Lobo Had His Own TV Series, but It’s Not Easy to Find

by

Quick Links

  • 25 Years Ago, Lobo Was Brought to Life
  • A Sad Ending for DC’s Lobo, Most Wanted Antihero

In a thrilling turn of events, the spacefaring, motorcycle-riding bounty hunter with a penchant for leather jackets and pale skin, Lobo, is poised to make his mark within the DC Universe. Actor Jason Momoa, who once donned the mantle of Aquaman, has been cast in the role of this formidable character for the upcoming movie “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow”. The news has sent waves of excitement among DC enthusiasts, as Lobo’s portrayal in live-action has remained elusive until now, save for a brief stint in the second season of SyFy’s “Krypton” (2019).

Instead of saying “On the other hand,” you could use “In contrast” or “However.”

He has thrived in many animated ventures over the years, such as the ’90s Superman cartoon, the Batman Beyond series, Justice League, and a multitude of direct-to-video DCAU titles. Plus, let me tell you about the DC Lego movies. Would you find it hard to believe that there was a Lobo show? As a matter of fact, Warner Brothers is not exactly proud of this one. It’s raw, violent, and we discuss it in this article.

The story began approximately 25 years ago in 1998, when writer John P. McCann, who was often tapped by WB for their DC animated shows, received an unusual assignment: reimagining the character Lobo in a manner suitable for children’s programming on WB Kids. At that time, other projects were also being considered, such as the initial version of “Duck Dodgers” and lesser-known titles like “21C” and “Detention,” both created by director Bob Doucette.

According to McCann himself, the marketing team was ecstatic about the Lobo proposal. They were overjoyed following the one-minute video, filled with toy frenzy. However, executive Bob Daley was a tough nut to crack and not long after, executive Jamie Kellner and WB rejected it. But just as Lobo is known for being immortal and regenerating after injury, the cartoon underwent a similar transformation and resurfaced as a 14-episode web series on loboonline.com.

25 Years Ago, Lobo Was Brought to Life

Despite your inclination to explore that site, I’d advise against it. The platform is no longer associated with DC, Warner Bros., or any other comics-related entity. The mini-episodes featuring Lobo are not accessible officially anymore. One might wonder why Warner Brothers would include such content in their library. The series portrays aliens being dismembered, complete with gore and violence, Lobo himself being peppered with bullets to the extent that his brain even falls out at one point! Shrapnel is shown flying into innocent people’s eyes, killing them instantly, and there’s also a significant amount of adult humor. Although this level of violence might be expected from such a character, it far exceeds what today’s audience is accustomed to (there’s Deadpool, but that’s live-action).

This brief, old-fashioned yet amusing series spans around 30 minutes per episode, each lasting under four minutes. Lobo’s online solo venture was short-lived. Despite a talented voice cast including Greg Eagles (“The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy”) and Kevin Michael Richardson (“The Legend of Korra”, “Gravity Falls”, etc.), who both lent their voices to the DC antihero, Lobo’s creators, McCann, unexpectedly and swiftly decided to distance themselves from the project due to excessive meddling.

A Sad Ending for DC’s Lobo, Most Wanted Antihero

As reported, the reason given for his actions involved characters like DC Comics, an accountant, and a security guard who had intricate ideas but were content with him taking credit for their work. In Hollywood terms, this is known as “working around” the situation by using the Alan Smithee pseudonym, which is common in the industry. The animation producer was required to demonstrate to the Director’s Guild of America that he lacked creative control over the web series. He was also prohibited from discussing the specific circumstances that led to this choice. It turns out there’s a lot more behind-the-scenes drama surrounding Lobo than one might expect.

In August 2000, during the first season, when the primary character who had catapulted Lobo into web series fame departed from Warner Brothers entirely, the studio was left uncertain about how to proceed with the show. The executives overseeing the DC Animated Universe initially showed no interest in it, as its violent and vulgar style didn’t align with the tone of anything else in the DC universe at that time.

The final episode of the book aired on October 26, 2000, wrapping up the story. In this installment, Lobo coerces a colossal serpent to vomit a fugitive it had swallowed and later propels a space mechanic aboard an explosive rocket ship after he refused to return Lobo’s motorbike. To add to the chaos, Lobo also snatched the siblings of the main characters and inquired about their ages before departing. Not long afterward, loboonline.com ceased operations too.

As a dedicated movie reviewer, I must confess that, at present, these lesser-known web series starring the cosmic bounty hunter remain outside the realm of the DCAU, DCEU, or DCU. Your only means to witness these episodes are through unofficial copies scattered across various YouTube channels or an enhanced high-definition version on Archive.org. Regardless of where you decide to tune in (believe me, it’s worth the search), you’ll be treated to a stunning portrayal of Lobo, in all his “bastich” splendor. These episodes hark back to a bygone era when internet-ruling flash animation reigned supreme.

Read More

2025-01-12 23:31