Crush & Lobo #4 Review

 

Wasting Away

Writer: Mariko Tamaki

Artist: Amancay Nahuelpan

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 9, 2021

I like both Crush and Lobo, and while I was looking forward to this 8-issue mini-series, I was also hoping to get some story out of it.  So far, we have barely gotten anything but lame jokes and fourth-wall-breaking nonsense that hasn't elevated the character at all but instead has made her what she would hate the most - just the daughter of Lobo.  Let's jump into this one now, shall we?

The issue opens with Crush reminding us she has daddy issues and then giving us a rundown of her daily activities in prison.  Mariko Tamaki provides the reader with what she must think is a couple of hilarious situations (they aren't). It all comes down to Crush fighting aliens who think she is Lobo, dealing with her cellmate, and getting more Katie flashbacks. But, of course, if you have been reading this series, you know the routine by now.  I hate to say it, but it just feels like this is a book assigned to Tamaki without her having anything to say about either character.

Still, I wasn't angry about it until we get halfway through the issue, and Crush realizes that everything Lobo said to her recently wasn't from the heart, but was in fact, just stuff he heard others say in therapy.  Wait for a second here!  Do you mean that the guy who tricked Crush into taking his place in prison didn't mean all those nice things he said to her?!?  Stop the frickin' presses!!!!  I can't believe it!!!!  Seriously, I can't stress how stupid and ridiculous this "revelation" was!  Congratulations, Mariko Tamaki, you have lessened Crush even more here!

Because of this, Crush destroys the robot therapist and then comes up with a plan.  A plan so crazy, it just might work.  Until it doesn't.  Again, Tamaki wastes page space setting up a plan that fails, only to have Crush make a deal to hunt down her father by the end.  I think I'm generous by saying you could read the last two pages and not miss a thing because I am sure that you will be up to speed with one narration box next issue. 

Bits and Pieces:

Mariko Tamaki continues meandering about with Crush and Lobo, and while the issue looks great, nothing is going on storywise.  We are halfway through an eight-issue mini, so why does it feel like we have barely gotten started?  Oh well, I will hold out hope that the second half is where Tamaki will shine because I like both Crush and Lobo, just not Crush & Lobo.

4.0/10