CSBG Archive
Meta-Messages – Alan Grant and Lobo Go Meta Crazy!
All October long I will be exploring the context behind (using reader danjack’s term) “meta-messages.” A meta-message is where a comic book creator comments on/references the work of another comic book/comic book creator using the characters in their comic. Each time around, I’ll give you the context behind one such “meta-message.” Here is an archive of the past installments! If you have a suggestion for a future meta-message, e-mail me at bcronin@comicbookresources.com.
Reader Alex B. suggested that I feature Lobo #60-62, a three-part story that is basically about a meta-fictional as a comic storyline can get. In it, Alan Grant (writer of Lobo) is ordered by Mike Carlin to turn Lobo into a superhero because of complaints about Lobo from Wizard: The Magazine. Hilarity, as the say, ensues.
Pretty much every page of the three issues applies to the idea of Meta-Messages, but just to keep from featuring, well, every page, I’ll just spotlight a few pages from #61.
First off, Alan Grant establishes the premise of the story (as well as the cast of characters)…
Later, we meet the “villains” of the piece, the folks at Wizard…
Grant rebels against Carlin…
(Raspler does, indeed, return)
Finally, after getting fired, Grant snaps!
The resolution in #62 is awesome, especially the interactions between Grant and Lobo.
14 Comments
Tom Fitzpatrick
October 25, 2011 at 5:24 am
It’s kinda funny, tho’, how that Batman vs Darkseid was foreshadowed here.
And resolved many years later in FINAL CRISIS, which Didio says never happened in respect to The New 52 continuity.
Ritchard
October 25, 2011 at 6:31 am
This is awesome! Makes me wish I’d stuck with Lobo longer than I did.
I have to ask: does this story have anything to do with Grant’s essentially being a persona non grata at DC? I could see how some folks with thin skin might take offense, even though it’s clearly satire.
Stephane S.
October 25, 2011 at 6:53 am
Portraying Wizard as pushing for tastefulness in comics pushes the boundaries of my suspension of disbelief.
randypan the goatboy
October 25, 2011 at 7:18 am
There needs to be an epilog[epiloge..whatever]..sequel where the internets crush the nuts out of the mighty wizard once and for all…I know they are still on line…but for that matter you can find back issues of dp7 in some comic shops…big frickin deal
chad
October 25, 2011 at 7:20 am
been waiting for this one to show up here plus talk about fore shadowing the wizard guys pitting batman and darksiede against each other a little peek at things that would come.
TJCoolguy
October 25, 2011 at 12:11 pm
Ah man, Lobo needs a new series. It’s such escapist pablum, but dammit… the world needs Lobo! Give it to someone like Joe Casey. After “Butcher Baker”, he could slide right in.
buttler
October 25, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Another fine example of the subjectivity of humor. I couldn’t stand this series, but I’ve never been able to get into either Lobo (even the Giffen stuff) or Alan Grant’s writing, so that wasn’t much of a surprise.
Alex B.
October 25, 2011 at 1:21 pm
I loved this series and I hate the fact that DC never collected ANY of Grant’s work (his L.E.G.I.O.N., Demon and Lobo). It’s a crime. You just gotta find every single back issue. It takes a special type of crazy to appreciate Alan Grant’s work (although his Batman stuff was more normal).
And the reason they never published a new Lobo series is because NO writer can do Lobo properly like Grant or Giffen did.
Kabe
October 25, 2011 at 2:08 pm
Whoever the artist is, he/she draws a mean Darkseid
Ben Herman
October 25, 2011 at 8:13 pm
I’m certainly not a fan of Lobo, but I’ve enjoyed a lot of Alan Grant’s writing on various other titles. And, yeah, this story looks pretty damn funny.
Zeke
October 25, 2011 at 8:18 pm
One name shared with Alan Moore, the other with Grant Morrison… poor guy never had a chance.
And now we know who the Sentry stole his costume from!
Ganky
October 25, 2011 at 9:40 pm
TJCoolGuy — There is a new Lobo comic out now, called OMAC. I hope th’ Main Man does show up there if the book lasts that long. Lotsa fightin’ and ‘splosions.
christopher towle
October 29, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Good call Zeke, that’s almost exactly the retro Sentry costume from the Jenkins minis.
Air Walker
December 18, 2012 at 2:02 pm
is that Greg Luzniak(sp?) art?
i’ve always had a soft spot for his “extreme”.