COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Lockjaw #4 (D-Man Is A Dog's Best...Dragon?)

Lockjaw and Dennis prepare for their confrontation with Annihilus and the final instalment of their adventure beckons. But first they have to sleep.

LOCKJAW #4
Writer: Daniel Kibblesmith
Penciler: Carlos Villa
Inker: Roberto Poggi
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Letters: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover: Ulises Farinas & Ryan Hill
Publisher: Marvel Comics

What You Need to Know:

Dennis continues down the rabbit hole that is the daily life of his Inhuman doggy companion. The duo has gone up against horrible hamsters and met with Lockjaw’s canine litter, one in the company of wolves in the Savage Land and the other a friend of Spider-Ham in the Larval dimension. But nothing can prepare them for what is to follow. In a bid to discover the whereabouts of their enemy Annihilus and rescue the last missing sibling they meet the Sleepwalker and his dog….Dog Walker.

What You’ll Find Out:

Dennis has followed Lockjaw on his interdimensional jaunt and has arrived in his dreams in time to see the memories of Lockjaws origins. An alien woman is trying to save a dog from the clutches of the Inhuman Royal Guard. Arrested and having the dog taken away from her, Myrren Barabus protests she must “save the baby”. As Lockjaw sniffs suspiciously at Sleepwalkers canine compatriot, Dennis watches in confusion and Sleepwalker explains that memories and dreams are intertwined and agrees when Dennis states it’s a good thing he has pants on.

Going on to explain the existence of Dog Walker he introduces himself and the Mindscape. The two travelers then go on to bear witness to more memories of Lockjaws birth as the Inhuman scientists prepare to test the effects of Terrigenesis on his mother, with him in utero, before using it on the unborn Boltagon. They see that the scientists have perpetrated many experiments before and make mention of more having been performed on her, including impregnating her with her own cloned genetic material. Suddenly as the scientists discover there are five heartbeats, Lockjaw leaps to defend her and he and Dennis find themselves inside her womb. As the scientists go on to discover that at least one of them has hidden talents and discuss what to do, baby Lockjaw hears the scientists plans for he and his siblings. Taking action he teleports his siblings to various locations before returning to his mother.

Witnessing each of the locations Dennis realizes Lockjaw has discovered the whereabouts of the missing sibling and Annihilus and return to Doc Jaws lab. With no further ado, he leaps into action and on the offensive against Annihilus, who is ready for them. Knocking them down with a blast of energy he goes on to thank Dennis for bringing him the very thing he needs. Having taken over some of the High Evolutionary’s tech he has been experimenting on animals for years, utilizing torture to unlock the teleportation ability in Lockjaw’s lost brother. Annihilus offers a trade, WHICH Dennis refuses while Lockjaw launches an attack.

As Dennis finds breathing a difficulty he suddenly remembers the asthma inhaler Doc Jaw gave him and he uses it with shocking results, just as Lockjaw teleports the trio to Asgard and the throne room of Odin. Dennis realizes the new form he has taken is a combination of Larval animal traits from the home of Doc Jaw and joins the fight. As Odin declares he is too sober to witness the spectacle Lockjaw obliges and teleports the fight elsewhere. First the World Between Worlds, home to Valeria and Franklin Richards and then even more bizarre places, including a very familiar looking alternate world with some particularly iconic flying heroes, finishing up on prehistoric Earth.

As Dennis begins to revert he witnesses Lockjaw fighting Annihilus, who declares he will stay there and destroy the world before it can become civilized in the future. Lockjaw is having none of this and headbutts him over a cliff edge above the ocean. Annihilus reminds him he can fly, but Lockjaw seems to have thought of this as a huge shark suddenly launches from the water below and chomps down on his newfound snack leaving Lockjaw and his brother to look on, barking in joy. Dennis breaks into the reunion and asks to go home. Back with his relieved sister he muses on the fact the problems he has had are not insurmountable and also seems to have gained some responsibility.

Lockjaw leaves his brother with him to safeguard him (who is to look after who is anyone’s guess) before teleporting back to his own home of Attilan. First passing the sleeping form of Luna, then Karnak making himself a brew and finally to rest at the foot of the bed shared by his master and mistress, Black Bolt and Medusa as Blackagar looks on, smiles and simply nods knowingly.

What Just Happened?

OK while everyone may be going absolutely NUTS about the inclusion of Superman and Wonder Woman in a shared universe, this is far from the first time this has happened. There have been many nods by previous writers that the two universes are linked. Claremont had Lois and Clark show up in Excalibur #8 in the aftermath of Inferno. Clark Kent has even been used as a super soldier in Captain America and a reporter within the wider Marvel Universe, as well as seen in an issue of Fantastic Four in 2006. Many other characters have been hinted at sharing the two universes from Shazam to Quicksilver. Even Morlock is a known Watchmen AND Fantastic Four villain. And all this is despite All Access and Amalgam. Rather than being a revelation, this is just what Marvel writers call ‘spitballing’. A gentle joke shared between the Big Two of the comic world. I did, however, love the calm gatekeeper nature of the two guests and find myself wondering if Lockjaw’s mother is called Martha?

What is of more interest to me is the final revelation of how Lockjaw came to be and is not only more intelligent than many give him credit for but is also, in fact, a clone of his own mother!!! All this plus conclusive answers as to not only his origins but his full range of teleporting abilities and now also his newly extended family. As for Black Bolt, it was revealed in Royals #3 that Maximus was masquerading as Black Bolt. Then later he was separated from Medusa due to her feelings for Gorgon and later still they finally reunited (Black Bolt #10 and Inhumans: Judgement Day respectively) so it is good to see them definitively back together again. Also to see Lockjaw take on the might of Annihilus alone was a great payoff of a finale. And having him deal with him in such a fashion was hilariously apt too, then to calmly trot off home to his pride of place at the foot of his master and mistresses bedchamber as all loyal dogs are known to do after their little adventures. And Annihilus looking at home on his throne before being so mercilessly chomped just adds to the offhand way in which he was dispatched. Also the brilliant use of Dennis as a Dragon. Nevermind Death of The Inhumans… I can’t wait to see if the now ‘powerless’ D-Man has a newly gained ability for the future? Or see Sleepwalker with a beard.

With Dennis and Lockjaw popping up in all manner of tongue in cheek realities with so many quirky surprise guest stars, the blink-and-you-miss-it cameos were dizzying. First that of Odin, then in quick succession and in no particular order, the prehistoric Marvel world, the aforementioned ‘Redacted’ DC world, Duckworld, Ultimate Universe (note Hulk’s timely cultural reference to Fidget Spinners) and of course the Richards kids. We need to see more of these soon. With the imminent return of the Fantastic Four, this is an interesting precursor. Daniel Kibblesmith has shown us a fun romp through time and space that nothing short of a blue Police Box could have delivered. Carlos Villa and Roberto Poggi on artistic duties also added a unique style to the run with some insightful imagery, from Lockjaw scrapping with Annihilus to the many different worlds that Lockjaw clearly has the talent to travel to in a way we haven’t seen much of before. And thanks to the colors of Chris O’Halloran it all looks splendidly welcoming. Joined this time by Ulises Farinas & Ryan Hill with some more eye-popping cover art and topped off by some truly inspiring readers letters and photos of pooches, this is a roller-coaster of an ending to a fun ‘dogs tale’.

Rating: 9/10

Final Thought: A fun and furry finale to a furiously fiendish fable.