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Lobo by Keith Giffen & Alan Grant #1
Lobo by Keith Giffen & Alan Grant, Vol. 1
It’s the big, bad Lobo book that has something to offend everyone! In these fast-shooting, gut-wrenching tales from the 1990s, Lobo’s out for revenge on whoever wrote an unauthorized biography of his life as a gun for hire! Then, the Easter Bunny hires Lobo to kill his biggest rival: Santa Claus! And Lobo signs on to kill the galaxy’s greatest criminal, but promptly gets killed. And 200 of the main man’s illegitimate offspring team up to knock off dear old dad! Collects LOBO #1-4, LOBO PARAMILITARY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL #1, LOBO’S BACK #1-4, LOBO: BLAZING CHAIN OF LOVE #1 and LOBO CONVENTION SPECIAL #1.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2018
35 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Keith Giffen
1,931 books216 followersKeith Ian Giffen was an American comic book illustrator and writer. He is possibly best-known for his long runs illustrating, and later writing the Legion of Super-Heroes title in the 1980s and 1990s. He also created the alien mercenary character Lobo (with Roger Slifer), and the irreverent "want-to-be" hero, Ambush Bug. Giffen is known for having an unorthodox writing style, often using characters in ways not seen before. His dialogue is usually characterized by a biting wit that is seen as much less zany than dialogue provided by longtime collaborators DeMatteis and Robert Loren Fleming. That approach has brought him both criticism and admiration, as perhaps best illustrated by the mixed (although commercially successful) response to his work in DC Comics' Justice League International (1987-1992). He also plotted and was breakdown artist for an Aquaman limited series and one-shot special in 1989 with writer Robert Loren Fleming and artist Curt Swan for DC Comics.
Giffen's first published work was "The Sword and The Star", a black-and-white series featured in Marvel Preview, with writer Bill Mantlo. He has worked on titles (owned by several different companies) including Woodgod, All Star Comics, Doctor Fate, Drax the Destroyer, Heckler, Nick Fury's Howling Commandos, Reign of the Zodiac, Suicide Squad, Trencher (to be re-released in a collected edition by Boom! Studios)., T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, and Vext. He was also responsible for the English adaptation of the Battle Royale and Ikki Tousen manga, as well as creating "I Luv Halloween" for Tokyopop. He also worked for Dark Horse from 1994-95 on their Comics Greatest World/Dark Horse Heroes line, as the writer of two short lived series, Division 13 and co-author, with Lovern Kindzierski, of Agents of Law. For Valiant Comics, Giffen wrote XO-Manowar, Magnus, Robot Fighter, Punx and the final issue of Solar, Man of the Atom.
He took a break from the comic industry for several years, working on storyboards for television and film, including shows such as The Real Ghostbusters and Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy.
He is also the lead writer for Marvel Comics's Annihilation event, having written the one-shot prologue, the lead-in stories in Thanos and Drax, the Silver Surfer as well as the main six issues mini-series. He also wrote the Star-Lord mini-series for the follow-up story Annihilation: Conquest. He currently writes Doom Patrol for DC, and is also completing an abandoned Grant Morrison plot in The Authority: the Lost Year for Wildstorm.
Giffen's first published work was "The Sword and The Star", a black-and-white series featured in Marvel Preview, with writer Bill Mantlo. He has worked on titles (owned by several different companies) including Woodgod, All Star Comics, Doctor Fate, Drax the Destroyer, Heckler, Nick Fury's Howling Commandos, Reign of the Zodiac, Suicide Squad, Trencher (to be re-released in a collected edition by Boom! Studios)., T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, and Vext. He was also responsible for the English adaptation of the Battle Royale and Ikki Tousen manga, as well as creating "I Luv Halloween" for Tokyopop. He also worked for Dark Horse from 1994-95 on their Comics Greatest World/Dark Horse Heroes line, as the writer of two short lived series, Division 13 and co-author, with Lovern Kindzierski, of Agents of Law. For Valiant Comics, Giffen wrote XO-Manowar, Magnus, Robot Fighter, Punx and the final issue of Solar, Man of the Atom.
