Lobo’s Hated “Sexy” Redesign Returns in DC’s Latest Wild Tournament

Lobo’s “New 52” makeover was one of DC’s boldest misfires, and now it’s back in the comics, front and centre. In the company’s universe-wide DC K.O. event, they haven’t just acknowledged this controversial era; they’ve put it right in readers’ faces. During the main event of Wonder Woman vs. Lobo #1, that infamous, much-loathed “sexy Lobo” is officially up for another round. Brace yourself: the comics’ most hotly debated redesign is no longer a bad memory. It’s canon again.

DC’s Tournament Forces Lobo to Relive His Most Notorious Chapter

Let’s get straight to the high stakes. DC K.O., their latest fight-to-the-finish story arc, is all about putting characters in wild new matchups and making them reinvent themselves with each round. Round one gave us Superman in his “DC One Million” glory. But the second big fight, Wonder Woman vs. Lobo, has delivered something no one expected: the return of New 52 Lobo.

After Wonder Woman is nearly taken out at the opening bell, both fighters get a chance to pick “new forms” for the rematch. Wonder Woman grabs her iconic allies for backup. Lobo? He goes for shock value, dusting off the look fans hated most: the slim, brooding, chiselled-reboot “space assassin Lobo” from the New 52 era. It’s the return of a redesign that’s been the punchline (or cringe flashback) for over a decade.

This is not just an Easter egg or background gag. Lobo’s New 52 style is featured directly in the fight and treated by the writers as a legitimate choice, a “form” he can take on, not just a forgotten impostor. That settles a debate that’s lingered ever since the failed reboot: Was New 52 Lobo a clone, or did he ever actually replace the original? With this appearance, DC makes it clear: it’s still Lobo. Just a very divisive version.

Why the New 52 Lobo Sparked Outrage, and What DC Is Really Saying Now

Let’s not sugarcoat it. When DC reimagined Lobo for its 2011 New 52 reboot, fans erupted. Gone was the wild, cigar-chomping, beer-slugging space biker with attitude to spare. Instead, the company handed readers a sleeker, more “attractive” space assassin, complete with impeccable grooming, stylish armour, and all the edge sanded off. The core DNA of Lobo was swapped for a generic anti-hero look that most longtime fans rejected instantly.

Even creators at the time found themselves defending the move, but the backlash was persistent and loud. New 52 Lobo was memed and mocked almost from the moment he appeared, and, aside from a brief run that attempted to slowly drag the character back from the brink, DC ultimately retired the redesign (literally bottling him away in-universe) and brought the original Lobo back, hoping the whole thing would be forgotten.

Now, for the first time in years, DC is willing to shine a light on its own pop-culture misstep. This isn’t just editorial trolling, either. In Wonder Woman vs. Lobo, the story takes pains to clarify that “Sexy Lobo” is simply another possible incarnation of the character, not a separate entity. The difference? This time, he might keep (at least some of) the classic attitude. Is that enough for longtime fans to forgive, or is the Internet destined to relive the hate, meme by meme?

Either way, the DC K.O. team is poking fun at history, but they’re doing it with a knowing wink. The infamous New 52 redesign is now part of Lobo’s mythology for good; the butt of the joke, yet still part of the official character toolkit. You can see this wild return for yourself in DC K.O. Wonder Woman vs. Lobo #1, now available from DC Comics.

Love it or loathe it, this blast from the past has officially pushed the boundaries on what DC’s willing to acknowledge, joke about, and, yes, bring back from the comic book graveyard.