Customer Reviews

DC Universe: Last Sons

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

DC continues to use their vast universe of characters in this story which mainly features Lobo, The Bounty Hunter. Martian Manhunter and Superman "guest star", but it is the Main Man and his healing factor (like Woverine's) that are the Main attractions here. The story is a quick read, and it's great to see that DC is following Marvel's lead by putting out quality novels.

I bought this book years ago lost it, found it, then it was 'borrowed' damaged and lost by a neighbor so I recently bought another to recomplete the series. All this time I thought the book would mainly be Martian Manhunter and Superman with Lobo getting into the mix. This is, as other reviewers have said, mainly a novel about Lobo and the trail of chaos left in his wake. Superman was almost an afterthought; and Manhunter... well you'll see. Now, never being a fan of the Superman/Lobo story lines you would think I would HATE this LOBO-CENTRIC STORY... Well, no. It is interesting enough to give the Lobo/Superman storylines another shot. The Main Man is funny in a grotesque dark comedy sort of way(Lobo was voiced by Brad Garrett in the Superman Animated Series). I would have to say the best parts of the novel are centered around John Jones (J'onn J'onnzz).

I would like to see a Martian Manhunter centered novel in the style of a Hard Boiled Detective novel. Actually that would not make a bad TV series. Hey WB are you reading this?

Like other reviews have said, don't buy this if you're expecting it to be more about Superman/Martian Manhunter. Surprisingly, this book is more about Lobo. If you're a Lobo fan, then you'll most likely love this book, if not, I'm not sure you will. Lobo is an over the top character. In vein of The Punisher and Wolverine, and humor kinda like Deadpool, except he's more brutal most of the time. But he's not completely evil, he does do good deeds every once in awhile, and he loves space dolphins. I finished this book in about a week. It was an entertaining read.

Lobo was a pretty popular character in the early/mid 90's, his popularity has died down since then. He has appeared in "Superman: The Animated Series" and in an episode of "Justice League." A more kid friendly Lobo, but still had pretty much all the same characteristics from the comic book version.

Not really sure what else to say, so I'll end it... This book is worth reading if you "get" the character Lobo, which I certainly do.

Lobo is the meanest and most ornery bounty hunter in the galaxy. He is the sort of being who has no problem killing anyone who gets in his way. His next quarry, supposedly with a million-credit bounty on his head, is J'onn J'onnzz, Martian Manhunter of the Justice League.

Despite Lobo's lack of morality, he does have a code of honor, being scrupulously honest. He also has a crush on Darlene, a waitress at a burger joint on an asteroid.

Meantime, somewhere in the interstellar middle of nowhere, an artificial intelligence called The Alpha hatches a plan to wipe out all life in the universe. When Lobo delivers J'onnzz, with Superman not far behind, all three are thrown in prison. But, this is not your average prison. The walls in Superman's cell are impregnated with kryptonite; Lobo and J'onnzz are similarly trapped. The only thing that all three have in common is that they are the last of their race (in Lobo's case, it was intentional).

The Alpha plans to dissect them and use that emotional energy to create an invincible fighting force. Their release, and stopping The Alpha before it wipes out any more civilizations, depends on a crime boss named Xemtex. Lobo cut Xemtex's brain out of his head, and it now controls Lobo's space bike.

Coming from a comic book "mentality" (for lack of a better word), it's a very fast and entertaining read with plenty of action. It's recommended, especially for those who don't consider themselves comic book readers.

I bought this book because of Superman on the cover, I had heard of Lobo, of course, but figured Superman would be the star. Wrong.
Was Grant's intention to tell a complex riveting story with some good fight scenes. Ask him.
For me this served to introduce me to Lobo, a character with a complicated back story and a fun read.
But then all the other books in this line serve as a way to either introduce to the casual comics reader, or update the old readers on characters.
For example: Jonah Hex, Scalphnter, Bat Lash, Tempest, Arsenal, the Question, Lady Shiva...
If this is a way for DC to improve the marketing of their lesser known characters, it works rather well.

This is first and foremost a Lobo story. So, not a book for the little kids. Much slaughtering of unsavory types and innocent planetary populations ensues (the latter not by Lobo, but by what turns out to be the remnants of the Coluan computer tyrants). If that is more your thing, you will like it a bit more. The Manhunter guest stars, so to speak, and Superman is really only a cameo participant, by and large. Some deliberate cheesy character naming - Taran Quarantino, as a bounty hunter's pimp, basically, and K'Baal the dark magician bounty hunter.

