Over the past decade, the DC Universe's most notorious antihero Lobo has been through a lot, even if he hasn't made that many appearances around the DC Universe. But when DC rebooted its universe with the New 52, Lobo received a controversial makeover that saw the iconic Last Czarnian briefly replaced by a younger, sexier incarnation of the character in 2012.
Created by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen in 1983's Omega Men #3, Lobo was developed as a satirical commentary on the rise of violent antiheroes in mainstream comics, more specifically, Wolverine and the Punisher. Lobo was revealed as the last of the Czarnian race, which he was personally responsible for since he singlehandedly slayed the entirety of his species. Possessing an incredible healing factor and superhuman strength and armed with guns, chains and a cosmic motorcycle, Lobo was a mercenary and assassin for the highest bidder, and he often worked alongside or against the heroes of the DCU at a moment's notice.
Deliriously violent and intentionally depicted as an over-the-top badass, Lobo proved to be immensely popular with readers. Throughout the '90s, the character received his own various solo titles while continuing to appear as a supporting character in cosmic-oriented DC series like L.E.G.I.O.N. and R.E.B.E.L.S. -- even becoming a member of Young Justice for a time.
However, the Ultimate Batisch was dramatically reimagined for a new generation -- along with a good chunk of the DC Universe -- with 2011's New 52 reboot.
Although Rob Liefeld brought a new Lobo into the New 52 with 2012's Deathstroke #9, an even more drastically reimagined Lobo would be introduced by Marguerite Bennett and Ben Oliver in 2013's Justice League #23.2. This Lobo relied on his intellect and charm as much as his strength and weaponry to get the job done. In this rebooted continuity, the Czarnians were revealed to have utilized blood pools to grant themselves their healing factor in a planetary ritual. However, the pools were poisoned, causing the entire population to descend into madness and forcing Lobo to wipe out his own race. The classic Lobo was retconned to have been an imposter, with the younger Lobo tracking him down to Earth to kill him at the start of his short-lived solo series.
With the DC Rebirth relaunch restoring much of the DCU's classic continuity, the traditional depiction of Lobo resurfaced without much explanation into his return or the attempted retcon to establish him as an imposter.
In the Justice League vs. Suicide Squad crossover, the classic Lobo was reintroduced as a previous member of a top-secret Suicide Squad, and he even joined the Justice League of America shortly thereafter.
In 2017's Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #12 by Robert Venditti and Ethan Van Sciver, the Green Lanterns would find Larfleeze had been controlling the latest incarnation of Brainiac to bottle various live specimens for his growing collection. One of these is a Czarnian who visibly resembles the younger, sleeker Lobo, imprisoned in his own bottle. Guy Gardner nearly rescues this apparent Lobo before being stopped by Hal who feels he is better left "on the shelf."
Widely derided upon his debut, the younger, leaner incarnation of Lobo from the New 52 era perhaps best personifies some of the more questionable creative decisions behind DC Comics' line-wide relaunch. The reimagined character was quickly brushed under the carpet of continuity while the classic Lobo's return was another visible shift that the DCU was returning to its roots and embracing its own legacy. While a bloody rematch between the classic Lobo and his younger counterpart may have been a thrilling proposition for readers in its own right, DC does not appear to be eager to revisit the reimagined Lobo any time for -- which may just be for the best.