Jason Momoa's Lobo Performance Slammed By DC Comics Legend Grant Morrison
by Devin Meenan · /FilmAdd SlashFilm on Google:
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"Supergirl" came and went this summer blockbuster season, earning unenthusiastic reviews and flopping at the box office. It was a bad showing for the DC Universe's second movie, to the point some were (prematurely) saying this was the end for the whole enterprise — a sentiment that's now turned around again due to the success of the HBO series "Lanterns."
Comic writer Grant Morrison, who knows a thing or a thousand about the larger world of DC, weighed in on "Supergirl" recently. In a September 20 post on Morrison's Substack, Xanaduum, they shared a pretty indifferent reaction to "Supergirl," writing that it "wasn't terrible but wasn't especially great either."
Morrison had praise for Milly Alcock's performance as Kara Zor-El, saying she did a "credible job" and that "[a]ll the best and most moving scenes involved [her]." However, they were much less impressed with the movie's presentation of Lobo (Jason Momoa):
"Jason Momoa, who I was actually looking forward to, was very disappointing as Lobo. It was, in fact, one of the worst performances I've ever seen in a film and quite baffling, as I know Momoa's not usually that bad and Lobo seems like a character made for him to play. Go figure."
Momoa as Lobo has long been a DC fan dream. Indeed, back when he was first cast as Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe (as it was commonly known), the fan commentariat were saying he'd be better as Lobo. Indeed, actually casting Momoa as Lobo is the sort of very online-attuned decision-making that's characteristic of DC Studios Co-President James Gunn. But should DC fans have been careful what they wished for?
Grant Morrison's Supergirl criticisms, explained
Jason Momoa as Lobo is very much the spitting image of the comic character, yet the fan reaction to his appearance in "Supergirl" has been largely underwhelmed. Albeit, criticisms have focused more on Lobo's lack of presence than Momoa's performance.
Lobo's supporting part in "Supergirl" screams spin-off bait. But, considering the film's underperformance and Lobo not being the breakout character despite the movie's telegraphing for that, I'd say that's unlikely. That's not to say we'll never see him again if the DCU continues, but I think a "Lobo" solo film probably isn't happening anytime soon.
One reason why Lobo's presence in "Supergirl" feels forced and insubstantial is that he doesn't appear in the comic source material, Tom King and Bilquis Evely's "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow." The premise of both the comic and its movie adaptation is Supergirl traveling across the universe, helping young alien girl Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley) track down her father's killer, Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts). It's a space Western kind of story that was specifically inspired by "True Grit."
So, I get the case for including Lobo. Black hat bounty hunters, like Lobo, are a staple of the Western genre. An earlier pitch for "Woman of Tomorrow" was even a Supergirl/Lobo team-up. But grafting Lobo onto the story as ultimately written made him feel superfluous. Lobo isn't Grant Morrison's only "Supergirl" criticism, either. For reference, Kara joins Ruthye because Krem poisoned her dog, Krypto, and only Krem has an antidote.
"The whole plot fell apart in Act 2," Morrison argued. "All Supergirl had to do was bring Krypto with her to that yellow sun world, and the sun's rays would have made the dog invulnerable again, easily able to shake off any toxin."
How Grant Morrison feels about the DC Universe so far
Grant Morrison's complaint is a consequence of "Supergirl" changing Kara's motivation from "Woman of Tomorrow." The comic's ending reveals that Krypto wasn't actually in danger, Kara just pretended he was to tag along on Ruthye's quest and stop her from falling into revenge. In the movie, Kara starts in a more cynical place, so Krypto's poisoning is a genuine ticking clock. For some, Morrison included, that change didn't pay off.
So, don't put Morrison down as a "Supergirl" fan, but they aren't negative on the DCU as a whole. Morrison has offered high praise for James Gunn's "Superman," even calling it the best Superman film to date. That must've felt very validating for Gunn, who's cited Morrison and artist Frank Quitely's comic masterpiece "All-Star Superman" as a guiding influence.
"[Gunn's 'Superman'] just was more like a comic, and I thought it came the closest to capturing what Superman feels like," Morrison explained in an interview with Half The Picture. That said, Morrison wasn't a big fan of the twist that Jor-El (Bradley Cooper) sent his son to conquer Earth.
"I prefer when Krypton is this lost utopia," Morrison admitted. In the same Substack post about "Supergirl," they added they are enjoying "Lanterns," particularly Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. "I didn't care for the Hannibal Lectering of Sinestro, but otherwise the show has picked up nicely and the approach has worked, so good on them," Morrison added.
Morrison, who previously criticized "Lanterns" co-creator Damon Lindelof's light jab that "Green Lantern" is too silly a name, evidently enjoyed proving the "clickbait creators" wrong about them being a "Lanterns" naysayer. We can only wait to see how they'll react to James Gunn's "Superman" sequel," "Man of Tomorrow."