He took a break from the comic industry for several years, working on storyboards for television and film, including shows such as The Real Ghostbusters and Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy.
He is also the lead writer for Marvel Comics's Annihilation event, having written the one-shot prologue, the lead-in stories in Thanos and Drax, the Silver Surfer as well as the main six issues mini-series. He also wrote the Star-Lord mini-series for the follow-up story Annihilation: Conquest. He currently writes Doom Patrol for DC, and is also completing an abandoned Grant Morrison plot in The Authority: the Lost Year for Wildstorm.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 6, 2020
One of my fav's for sure, the first half of this collection is gold for me and reading it a second time is still the same bloody fun as it was the first time around. I can't get enough of Lobo!
December 7, 2021
Celebratory, technicolour ultra-violence - LOBO is the character that our younger, no-holds-barred selves always looses in role-playing games. Or was that just me?
October 17, 2018
Los 90 a tope.
December 22, 2023
For a brief time in the early '90s Lobo was one of the funniest and most entertaining comic characters around. He's never really reached those heights again but this collection is an excellent way to revisit the glory days.
October 24, 2019
Tons of fun, and *very* in the tradition of 2000AD. The art is pretty uniformly perfect (if insane).
January 26, 2019
Ya conocía las aventuras de Lobo desde adolescente, pero es todo un gustazo redescubrirlo como un joven adulto ya curtido en la historia de la industria del tebeo americano.
El personaje fue creado como villano de una serie llamada L.E.G.I.O.N. en 1983 por Keith Giffen y Roger Slifer. A pesar de no conocer al Lobo de esa serie, sí me consta que era bastante distinto tanto de aspecto como de comportamiento. Luego tendríamos que esperar hasta la gloriosa etapa de Giffen como argumentista de la hilarante Liga de La Justicia Internacional (que tendré que reseñar tarde o temprano) como escollo al que se debe enfrentar el susodicho grupo.
Este tomo retoma a Lobo a partir de la mencionada aparición y le dota de un origen y un carácter propios. Y dios mío, qué alivio causa encontrarse un personaje ultraviolento que no se toma en serio en una década como lo fueron los 90. Para definirlo de alguna manera, se puede decir que Lobo parece sacado de la portada de un disco de Thrash Metal: violento, impulsivo, de carácter muy adolescente y que no parará ante nada ni nadie para conseguir sus metas, siempre basadas en la camorra y el asesinato.
No sé ustedes, pero a mí un personaje que se cargó a toda su especie solo para decir que era el último de la misma, mató a Papá Noel en un duelo a machete y es inmortal porque la lió tan gorda en el cielo y el infierno que le tienen la entrada prohibida por toda la eternidad me tiene ganadísimo.
Las tres primeras historias las recordaba vagamente, sobre todo por lo cafres de sus propuestas, lo demás me ha parecido igualmente interesante y tremendamente gracioso, sobre todo el último número, donde Lobo va a la Comic-Con de San Diego para buscar una copia de la Muerte de Superman. He pillado tantas referencias que empiezo a creerme eso que me dijeron unas compañeras de clase de que tengo alma de investigador minucioso. Con la intertextualidad de ese número podría llenar decenas de páginas de trabajos.
Keith Giffen está en su salsa como argumentista en esta serie y me encanta. Alan Grant sabe plasmar al personaje y su loco mundo a la perfección y Simon Bisley es, simplemente, el dibujante de Lobo por antonomasia. Tardas en acostumbrarte a su trazo, pero le acabas queriendo. Los otros dibujantes no son tan excelentes, pero cumplen con su trabajo.
Solo lo recomiendo para gente ya curtida en la industria y sepa entender su contexto histórico, pero vaya gustazo que le va a dar a ese público.
El personaje fue creado como villano de una serie llamada L.E.G.I.O.N. en 1983 por Keith Giffen y Roger Slifer. A pesar de no conocer al Lobo de esa serie, sí me consta que era bastante distinto tanto de aspecto como de comportamiento. Luego tendríamos que esperar hasta la gloriosa etapa de Giffen como argumentista de la hilarante Liga de La Justicia Internacional (que tendré que reseñar tarde o temprano) como escollo al que se debe enfrentar el susodicho grupo.
