is one of my all-time favorite artists, and you should have seen the smile on my face when I read his name in the credits. Rossmo’s art is perfect for Young’s iteration of Hell. His style fits the crowded, nasty, hot, and presumably smelly setting of Hell. The character designs Rossmo is famous for—sketchy, rounded, unconventional—set this art apart from Jorge Corona, who we saw at the end in the epilogue and who has a sharper look to his characters. Having a guest artist depict a completely different part of the story is, I think, a great tactic for building on the world already in place.
Side note: Seeing Constantine in Rossmo’s Hell was such a pleasant surprise, as his version from the 2015 Constantine: The Hellblazer is one of my favorites.
One other thing to point out is the character designs of the Tooth Fairy's fairy henchmen. Just like the Tooth Fairy being in Hell, the combination of ugly “pig” faced fairies in pink uniforms makes them even more menacing. The world within the world was a great idea, and the Rossmo art put the cherry on top.
Lastly, the epilogue from Jorge Corona was a great way to bring us back to the “real” world and back on track with the main story.
Final Verdict
Lobo #6 was a fun romp through Hell that saw Lobo collect his bounty on the Tooth Fairy. However, Lobo can't rest now as something bigger and sinister is just around the corner. It took six issues, but we finally get our big baddie for this run, and the existential threat has now presented itself. Each issue in this series has been fantastic on its own, but it doesn't really tell a bigger, overarching story. All the issues up until now have felt like a setup for something bigger that isn't here yet, and Lobo #6’s trip to hell is what got us there.