Warning: Spoilers for Power Girl #9
Summary
The ’90s are back in vogue at DC Comics, so it’s no surprise thatLobo’ssidekickDawghas finally made a return to the DCU. WhenPower Girlmeets Crush - Lobo’s estranged daughter - during the Braniac attacks on Metropolis,she and her Holliday Girlsare trying to ditch something that looks like a dog. Dawg, as his collar reads, is a new take on Lobo’s cigar-smoking bulldog.
This fan-favorite sidekick returns inPower Girl#9 by Leah Williams and Eduardo Pansica by following Crush around Metropolis just after a major Czarnian attack. When Power Girl discovers Crush in the streets of Metropolis,Crush is attempting to kick Dawg, who’s been following her around since she got to town. This is in line with how Dawg behaved in the past with Lobo, who distanced himself from the trouble-making pet when called out for his behavior.
This acrimonious relationship is therefore a comfortable one for the alien pooch; it’s what he’s used to seeing in his companion. Crush’s disparaging evaluationdoesn’t stop Dawg from joining her and Power Girlagainst the invaders. Dawg immediately joins the fray on the side of Crush and the Holliday Girls.
Power Girl#9 is a tie-in issue to the major Superman Family crossover event, “House of Brainiac.” Fans can check out the main action in the concurrent issues ofSupermanandAction Comicsby Joshua Williamson and Rafa Sandoval.
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Lobo’s “Sidekick” Dawg Finally Returns to the DC Universe
Crush’s Animosity towards Dawg Resembles His Rapport with Lobo
Dawg, sometimes also called Mutt, has previously appeared incomics at the side of Lobo, the Czarnian bounty hunter. The origins of this “sidekick” are unknown, but given his various feats of strength and red eyes,Dawg is generally considered to be an alien dog. Fans of Lobo loved Dawg’s rough appearance, signature bandage, and insistence on working beside Lobo despite the hunter’s bare tolerance in return. Over the course of their professional relationship, Lobo refuses to acknowledge Dawg being “his,” to the extent that he eventually kills him to prove it once and for all.
Created by legendary creators Keith Giffen and Alan Grant, Dawg first appeared inLobo Paramilitary Christmas Special#1 by Giffen, Grant, Simon Bisley, Lovern Kindzierski, and Gaspar Saladino.
This isn’t the first time Dawg has latched onto a new master and made himself a place on their team.Dawg’s most recent appearance before arriving in Metropolis was inHarley’s Little Black Book#6by Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Simon Bisley.On Lobo’s “date” with Harley Quinn, the trio find themselves stranded. Lobo tests the edibility of the local flora on Dawg, to the animal-loving Harley’s extreme displeasure. Dawg even catches her in his protruding lower jaw when they fall from space. Dawg’s affinity for the female anti-hero is an indicator that he would do well with a slightly more caring commander.
Where Might Fans See Dawg (and the Czarnians) Next?
Dawg joining Crush and Power Girl in a Czarnian-on-Czarnian bar brawl isn’t a passing alliance. This fight, and Dawg’s insistence on staying beside Crush, indicatea growing bond between Lobo’s alienated offspring and his former pet. Further, Crush’s induction into the Holliday Girls, a biker gang with ties to Wonder Woman ally Etta Candy, signals that readers can expect to see more of them in the future.
Dawg’s newfound loyalty to Crush is a sign of legitimacy, tying a classic comic sidekick to a new hero. WithPower Girlplanning a rescue of the Holliday Girls alongside Crush and Dawg, Lobo fans can anticipate more Czarnian drama ahead. It will be interesting to see if Crush encounters her deadbeat dad,Lobo,and to see whoDawgallies himself with.
POWER GIRL #9 (2024)