Este tomo retoma a Lobo a partir de la mencionada aparición y le dota de un origen y un carácter propios. Y dios mío, qué alivio causa encontrarse un personaje ultraviolento que no se toma en serio en una década como lo fueron los 90. Para definirlo de alguna manera, se puede decir que Lobo parece sacado de la portada de un disco de Thrash Metal: violento, impulsivo, de carácter muy adolescente y que no parará ante nada ni nadie para conseguir sus metas, siempre basadas en la camorra y el asesinato.
No sé ustedes, pero a mí un personaje que se cargó a toda su especie solo para decir que era el último de la misma, mató a Papá Noel en un duelo a machete y es inmortal porque la lió tan gorda en el cielo y el infierno que le tienen la entrada prohibida por toda la eternidad me tiene ganadísimo.
Las tres primeras historias las recordaba vagamente, sobre todo por lo cafres de sus propuestas, lo demás me ha parecido igualmente interesante y tremendamente gracioso, sobre todo el último número, donde Lobo va a la Comic-Con de San Diego para buscar una copia de la Muerte de Superman. He pillado tantas referencias que empiezo a creerme eso que me dijeron unas compañeras de clase de que tengo alma de investigador minucioso. Con la intertextualidad de ese número podría llenar decenas de páginas de trabajos.
Keith Giffen está en su salsa como argumentista en esta serie y me encanta. Alan Grant sabe plasmar al personaje y su loco mundo a la perfección y Simon Bisley es, simplemente, el dibujante de Lobo por antonomasia. Tardas en acostumbrarte a su trazo, pero le acabas queriendo. Los otros dibujantes no son tan excelentes, pero cumplen con su trabajo.
Solo lo recomiendo para gente ya curtida en la industria y sepa entender su contexto histórico, pero vaya gustazo que le va a dar a ese público.
February 10, 2023
In today’s edition of things that would not fly nowadays, we have Lobo. For those unaware of this deep-cut DC comics character, Lobo is a raging psychopath that murders or wants to murder everything he sees. Grandmas, entire planets, and even Santa Claus (one of the best panels in comic history is a knife-wielding Santa screaming, “DIE! YOU NAUGHTY BASTARD!”). No one is off-limits to the Main Man.
Despite this, he is the protagonist that you are rooting for in this series. When I was in middle school, I loved Lobo comics. They were violent and morally bankrupt, basically the coolest thing ever to a 12-year-old. I decided to go back and revisit these comics, which I have so many fond memories of.
Surprisingly, I am enjoying them just as much. The absurdity of this character is so great, and it leaves you wondering how these ever got published by a mainstream comic company. One of the things I enjoy is how they do not shy away from any graphic violence but draw the line when it comes to language. Instead of saying curse words, Lobo says things like “fraggin’” and “bastich”. He’s like Joe Pesci in the Home Alone movies when he’s trying not to swear at children. Lobo will murder an infant, yet his language remains pure and unblemished.
This collection contains the first four-part Lobo series, Lobo’s Paramilitary Christmas Special (a childhood favorite), Lobo’s Back 1-4, Lobo: Blazing Chain of Love, Lobo Convention Special, and Who’s Who in the DC Universe. My only beef is that I wish Lobocop was included. If you have a dark sense of humor and need to laugh at some senseless violence, give this one a go.
Despite this, he is the protagonist that you are rooting for in this series. When I was in middle school, I loved Lobo comics. They were violent and morally bankrupt, basically the coolest thing ever to a 12-year-old. I decided to go back and revisit these comics, which I have so many fond memories of.
Surprisingly, I am enjoying them just as much. The absurdity of this character is so great, and it leaves you wondering how these ever got published by a mainstream comic company. One of the things I enjoy is how they do not shy away from any graphic violence but draw the line when it comes to language. Instead of saying curse words, Lobo says things like “fraggin’” and “bastich”. He’s like Joe Pesci in the Home Alone movies when he’s trying not to swear at children. Lobo will murder an infant, yet his language remains pure and unblemished.
