Batman/Lobo

Batman/Lobo Writer: Alan Grant
Artists: Simon Bisley (p/i), Nathan Eyring (c), Bill Oakley (l)
Editors: Tony Bedard and Dan Raspler
Publisher: DC Comics (Elseworlds)
Price: $5.95 U.S. / $9.25 CAN

Plot: Scarface hires Lobo to kill the Joker, but before he dies, the Clown Prince of Crime puts a bounty on Batman's head, courtesy of the Main Man.

I hate Lobo. And yet, I paid more than nine dollars for this book. I'm glad to say that even though I have no use for Lobo, this Elseworlds tale was still entertaining.

Alan Grant takes his experience from writing Shadow Of The Bat and Lobo to create a comically violent tale with the definitive Lobo artist, Biz, and let me assure you, there is no Comics Code Authority stamp on this book. Bill Oakley should be acknowledged for strangely apt sounds like "FRAGGOOM!" which integrates more of Lobo into the story than one might regularly want. But Lobo is far from a regular character, so hyperbole is paramount in this one-shot.

Dick and Tim's roles as Robin and Nightwing are exchanged, while another of Grant's switcheroos involves Jim Gordon and Alfred. I don't care what you say, I'd rather have Alfred making my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches any day.

Lots of people die, including some heroes, and The Dark Knight Returns is referred to, along with a certain Big Blue ex-photographer.

The fun really culminates near the end of the tale, where four Batmen share the same airspace. The Joker finds out he's got family with one of them, too.

The only thing that seemed to be overlooked was when the Joker filled Lobo with poison, near the beginning of the story. That wasn't referred to later on, so I guess we can only assume that Lobo's self-healing properties helped him out there.

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