Lobo, the intergalactic bounty hunter known as the Main Man, is making his highly anticipated live-action appearance on Supergirl. This development naturally sparks debate over how his raw power stacks up against the Man of Steel, Superman.

The Creation and Unintended Success of the Main Man

Origins as an 'Indictment'

Created by Keith Giffen and Roger Slifer, Lobo was initially conceived as a dangerous villain. He quickly evolved, however, as writers grew fond of the character's chaotic nature.

Co-creator Keith Giffen expressed surprise at Lobo's popularity. He admitted, “I have no idea why Lobo took off,” noting he designed the Czarnian as a parody of the "bad ass hero prototype" like The Punisher and Wolverine.

Lobo's Near-Invincibility and Unique Physiology

Czarnian Durability

Hailing from the planet Czarnia, Lobo is reputed to be one of the toughest beings in the DC cosmos. Members of his species can reportedly only be killed by other Czarnians.

This biological advantage grants Lobo functional immortality. He has famously been rejected by both the realms of heaven and hell, meaning he always revives after even the most severe beatings.

Feats of Endurance

Lobo possesses incredible resilience, capable of surviving the vacuum of space unaided. He even claims to have traveled through stars to reach destinations quickly.

Assessing Lobo's exact physical strength is challenging due to DC's numerous multiversal reboots, similar to Superman's own fluctuating power levels. He remains a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant, capable of challenging top martial artists.

Historical Showdowns: Lobo Versus Superman

Intellect vs. Brawn

Lobo's primary vulnerability often lies in his intellect, as Superman has frequently managed to outmaneuver him through strategy.

Their confrontations are often driven by Lobo being hired to eliminate Superman, such as one instance where an alien Hegemony sought Earth's conquest. In that specific fight, Lobo considered the contract void when Hegemony droids intervened, perceiving it as unwanted assistance.

Moments of Mutual Respect (and Pain)

Superman has learned not to take Lobo lightly; the Czarnian's strikes are powerful enough to draw Kryptonian blood. Conversely, Superman's physical attacks land with significant force against Lobo.

However, certain powers, like Superman's heat vision, have often proven ineffective against the Main Man. In one notable encounter in Superman #30, Superman punched Lobo into space, neutralizing him temporarily since Lobo cannot fly.

The Eclipso Incident: A True Power Measure

One of their most telling battles occurred in Justice League: Annual #4, when Superman was possessed by the demonic entity Eclipso. Superman typically fights with inherent restraint, even against foes like Doomsday.

The Eclipso-possessed Superman showed no such limitations, unleashing his full power against the Justice League and the L.E.G.I.O.N., which included Lobo at the time.

This unrestrained display resulted in Superman swiftly defeating Lobo, leaving him barely alive. Furthermore, the full force of Superman's heat vision successfully injured the normally impervious Lobo. This clash strongly suggests that Superman possesses superior raw power, even if he rarely utilizes it against Lobo in standard encounters.