This collection contains the first four-part Lobo series, Lobo’s Paramilitary Christmas Special (a childhood favorite), Lobo’s Back 1-4, Lobo: Blazing Chain of Love, Lobo Convention Special, and Who’s Who in the DC Universe. My only beef is that I wish Lobocop was included. If you have a dark sense of humor and need to laugh at some senseless violence, give this one a go.
February 7, 2022
Despite being fast paced with lots of splash pages, this was an incredibly tedious read. If what you really want out of comics is ridiculous violence, loads of fake swearing, and only enough plot to get you from one panel to another, or if you were a teenage boy who read this in the '90s, you might like this. I was a teenage boy in the '90s, but am only reading it now, despite having heard about it a fair amount. It doesn't hold up for me as an adult encountering it for the first time. The first series is over the top and absurdist, but at least had an overarching plot. The ones after that abandon that entirely. There is a story where Lobo kills Santa Claus, which is apparently canon, because elements from that turn up later on, then a story where Lobo dies a bunch, but is so much of a hassle they send him back and won't let him die afterwards. It isn't handled very well, and like in all of the stories here, the twists are predictable to the point that it is barely worth reading. Somehow, it gets worse after that, with a narcissistic look at comic conventions that I just skimmed after a few pages, because it was really not worth the time or effort. I understand that some people like this, and like it an awful lot, but it definitely isn't for everyone, and really shows its age as having come from the '90s, when comics were EXTREME. If you have nostalgia for that, that's cool, but this is far from a sure thing for all readers.
October 14, 2024
Rating: 3.0/5
Lobo by Keith Giffen & Alan Grant, Vol. 1 brings the ultra-violent, antiheroic character of Lobo to life with a blend of dark humor and over-the-top action. The storyline is straightforward and chaotic, but it serves its purpose for a character like Lobo. While the plot has some fun moments, it’s not particularly deep or innovative, focusing more on brutal action than character-driven narratives.
Character development is limited, with Lobo staying true to his persona as a violent, irreverent mercenary. His dialogue is sharp and often funny, but it doesn’t offer much growth or emotional depth. He’s an entertaining character, but don’t expect any big revelations or arcs.
The artwork is solid, matching the gritty and violent tone of the story, though it doesn’t stand out as particularly unique or visually impressive. Pacing can feel uneven, with action scenes dragging on, slowing the flow of the overall story.
Where this volume shines is in its creativity and willingness to embrace Lobo’s absurdity, but it doesn’t do much to stand out in terms of plot or character depth.
Lobo by Keith Giffen & Alan Grant, Vol. 1 brings the ultra-violent, antiheroic character of Lobo to life with a blend of dark humor and over-the-top action. The storyline is straightforward and chaotic, but it serves its purpose for a character like Lobo. While the plot has some fun moments, it’s not particularly deep or innovative, focusing more on brutal action than character-driven narratives.
Character development is limited, with Lobo staying true to his persona as a violent, irreverent mercenary. His dialogue is sharp and often funny, but it doesn’t offer much growth or emotional depth. He’s an entertaining character, but don’t expect any big revelations or arcs.
The artwork is solid, matching the gritty and violent tone of the story, though it doesn’t stand out as particularly unique or visually impressive. Pacing can feel uneven, with action scenes dragging on, slowing the flow of the overall story.
Where this volume shines is in its creativity and willingness to embrace Lobo’s absurdity, but it doesn’t do much to stand out in terms of plot or character depth.
December 29, 2023
From the minds of Keith Giffen, Alan Grant, and Simon Bisley comes a heaping dish of elevated lowbrow art that is satirical, self-aware, and comically hyper-ultraviolent! Lobo is like a mix of Wolverine, Lemmy, and Beetlejuice. The set-pieces feel like they are straight out of a 2000ad publication. Bisely's art is a wild convergence of Bill Sienkiewicz, Gerald Scarfe, Ralph Steadman, and Jean Giraud. I absolutely love it!
February 28, 2018
I could kind of see the appeal by the end.
At first, it's all gore and mayhem without much to draw the reader in. It actually is repulsive.
