REVIEW: ‘DC K.O.: Wonder Woman vs Lobo’ Issue 1

DC K.O.: Wonder Woman vs Lobo Issue 1 is published by DC Comics and written by Joëlle Jones, art by Jason Howard, Cary Nord, and Daniel Bayliss, colors by Tamra Bonvillain and Bayliss, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

This is part of DC K.O. and Round Three of All Fight Month. Wonder Woman faces the insane Czarnian Lobo.

Diana and Lobo, two characters who could not be more different, come to blows in a chaotic fight that is rife with violence. Jones approaches each round with a different energy, pivoting and swinging momentum back and forth multiple times. The rules of the contest are noticeably stretched in DC K.O.: Wonder Woman vs Lobo Issue 1. Other figures are allowed to join because they are present at the location, and Jones flaunts the fabric of reality in different ways.

There are no rules to the tournament, so there’s no reason why these attributes can’t be added, and it makes the comic more fascinating and unpredictable. It can feel a bit like cheating, but it also creates variety and intrigue. The fighting itself is exhilarating and violent, but also ridiculous and comical.

The focus inside DC K.O.: Wonder Woman vs Lobo Issue 1 is the Czarnian. Diana is a pivotal character, but her voice is drowned out by Lobo’s loud ramblings. Lobo represents everything Wonder Woman despises. He’s crass, arrogant, and misogynistic. He truly believes himself to be the most remarkable being on the planet, as ordained by God. When Wonder Woman does respond, it’s to insult Lobo or to remind him of what he really is. The arrogance does little to dampen Diana’s own confidence, because she’s fought much worse than him.

The art in Wonder Woman vs Lobo Issue 1 is delightfully scruffy. All of the artists approach the book with a similar style, one that encapsulates madness. Lobo looks chaotic, with pupilless eyes and a large, snarling mouth. He oscillates between looking both terrifying and goofy. He also looks huge. Wonder Woman is more presentable, tall, and lithe, but with a muscular build. She seems perpetually annoyed at Lobo, sometimes even succumbing to his taunts.

The second round sees their form change, as the Heart of Apokolips allows it. It’s enjoyable to see slightly different designs. Lobo is having fun whilst Diana is dressed for war. The fight is superb and savage. Neither competitor is holding back in Wonder Woman vs Lobo Issue 1, the hits draw blood nearly every time. It’s visceral and cartoony at the same time.

The colors are fantastic. At first, there’s a beautiful subtlety. Wonder Woman looks small compared to Lobo, but there are still flashes of red and blue on her uniform. When the costumes change, Wonder Woman is primarily dressed in gold, wearing her Godkiller armor. The red and blue stay small and understated throughout the issue. In contrast, the faint blue and ghostly white of Lobo are always present, highlighting how captivating he is in this round. The lettering grows large and bold, showcasing how loud and obnoxious the Czarnian is.

DC K.O.: Wonder Woman vs Lobo Issue 1 pits two complete opposites against each other. There is a terrific catharsis to this issue. The first two rounds have seen Justice League members fight each other, something that they don’t necessarily want to do. But Lobo and Wonder Woman have no qualms beating the snot out of each other. It’s a frantic, funny, full-on fight issue that captures the energy of this event. It had many different features that set it aside and show just how creative those involved with these fights can be.

DC K.O.: Wonder Woman vs. Lobo Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.