After a hilarious two–part opening story, Lobo goes for a solo adventure in a blast from his past! More specifically, when the Main Man was a kiddo and wreaking havoc on adults everywhere. Lobo #3 continues to be funny and edgy, while getting a heavy injection of cute thanks to artist Nicoletta Baldari. If this issue is any indication, DC Next Level isn’t slowing down a bit.
Lobo #3 is broken up with art by Jorge Corona and Baldari, opening and closing with Corona’s art, who draws the present. It’s a rather rough scene, as Lobo is surrounded by jars of his own urine, wallowing a bit after his reality show stardom crashed and burned. The detail Corona puts into each panel is striking, like TNT and laser nets pointed at his front door so Lobo can be left alone with his unamused dog. The grit and the dirty feel remain constant, and Corona brings them to life.
The story is fairly simple: a bounty hunter agency wants to add Lobo to their system, which requires a psyche eval. A simple question is asked, which sends him into full flashback mode: “Can you tell me a story that reflects your first feeling of joy that didn’t come from maiming or killing?”
Fun!
Credit: DC Comics
Enter Baldari, who draws in a retro, almost watercolor style one might see in preschool-level readers. Most importantly, it’s very endearing, complete with plenty of animals. Set when Lobo was around pre-kindergarten age, writer Skottie Young drops us into an aquarium class visit, complete with a teacher straight out of The Magic Schoolbus. While not as gross, Lobo is as devilish as ever and soon gets in quite a bit of trouble. This necessitates disciplining him and eventually involving the Lanterns. Hilarity ensues.
Young puts on a rather outlandish and fun adventure here, complete with the Mauve Lantern, who is a good foil for Lobo. Where Lobo is quick to attack, the Mauve Lantern is all about peace and calm. But what if the Mauve Lantern ring was in the wrong hands? Maybe a child in Czarnia’s hands? Chaos ensues!
Given Baldari’s style, with a fun bottle-episode approach, this issue shows the creators are taking big swings with story and creative concepts. It also shows that Lobo’s most innocent moment was when he felt a moment of normal joy, even if it meant scaring everyone around him.
Lobo #3 leans fully into its weird, chaotic energy and comes out stronger for it. Skottie Young delivers a story that swings between childlike humor and unexpected charm, while the split-art approach gives the issue a distinct personality in both timelines. It may not push the plot forward in a major way, but it deepens Lobo’s character in a way that feels fresh and memorable.
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