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Look out.

That’s the tagline for the 2026 Supergirl movie, but it also applies to one of the film’s characters. The upcoming DC Studios film will feature the cinematic debut of Lobo, one of the toughest and most violent characters in the DCU. In fact, Lobo might be one of the most popular DC Universe characters who has never been on the big screen. Trust us, he’s one character you will want to look out for.

If the upcoming Supergirl movie has you curious about Lobo, and you want to brush up on the character, Popverse has you covered. Let’s break down everything there is to know about the DC Universe’s toughest (and most foulmouthed) mercenary.

Who is Lobo?

Lobo is an intergalactic bounty hunter with a short temper and a thirst for violence. He loves space dolphins, his space motorcycle, and “fragging bastiches.” Oh yeah, he has a foul mouth and his own unique vocabulary. Created by Roger Slifer and Kieth Giffen, Lobo (who is nicknamed the Main Man) was originally introduced in Omega Men #3 (1983) as a Velorpian mercenary whose race had been exterminated by an extraterrestrial species known as the Psions. His background was later changed so that he was the last Czarnian and that he was the one who had exterminated his race.

Lobo has appeared in a variety of series, miniseries, and one-shots, which take on a different tone than a typical DC Universe story. For example, the limited series Lobo’s Back has Lobo die, get kicked out of Hell, get kicked out of heaven, and got reincarnated as a woman, and a squirrel. Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special #1 has the Easter Bunny hire Lobo to kill Santa Claus. So yeah, a Lobo comic can get pretty wild.

Lobo doesn’t work well with others, but he’s occasionally tried his hand at being a team player. Lobo has been a member of the Justice League, L.E.G.I.O.N., and the Suicide Squad. He was even a member of the teen group Young Justice when he was temporarily deaged to a teenager. Lobo has a daughter named Crush, who once served as a member of the Teen Titans. Their relationship is….complicated.

What are Lobo’s powers?

Lobo is a Czarnian, and his race is pretty durable. In fact, it’s been said that Czarnians could only be killed by other Czarnians. Thanks to his Czarnian physiology, Lobo can survive the vacuum of space, take hits from powerhouses like Superman, and withstand planet-leveling explosions.

Lobo’s greatest power is probably his regenerative ability. The Main Man can regenerate from a single drop of blood. It doesn’t matter if his head has been blown off, or if he was at the epicenter of an explosion. As long as a piece of Lobo has survived, even if it’s a single cell, it will regenerate until his full body has returned.

What is Lobo’s origin?

Like Superman, Lobo is the last survivor of his race. Unlike Superman, Lobo is the one responsible for the annihilation of his race. As detailed in Lobo #1 (1990), Lobo killed every Czarnian as part of a science project (and gave himself an ‘A’). Seeking money and good times (and an outlet for his violence), Lobo decided to become a bounty hunter. Taking to the stars with his spacehog, the Main Man spent years exploring the galaxy and building a reputation for himself.

Why is Lobo so powerful?

There are two ways to answer this question. The story explanation is that Lobo’s Czarnian physiology makes him more vulnerable, and his healing factor can bring him back from a drop of blood. The real life reason is because the tone of a Lobo story is different than a typical DC Universe story. Lobo has been kicked out of Hell and Heaven, had his entire body blown apart, and other outrageous stuff that seems detached from reality. The needs of the story require Lobo to be a bit more invulnerable, and as a result he’s become one of the most powerful beings in the DC Universe.  

Is Lobo basically Deadpool?

Aside from his regenerative powers, not really. Lobo and Deadpool have completely different personalities, moral codes, and serve different roles. Deadpool is the class clown of the Marvel Universe, while Lobo is more like the school’s violent sociopath. In terms of temperament, Lobo is closer to Wolverine than he is to Deadpool. In fact, I have a feeling Lobo wouldn’t tolerate Deadpool if they were ever forced to have an extended team-up.

What are the best Lobo comics?

If you want to get to know Lobo, Lobo Big Fraggin Compendium Book One is the only comic you’ll need. It collects some of the wildest Alan Grant and Keith Giffen Lobo stories from the ‘90s. It contains the Lobo’s Back limited series where Lobo is kicked out of the afterlife, the 1990 Lobo limited series that established his Czarnian origin, and the Lobo: Infanticide limited series where his various children try to kill him. When it comes to Lobo comics, these have never been topped, and the Compendium is the best way to read them in one sitting.

As a general rule, if you see Keith Giffen or Alan Grant’s name on a Lobo comic, consider it a must read.

Is Lobo good or bad?

Lobo isn’t a hero or a villain. He’s simply Lobo, and he does what he pleases. Some comics, such as Justice League International, use Lobo as a hero. Other comics, such as Green Lantern #55 (2010), give Lobo a more villainous role. Lobo has fought the DC heroes and fought alongside the DC heroes. It depends on who is paying him, and what his mood is that particular day.

Who is the actor playing Lobo in the DCU?

Lobo will make his cinematic debut in Supergirl, where he will be played by Jason Momoa. Yes, the same Jason Momoa who played Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe. James Gunn’s DC Universe is set in a different continuity than the DC Extended Universe, which opened the door for Momoa’s new role. According to DC Studios co-president James Gunn, Momoa sent him a text asking about playing Lobo shortly after the trades reported Gunn’s new job. Gunn replied that he had imagined Momoa as Lobo for years.

Lobo wasn’t present in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, the comic the upcoming Supergirl film is based on. However, writer Tom King had included him in the original pitch for the comic. “The truth is that Woman of Tomorrow in the comics is very much, it’s a bunch of little stories, and we needed to create one throughline, one three-act story, more traditional story,” Gunn tells the DC Studios Showcase . “Lobo helps us to do that. It’s not an amalgamation of him and Krem. He’s a totally separate character. He’s himself. I love Lobo. I always thought he was a great character to adapt. I think he’s maybe, in some ways, the biggest comic book character that’s never been in a film. So, I think it was a cool thing to do.”

Supergirl hits theaters on June 26, 2026. 

Need more? Here's our picks for the best DC Comics stories of all time.