If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

DC Comics' Lobo has become synonymous with superhero badassery. Ironically, that's exactly what he was created to spoof

When DC Comics legend Keith Giffen created Lobo, he wanted to make an "indictment" of ultra-violent superheroes. Then, he became the "poster boy" for exactly that

Just like the world fell in love with Groot when it went to see Guardians of the Galaxy, e expect the non-comic reading, movie-going masses to have a special love for Jason Momoa's Lobo when they walk out of this summer's Supergirl. But here's the ironic thing - the reason they'll probably love the character (that is, his cigar-smoking, bike-riding badassery), actually kind of misses the point of why he was created.

At least, that's how his co-creator tells it.

That co-creator is comics legend Keith Giffen, who's responsible for not only Marvel's Rocket Raccoon (speaking of GotG), but for a legendary Legion of Super-Heroes run that many DC fans still consider the pinnacle of the team's comic book history.  But among all his many accomplishments was Omega Men #3, the issue he created with Roger Slifer, which introduced comics' Main Man.

But speaking in a 2006 interview published on the now-archived Newsarama, Giffen claimed the character went off the rails from there.

"I have no idea why Lobo took off," said Giffen. "I came up with him as an indictment of the Punisher, Wolverine, bad ass hero prototype and somehow he caught on as the high violence poster boy. Go figure."

Now to be fair, The Last Czarnian wasn't completely out of Giffen's hands after his 1983 Omega Men intro. After the character underwent a major redesign by artist Simon Bisley, Giffen returned to the Main Man for a much-lauded 1990 comics run. Even then, though, the story had Lobo accepting a hit on Santa Claus as ordered by the Easter Bunny - so it's pretty clear that spirit of parody never left his co-creator.

Whether or not fans reading the book understood that is another story.

Supergirl (co-starring Lobo) comes to theaters June 26.


Grant DeArmitt

Grant DeArmitt: Grant DeArmitt (he/him) likes horror, comics, and the unholy union of the two. In the past, and despite their better judgment, he has written for Nightmare on Film Street and Newsarama. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner, Kingsley, and corgi, Legs.

Comments

Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.

View Comments (0)

Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy