The Omega Men #31

The Omega Men #31, published in October 1985 by DC Comics, serves as a significant milestone in comic book history as it marks the first appearance of the character Lobo. Created by writer Roger Slifer and artist Keith Giffen, the series originally focused on an ensemble of extraterrestrial rebels engaged in intergalactic warfare. This specific issue was conceived during a period when DC was exploring more mature and unconventional character archetypes within their science fiction offerings.

The design of Lobo was intended as a satirical take on the gritty, hyper-masculine anti-heroes that were gaining popularity in the mid-1980s. While he was initially depicted as a villainous biker bounty hunter, the character’s aesthetic—characterized by leather, chains, and a distinct punk-rock influence—was a direct response to the era's fascination with extreme character designs. At the time of release, the issue received little fanfare, though it later became a highly sought-after collector's item due to the character's eventual transformation into a prominent and long-standing fixture in the DC Universe.