Newly solo hero Crush, who’s learning how to handle things on her own and be a good girlfriend, the arrival of her father in her life couldn’t be worse timing. Your Major Spoilers review of Crush and Lobo #1 from DC Comics, awaits!
CRUSH AND LOBO #1 (OF 8)
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Amancay Nahucipan
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Editor: Andrea Shea
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 1st, 2021
Previously in Crush and Lobo: Crush recently walked away from her classmates at the Roy Harper Titans Academy and effectively quit being a Teen Titan in a blaze of glory. Her father, Lobo has been locked up in prison.
A ROUGH PATCH
Crush and Lobo #1 opens in the future with Crush destroying a robot. Things then shift back to her in another fight with a floating brain and a quartet of lizard men. After the melee she remembers her girlfriend Katie’s birthday party was that day and she was running late. She arrives at the party and tries her best to mingle. She then realizes that she has some residual gore on her from her earlier fight, but not before it mixes with lit vanilla candles and becomes a noxious gas. This leads the couple to have a quick exchange with Katie wanting space. Later on, Red Arrow shows up at Crush’s apartment to ask how things were going. During which Crush reveals that she received a message from Lobo asking her to come visit him in prison as part of his therapy. The issue ends with Crush stealing a space ship.
WELL WRITTEN, BUT INCOMPLETE
Being that this is the first issue of a miniseries, it’s natural that there are going to be some unresolved plots and unanswered questions. But, this goes a bit further and feels like the issue ends mid-sentence. While it’s clear that the first page is supposed to represent the conclusion of what’s started on the last couple of pages, there’s a large void there that makes this issue feel unfinished. On the flipside, what is here is well done. Of course, the whole “opposites attract” angle to a couple has been done forever, Mariko Tamaki manages to spice it up by utilizing just the right amount of superhero antics to the mix. Crush’s narration is an effective addition to this issue as well. It starts off as pretty grating and a bit annoying, but as the issue goes on it softens and becomes a bit more vulnerable as Crush herself slips into a more emotionally compromised position. It’s a nice change to the typical 4th wall breaking stuff we typically see. I can also appreciate that the angle being taken here isn’t the typical superhero slugfest and looks like it will touch on some deeper topics.
BOTTOM LINE: UNSATISFYING USE OF GOOD CHARACTERIZATION
Crush and Lobo #1 has some good things going for it. The main character is handled in an interesting way, there’s some fun twists on old tropes here, and the superhero/personal drama balance is good. It just doesn’t end in a good way and a lot of the events feel undercooked. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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Crush and Lobo #1
Crush and Lobo #1 wouldn’t sell me on the series based on the events of the issue alone. But, the writing is good and the characterization of Crush especially, makes me want to give this series another shot.
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Writing6
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Art7
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Coloring8