There's more actual humor in a few later stories. Still, there's no sense that the authors care about the story they're crafting. They are internally inconsistent and drop some running gags without real resolution. Perhaps if this were the only anarchic indie-style comic in the world, it would be brilliant. But even I who doesn't really seek this stuff out thought that Weapon Brown and SCUD were much better.
Still, I can't understand how this became a landmark character. Seems like, e.g., Larfleeze is a much better version of a similar character.
At first, it's all gore and mayhem without much to draw the reader in. It actually is repulsive.
There's more actual humor in a few later stories. Still, there's no sense that the authors care about the story they're crafting. They are internally inconsistent and drop some running gags without real resolution. Perhaps if this were the only anarchic indie-style comic in the world, it would be brilliant. But even I who doesn't really seek this stuff out thought that Weapon Brown and SCUD were much better.
Still, I can't understand how this became a landmark character. Seems like, e.g., Larfleeze is a much better version of a similar character.
June 24, 2025
Has that "90s being edgy" vibe and reminds me of the 2000AD comics scene. Lobo basically acts uncouth and beats up/kills people. I guess it's for people that like the splatter-punk horror-comedy genre or want a violent power-fantasy. For me I went from mildly amused at it attempting being subversive for a mainline series, to bored, to feeling it tedious that the plot was somehow still going. I did get an ironic laugh at gender-bent Lobo walking around half-naked the whole time, though I'm not 100% sure it was meant to satirize women's outfits in comics.
February 21, 2018
Back when Lobo was fun.
These are some of the most fun, irreverent comics one can read - until Preacher came around. Lobo had to deliver a prisoner - alive. The main man gets whacked and to reincarnate - leading to all kinds of nasty problems. And, in a comic that's nearly as manic as punisher kills the marvel universe - accepts a hit on Santa. Don't question. Just read it.
These are some of the most fun, irreverent comics one can read - until Preacher came around. Lobo had to deliver a prisoner - alive. The main man gets whacked and to reincarnate - leading to all kinds of nasty problems. And, in a comic that's nearly as manic as punisher kills the marvel universe - accepts a hit on Santa. Don't question. Just read it.
December 15, 2018
This volume compiles the first two Lobo mini-series and a few special issues released in the early 90s, all written by Keith Giffen and Alan Grant.
To be honest, I just didn’t get most of it. I enjoyed it though as a testament of how crazy the 90s were! And okay, the “Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special” and the “Blazing Chain of Love” special were actually fun.
To be honest, I just didn’t get most of it. I enjoyed it though as a testament of how crazy the 90s were! And okay, the “Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special” and the “Blazing Chain of Love” special were actually fun.
August 15, 2019
Okay okay only. If you have been seeing or hearing everywhere about Lobo being such a fan favourite anti-hero & you want to know why then this is a great start. This book pretty much sums up what kind of character this guy is. I rated it only 3 stars because some of the stories inside are not that interesting to me.
October 15, 2019
Gratuitous violence and ultra-macho mayhem, this character and his universe are an artistic oasis; balls-out creative abandon let off the chain to run roughshod over story-telling sacred cows like continuity and closure. I had so much fun being dragged across the galaxies with this no-account monster on his absurd adventures. Looking forward to more.
March 6, 2025
This is so great - a 90s explosion of colour and ultra violence. And all told with it's tongue firmly in cheek. Lobo is a parody of the edgy comics era of the 1990s and it's insane to me to hear that he took off *seriously*. This collection is ridiculous and over the top and the art is spectacular, more like 2000AD than traditional DC. Highly recommended.
March 16, 2018
Very '90s and very non-PC.
May 17, 2019
Super cheesy and super violent. Perfect.
February 11, 2020
The Bisley art is superb
May 28, 2021
Lobo is one of the few DC characters I like. He's all kinds of wrong in all the best ways. If you like your comics completely ridiculous and incredibly violent, Lobo is your main man.
September 20, 2021
Feetals gizz
July 19, 2022
4 stars specifically for Lobo's Back and the convention special
November 23, 2023
Story fine, art amazing
June 8, 2024
Get ready for a frag-fest like no other! Pure, unadulterated ultra-violence the likes of which can only be found in these ribald tales of terror about the one and only Main Man!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews