Lobo (DC Comics)

Lobo is a character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The Lobo character was created by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen, and he first appeared in ''Omega Men'' #3 (June 1983). Lobo is an alien from the utopian planet of Czarnia, and he works as an interstellar mercenary and bounty hunter.

Lobo was first introduced as a hardened villain in the 1980s, but he soon fell out of use with writers. He remained in limbo until his revival as a bounty hunter with his own comic in the early 1990s. Writers attempted to use Lobo as a parody of the 1990s trend towards "grim and gritty" superhero stories, but he was instead enthusiastically accepted by fans of the trend. This popularity led to the character having a much higher profile in DC Comics stories from then on, as well as starring roles in various series in the decades since.

Lobo made his live-action debut in the 2019 premiere episode of the second season of the television series ''Krypton'', portrayed by Emmett J. Scanlan.

Character development

The character enjoyed a short run as one of DC's most popular characters throughout the 1990s. This version of Lobo was intended to be a satire of the Marvel Comics superhero Wolverine. In issue #41 of ''Deadpool'', a separate Marvel series, Lobo was parodied as "Dirty Wolff", a large blue-skinned man who drove a demonic motorcycle. He was also parodied in the Image Comics series ''Bloodwulf'' and as "Bolo" in the Topps Comics series '' Satan's Six''.

In a 2006 interview, Keith Giffen said: "I have no idea why Lobo took off... I came up with him as an indictment of the Punisher, Wolverine hero prototype, and somehow he caught on as the high violence poster boy. Go figure". He later stated that both Lobo and Ambush Bug were derived from Lunatik, a character he created in high school.

Lobo was the favorite DC Comics character of Stan Lee.

Publication history

Lobo was introduced as a regular character in Keith Giffen and Roger Slifer’s ''Green Lantern'' and ''Teen Titans'' spin-off ''Omega Men''. At that time, he was a Velorpian whose entire race had been exterminated by Psions and was partnered with Bedlam, whom he later killed; his origin was later retconned.

After a well-received appearance in ''Justice League International'', Lobo became a regular character in '' L.E.G.I.O.N.'' and its successor series '' R.E.B.E.L.S.''.

In 1990, he appeared in his own four-issue miniseries, ''Lobo: The Last Czarnian'', plotted by Giffen, written by Alan Grant and with art by Simon Bisley, which changed his origin story: he became the last Czarnian after violently killing every other member of the species. That mini-series led to many subsequent miniseries and specials, including ''Lobocop'', a RoboCop parody; ''Blazing Chain of Love'', in which he is sent on a job to a harem; ''Paramilitary Christmas Special'', in which he is contracted by the Easter Bunny to assassinate Santa Claus; ''Infanticide'', where he kills his daughter and all of his other offspring that she has gathered to try to kill him; ''Convention Special'', a send-up of comic book conventions; and ''Unamerican Gladiators'', in which Lobo takes part in a deadly televised game show. Simon Bisley's dark humor fits well within the pages of his artwork by having countless mutilations of background characters occurring in each panel. Lobo also starred in his own DC title for 64 issues, from 1993 to 1999.

Lobo has regularly made guest appearances in other series, even in cross-company interactions with such non-DC characters as The Mask, Judge Dredd, and the Authority. During the ''DC vs. Marvel'' crossover series, he fought Wolverine and lost due to popular vote by the fans. He also appeared very briefly in the ''JLA/Avengers'' inter-company crossover and is shown fighting members of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard; although the outcome is not shown, it is mentioned that the Guard had trouble containing him.

Lobo has made a few appearances in the animated series of the 1990s/2000s-era DC Animated Universe. At one point, an animated series and video game starring the character were to be released, but both were cancelled. However, an adult animated black comedy web-series was made in 2000 with 14 shorts.

Fictional character biography

Lobo is a Czarnian with exceptional strength and fortitude. He enjoys nothing better than mindless violence and intoxication, and killing as an end in itself; his name roughly translates as "he who devours your entrails and thoroughly enjoys it". He is arrogant and self-centered, focusing almost solely on his own pleasures, although he proudly lives up to the letter of his promises – but always no more or no less than what he promised. Lobo is the last of his kind, having committed complete genocide by killing all the other Czarnians for fun. As detailed in ''Lobo'' #0, Lobo unleashed a violent plague of flying scorpions upon his home world, killing most of its citizens.

Physically, Lobo resembles a chalk-white human male with, generally, blood-red pupilless eyes with blackened eyelids. Like many comic book characters, Lobo's body is highly muscular, though his initial appearances were much leaner and less bulky compared to later iterations. Originally portrayed with neatly trimmed purple-grey hair, this was soon redesigned as a gray mane, later a long, straggly, gray-black rocker hair, dreadlocks, and more recently a pompadour. Similarly, the orange-and-purple leotard he wore in his first few appearances was replaced by black leather biker gear and was later replaced with both the robes of his office as a putative Archbishop and pirate-themed gear, then later a sleeveless flight suit/jumpsuit. His arsenal includes numerous guns and a titanium chain with a hook on his right arm. Extra weapons may include "frag grenades" and giant carving blades.

Lobo has a strict personal code of honor in that he will never violate the letter of an agreement, saying in ''Superman: TAS'' that "The Main Man's word is his bond", although he may gleefully disregard its spirit. He is surprisingly protective of space dolphins, some of which he feeds from his home. A few have been killed in separate incidents, which he avenges with his usual violence.

Lobo's friends include Dawg, a bulldog

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