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Very powerful characters are also a problem when we imagine that is relatively hard to present challenges and develop stories for them. Of course this doesn’t prevent the existence of good stories for this type of hero, but it is a little weird to see some Martian Manhunter or Spectre stories, just to mention two that fit in the profile of “absurdly powerful”, acting so below his powers. With Lobo something similar also occurs. His powers are very high. Of course he doesn't fly neither has heat vision, but even though has excess of abilities and a very low quantity of “weak points”. Let’s start by analyzing his abilities and weaknesses through the "official chronology” and afterwards analyze how this helps or is a hindrance for the character development. Firstly, something that generates many doubts for the readers: What is the level of Lobo’s strength? The only way of being aware of that is checking his behavior in combats with characters who the others know they are strong. Some of the stronger characters Main Man has already faced were Superman, Martian Manhunter and Big Barda, only mentioning some of the most well known. In the three cases, Lobo has faced them on equal terms. Main Man is one of the few DC Universe characters who managed to inflict ache in Man of Steel. Therefore, at least, his strength is equivalent to Big Blue’s, apparently he feels tired a little faster though (the difference isn’t so, affecting a fight only if it takes veeeeery long). In spite of the strength, Lobo isn’t as vulnerable as the above mentioned heroes. Although he can stands punch as much as them, Main Man can be punctured by bullets or knives, for instance, different from Superman. His protection against that is the fact of being immortal.
That brings the other of these abilities: regeneration. Cut a part of Lobo off, any of them (until this one you're thinking about, your immortal) and he regenerates himself. Until if it was the head! However, this regeneration isn’t so fast and, depending on the piece that misses, it can take long. If Lobo will be divided in many pieces, he regenerates from that where his soul will be (usually the head). Lobo also can incorporate in something unanimated or in animals (he already has “resurrected” in his own carcass once). Never has been tested an incorporation in another to be rational. The immortality still brings another characteristic: Any poison works in Lobo. Neither “medicines” as the Joker gas manage work in Main Man, although some prepared people are able to achieve it, as the servant by Vril Dox to null his capacity of creating clones. Lobo also has such a big willpower that he is able to destroy created prisons by Green Lanterns. Ina fight with Hal Jordan, for instance, he has easily destroyed various walls created by the power ring. Another characteristic of his willpower is the difficulty of being dominated by living beings as Deadman, for instance. A lot of fights are required to be able to dominate the Lobo’s body and, even though, a lot of energy is necessary to go on with him. There still the Lobo capacity of tracing, from his smell, he is able of recognizing any person or thing. If Lobo knows the smell of a person, he is able to find her/his in the confines of the universe. However, already was demonstrated if the person dissembles his natural smell with a smell very strong, he is able to fool Lobo (although need to maintain this “perfume” for all the time he would be close to Main Man). The smell also can't work for some minutes or hours if Lobo is reached by an explosion very strong. At last, one of the most curious Lobo’s abilities is his relative invulnerability to the magic. Relative because a magic can even achieve him once, but the same magic won't never achieve him again because his immunology system automatically gets adapted to it.
Firstly, his relative vulnerability to electrical shocks and gas attacks. The effect of the shocks isn’t usually very harrier, but can maintain Lobo astonished for some time. In the case of the gases, very strong narcotics are used to work, although poisons didn’t have any effect. In addition, although being difficult a spirit to dominate Lobo’s body, as we’ve already said, is relatively easy hypnotize him. The only problem is to have his attention for a sufficient time to the hypnosis. His greater weak point is, curiosity, his unique virtue: Lobo doesn't go back in his words in any hypothesis. Whatever he had promised me, he gave his word will carry it out that has to make sacrifices for that. The thing is that some smart people take advantages of that by reaching catchy agreements. All these powers and weaknesses were already used according to the DC Comics chronology, of high-and low-grade. However, all the characters of comics have their powers slightly increased or decreased depending on the scripter. For this reason, we don’t see Lobo using all his abilities all the time, that, by only this, become invincible 99% of the cases.
text: Lucio
Luiz | ||
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Lobo Brasil,
providing indispensable to the internet since October, 29th, 1997. |
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The
time of the superheroes with almost divine powers has gone. Superman himself had
his abilities been reduced significantly when John Byrne lead a reformulation
(although until today there is somebody missing the time when Big Blue could
move the Earth). Even though, some authors didn’t manage to resist and are
amplifying the powers of their characters once in a while.
There
are many immortal characters in DC: Resurrection, Ras’Al’Guhl, Vandal Savage,
Wonder Woman, etc., etc., etc. The point that differ Lobo from the majority of
them is that a great portion of the "immortals", actually, are people who don’t
die only if for natural causes; if they were murdered, died and were dead. Lobo,
even if he were murdered, perforated and grinded, a single little finger is
sufficient for his soul to send to this piece of his body and regenerate from
that.
After
so many powers, it was expected the Lobo’s weaknesses were also in a quantity
equivalent to exist an "equilibrium", but it isn't like that. Not mentioning
some little limitations in the already mentioned powers, only three deserved
weaknesses of this name were presented until today.