SPOILERS AHEAD
Initial Thoughts
The chickens, or whatever passes for a chicken in this universe, have come home to roost in Lobo #7, as a burnt bridge from the past returns to exact revenge on the bounty hunter. This “new” foe will test the limits of Lobo’s immortality to get their revenge, possibly bringing on the “Last Death of Lobo.” Even though this is the climax of the story, and we see our “anti” hero in peril, I believe Lobo #7 is about something much bigger than what faces Lobo. I believe writer Skottie Young is writing a referendum and reflecting on the self-deprecating, fourth-wall-breaking, humorish style of comic book writing that has become popular over the last 20-odd years.
I don't want to say all the inconsistent storytelling in Lobo was on purpose, or that it was any less annoying when it happened; however, it sure does seem like it was turned up to 11. I believe this issue is the best one in the run so far. The pacing was magnificent, and while there was still humor, the tone was darker and more somber. An emotional beat tied everything together and made Lobo much more sympathetic. This elevates the series and makes it feel more concrete and worthwhile.
Guess Who’s Back? Francis’ Back.
The major twist of this issue, and the entire series, is that we finally found out who has been tracking Lobo: Francis, the Mauve Lantern. For details on why the Mauve Lantern is seeking revenge, check out Lobo #3. Lobo #7, tying into the previous best issue of the series, was a great way to bring back readers who might have lost hope or interest over the last couple of issues. The storytelling was hectic, and for a while—especially if you have been reading my reviews—I didn't know where any of this was going. Now, fortunately, we have come full circle.
What makes this “twist” so interesting is that Francis is such a throwaway character. Neither we as readers nor Lobo ever gave the Mauve Lantern a second thought, yet it's been festering and motivating him for years, if not decades. Lobo has caused a lot of chaos since he was born, and his day of reckoning is here, which might be the reason for his last death. I think this plot thread was a great way to give us a warranted, earned twist. This is a great way to reinvigorate this series. I am now excited to see where Lobo, Francis, and even Czarnia end up when it's all said and done.
So Lobo Might Have a Heart!
While the reveal that Francis was behind Lobo's cornering was the most important angle of Lobo #7—at least in my opinion—the unexpected subplot was the somber, near-empty feeling Lobo felt upon returning to Czarnia. I got this feeling after reading Lobo #3: that Lobo still feels some remorse for what happened on his old home planet. I did get some pushback—which, by the way, I love when you guys read and give me your two cents—that Lobo has no remorse, but I don't think I buy that. I think a lot of us project “carefree” when we're at our lowest. Why would Lobo be any different?
After rereading the issue, I wondered whether Lobo uses his immortality as a mask for his true feelings. I think the real question is whether Lobo actually learns a lesson from all of this. If all of this is for nothing, then these emotional beats are for nothing. I don't think Lobo has to stop being Lobo, but a nice little lesson to learn would make all of this worthwhile. The very obvious digs Young writes into Francis' dialogue about the state of fourth-wall breaking and ronchy humor have had their run. I don't think he'll stop writing that way, but becoming self-aware is a great way to make it a plot point.
Art is as Gross as Ever (Compliment)
Jorge Corona returns to Lobo after taking off for issue #6, picking up right where he left off. His art remains the perfect companion to Young’s story. Even with the chaos from Corona and the guest artists who have drawn on this title, Lobo #7 somehow turns it up to 11. This is perhaps the most brutal issue yet, as Lobo is impaled, unable to move, and waiting for his “last death.” The art is brutal and captures this rough-and-tumble world best. The world, more than ever, feels so completely grim and looks like it takes place in a landfill.
The dead, cold interpretation of Czarnia, Lobo’s home planet, is a bleak contrast to the one we saw in Lobo #3. Corona and colorist ___ do a great job showing us exactly how bad Lobo left Czarnia and how desolate a wasteland it is now. Lobo also left Francis in the wake of his destruction, and his redesign is a complete 180 from Lobo #3. Much more menacing, he legitimately looks insane, as if he's been through it. Which, I think, is the point. No longer the bubbly Mauve Lantern, Francis has turned into a force to be reckoned with, and that new design shows off his new power set.
Final Verdict
Lobo #7 finally feels like we have reached the center of the story we have been waiting for, and it feels much more somber and dramatic than we expected so far. That makes it feel much more important, and the ending won’t be some throwaway plot. This issue ties everything together and brings us full circle to the very start, and we are on the home stretch of this series, or at least this arc of the story. This “twist” definitely reinvigorated the series as a whole and gave us a great restart, letting us readers catch our breath.
After reading the future preview catalog, it looks like this might be the first of a few issues in this Last Death of Lobo, and if so, it was a great start on a path that might have us looking forward to the next few issues!