Dark Nights: Death Metal - Infinite Hour Exxxtreme Puts Lobo in the Spotlight
- WRITER
- Becky Cloonan, Sam Humphries, Frank Tieri
- Artist
- Bill Sienkiewicz, Rags Morales, Tyler Kirkham, Denys Cowan
- Letterer
- Dave Sharpe, Rob Leigh
- Cover Artist
- Dan Brown, Kyle Hotz
- Publisher
- DC Comics
- Price
- 5.99
- Release Date
- 2020-11-10
- Colorist
- Andrew Dalhouse, Arif Prianto, Chris Sotomayor
The intergalactic bounty hunter Lobo was one of the characters who quietly figured into the first half of the crossover event Dark Nights: Death Metal, where he was sent on an enigmatic mission by Lex Luthor that spanned the entire DC Multiverse. In the latest tie-in special Infinite Hour Exxxtreme #1, Lobo is thrust into center stage as the true stakes of his mission are explored. And for fans of the Main Man, this special really lets the antihero shine on center stage while potentially giving the heroes the means to make things right as Death Metal escalates in the main series.
Infinite Hour Exxxtreme features a trilogy of interconnected stories following Lobo during the overarching events of Death Metal. The opening story, by Frank Tieri and Tyler Kirkham, shows exactly how Lex Luthor was able to recruit the Ultimate Bastich as Perpetua and the Batman Who Laughs launched their conquest of the DC Multiverse. The centerpiece story, by Becky Cloonan and Rags Morales, puts the mission into motion as Lobo finds a surprise, iconically that could bring enormous consequences to the crossover event. The special ends on a more humorous note with a line of vignettes, by Sam Humphries, Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz, from the Last Czarnian's perspective, with a bit of setup to the main story.
For fans of the boisterous, brutal antihero, this special is a cover-to-cover blast, with Lobo fragging just about anyone that gets in his way. Despite the rotating creative teams, the protagonist's voice and the special's overall tone stays relatively the same. The lead-off story perhaps is the most effective and thrilling of the tales included, with Tieri showcasing just how unapologetically badass Lobo is, even before he steps up to become involved in Death Metal. The most important and consequential story to Death Metal itself is Cloonan's tale, which sets the stage for Lobo and his impromptu partner's arrival in the main crossover event. By design, Humphries' vignettes are more lightweight; they're still true to the character, but there is a breezy whimsy about them while setting up what's to come.
Working with colorist Arif Prianto, Kirkham's artwork is especially superb highlighting what exactly Lobo does to earn him the title of the Main Man. The most thrilling action sequences in the entire special are delivered by Kirkham and Prianto, with an especially sinister Dark Knight making their debut to provide a challenge worthy of the Ultimate Bastich. Morales is joined by colorist Andrew Dalhouse, with their work truly finding its footing with its own action set-piece before really gelling when a character Morales has an extensive history with enters the proceedings. And longtime collaborators Cowan and Sienkiewicz, with colorist Chris Sotomayor, get to play around with the iconic origins of the DC Universe, putting their own fun spin of classic characters as seen by Lobo. It's always a treat to see Cowan, Siekienkiewicz and Sotomayor work together and -- as seemingly brief as their work is here -- it's great seeing them put their own spin on these historic moments.
For those that find Lobo to be a one-note, grating character, this special isn't going to be the issue to change that opinion --, it also doesn't set out to do that. This special answers the question of what the Last Czarnian has been up to during the wider Death Metal crossover event and sets up his return to that main story in a big way as the event moves into its climax.
And for fans that have been waiting for the popular antihero to spend some overdue time in the spotlight, this special certainly delivers in full as Lobo cuts a path through the Multiverse without looking to take any prisoners.