I thought this was going to be a Superman novel with Martian Manhunter and Lobo guest-starring. Wrong. This is primarily a Lobo novel. There are some morbidly hilarious scenes in this book. Grant's characterization of Lobo is right on. Three days well spent on this entertaining book. Looking foward to your next novel, Mr. Grant

Got this at a local bookstore, but I thought I'd add my 2c anyways.

Last Sons did resemble a Superman ep where Lobo and Superman were "targets" because of their uniqueness. However, I don't think it detracts from the entertainment value of the story.

It takes a while for the action to arrive, however, I am a reader that appreciates an interesting history or build up. One aspect I enjoyed a whole lot was the abilities of Lobo's bike! :) Who knew....ah but let's not add any spoilers.

Well written by and large, I only dinged a star for slight similarities to already established storylines (would have only dinged half if that were allowed). But hey...once a piece of fiction is around long enough, everything's bound to have been done right? (Simpsons did it!!!!)

Alan Grant kicked off the original JLA series of novels with THE STONE KING, and that (along with SUPERMAN: THE NEVER ENDING BATTLE by Roger Stern) was one of the best - which is both high praise, and faint as well.

Faint, since the rest of the novels in the JLA series were terrible books (with WONDER WOMAN: MYTHOS and GREEN LANTERN: HERO'S QUEST reaching new lows) - so, while THE STONE KING had a number of problems, it looks almost golden next to the rest of the series. That and he was lucky enough to snag the BATMAN as his topic - while not impossible, it is very hard to crank out a bad BATMAN story. Some authors have managed to do the impossible from time to time, but not Grant... and here he is again with the first in a new series, the DC UNIVERSE line, sans the BATMAN and lumbered with three of the DCU's heavy hitters. Superman, The Martian Manhunter and Lobo (the Main Man) - each sit at the top of the DCU pyramid for sheer power. Each are icons, and each are the last of their kind... and it's this thin thread that connects all three for LAST SONS.

And that's about it - because really, there is no other reason why these three should ever be together - but Grant takes up the challenge and tries his level best to deliver, if not a novel, then a novelization of an original comic series, and does rather well. The story is all bluster, and involves an all powerful "creature" hell bent on destroying all life in the universe. Along the way it's looking to contradict itself at every turn by saving one member of each race it destroys (all the while taking time to gather up those life forms already the last of their kinds - hence: last sons), and putting them in a zoo, which doubles as a power source for its destructive rampage. It's a typical set up with a standard payoff - no surprise here, the good guys win... and Lobo gets paid.

The high wire act here though is Lobo. Crude, rude, violent and lacking any sense of compassion Lobo is a tough character to write for in a book aimed at the YA crowd. There is some language, some sex, and plenty of violence - but for the most part Grant is stuck with toning down the Main Man time and again to fit between the covers. Lobo never can cross the line here, can never go over the top as he has before, and in the end goes a little soft - it's weak, but Grant knows he can't tear the pages up with Lobo all the time, so he saves his punches for when they matter. As for Superman, he's Superman all the way through (and Grant uses this to great effect exactly once in the book, in the bounty hunter bar), while the Martian Manhunter is nearly a blank slate. He's there, he's useful, he feels and bleeds - but reads flat on the page. Both he and Superman could be turned into talking, intelligent bulldozers and the story wouldn't change very much (although it might have been funnier).

As with all these books, it's all build up to the rushed ending. Plots are resolved, mysteries solved and loose ends all tied up and close book.

Overall Alan Grant turns in a good one here. There are some great moments to discover if you can get through all the padding - and it will leave you looking for, and wanting more. Lucky for you... more is coming.

I looked at the book and because Lobo, the Martian Manhunter and Superman were in it I purchased the book assuming that it would be a good story with great fight scenes between the main characters. The book has very little action. It spends much of the time portraying Lobo as a Wolverine rip-off and the Manhunter as a Sap. The first half of the book has no action. Surprisingly (or not with such a week story) there is much inuendo and sexual content which was unexpected because these are characters that teenagers would be interested in. It was truly a waste of money.