The Omega Men #3
Published and © by DC, June 1983
Title: “Assault on Euphorix!”
Synopsis: Kalista leads a team of Omega Men to save her homeworld – but it turns out to be a trap!
Writer: Roger Slifer
Penciler: Keith Giffen
Inker: Mike DeCarlo
Review: The third issue of The Omega Men is best known for the debut of Lobo, who would go on to be one of DC’s biggest stars during the grim-and-gritty 1990s. Czarnia’s last son is barely recognizable here, but his penchant for violence certainly fits in with this series’ status quo. Both story and art continue to wallow in the book’s status as a direct-only title, allowing for more graphic, “mature” content. And while this still doesn’t necessarily feel mature, The Omega Men’s graphic flourishes do lend some weight to the escalating Citadel War.
Grade: B
Cool factor: The short-lived character Humbek, who is a fun shoutout to comic fan artist Fred Hembeck.
Not-so-cool factor: The cardboard bickering between Tigorr and Primus, which makes both characters utterly unlikeable.
Notable: First appearance of Lobo.
Character quotable: “Hey, babe – wanna dance?” – Lobo, with a pickup line no one wants to hear
Editor’s note: This review was written April 25, 2021.
