Who Is Jason Momoa’s SUPERGIRL Character Lobo? His DC Comics History, Explained

Despite being thought of as a ‘90s comics phenomenon, Lobo first appeared in a now all-but-forgotten ’80s comic called The Omega Men. That title, a spin-off of The New Teen Titans, was about a group of intergalactic freedom fighters. 1983’s Omega Men #3 introduced the character as a Velporian bounty hunter. They were an alien race who had been all but exterminated by the evil Psions. Created by writer/artist Keith Giffen, he was a regular in Omega Men, but that title only lasted a couple of years.

But in 1987, Keith Giffen helped to relaunch the Justice League as Justice League International, a more comedic take on DC’s premier team. The series was a runaway success, and in that title, he reintroduced Lobo, looking more like a Hell’s Angels-style biker, and less like a ‘70s glam rocker. The chalk-white, muscle-bound alien with super strength only cared about drinking, chomping cigars, engaging in violence, and collecting on a profitable bounty.

The only tender emotion Lobo ever seemed to show was deep care for his pet space dolphins, which he genuinely loved. He was just as likely to kill anyone else just for annoying him. However, those “little fishes” were his pride and joy. Appearing in a popular title like JLI, one which leaned more into laughs, gave Lobo a whole new fanbase. DC Comics capitalized on the character who referred to himself always as “the Main Man.”

’90s Superstardom

In 1990, Lobo was in demand enough as a character that he received his own mini-series, with Keith Giffen writing along with Alan Grant. Artist Simon Bisley’s highly stylized art wound up being perfect for the character. The Lobo mini-series was a huge hit for DC. This series also gave us a new origin for Lobo, which we now know was from the planet Czarnia. Oh, and if you’re wondering why an alien would have the Spanish name for wolf in Czarnian, Lobo’s name in his language translates as “he who devours your entrails and thoroughly enjoys it.” The series both indulged in and mocked the ’90s obsession with hyper-violent “tough guy” antiheroes.

Although his homeworld was peaceful, even as a child Lobo had a penchant for extreme violence. He ended up killing everyone on his planet Czarnia as a child by unleashing a horde of deadly scorpions on the populace. Since Lobo has super strength and durability, and a healing factor that made him effectively immortal, he took to the spaceways on his cosmic bike, and became the galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter.

Lobo soon got his own popular ongoing series. Later, he appeared in many crossovers with the likes of Superman and the Justice League. He even fought Wolverine himself in the Marvel vs. DC crossover event (and lost). That’s how big the character was in the ‘90s. But he got overexposed, and by the 2000s, he all but disappeared. Luckily, he still made appearances in DC animated series like Superman, Justice League Unlimited, Young Justice, and more. But like all things ‘90s, he’s keen to make a comeback lately. Which leads us to his big-screen potential.

The Many Attempts of Getting Lobo on the Big Screen

For years, Hollywood has been trying to get a Lobo movie off the ground. But despite interest from folks like Guy Ritchie, who almost directed a Lobo film, it never got off the ground. Similar projects from Michael Bay and even Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson never materialized. The only live-action Lobo we ever got was as a guest star on the short-lived sci-fi series Krypton. And they just lacked the budget to do the character justice. He looked like semi-decent cosplay on that series, and that’s about it. However, the character is finally ready to make his cinematic debut.

Lobo Is Coming to James Gunn’s DCU

Ever since James Gunn became co-head of DC Studios, his social media posts started teasing Lobo. It certainly makes sense, as a character like Lobo is perfect for Gunn’s comedic/action sensibilities. And Jason Momoa also made posts about how big a fan of the Lobo comics he is. Although the Lobo character doesn’t appear in the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic book, we can see how the character could fit into that outer space adventure. Introducing him as an antagonist to a known superhero like Kara Zor-El is the perfect introduction. If he clicks with the audience, we’re sure a spin-off project won’t be far behind.

Could Jason Momoa Play Both Aquaman and Lobo?

Fans have long dreamed of Jason Momoa in the role. His hair, stature, voice, and “biker bro” energy are absolutely perfect for the character. James Gunn has stated that he doesn’t want actors playing two roles in his DCU (outside of animation). So we think Momoa confirmed as Lobo means he won’t be back as Aquaman. (It didn’t help that his Aquaman
and the Lost Kingdom sequel underperformed.) Will other ex-DCEU stars find new roles in Gunn’s DCU? Right now, we think Momoa is going to be the exception. But one thing is certain; this is the comic book role Jason Momoa was born to play.