Luke Cage is often considered to be the grandfather of black superheroes. But, before him there were heroes that stood out in publications that weren't main stream. Often their legacies and importance fade away with time until they're left irrelevant. One such hero that you may not have heard about is Lobo who had his own solo series in 1965 beginning with Lobo #1.Lobo was a soldier for The Union during The Civil War. Shortly after the official end of the war he and some fellow soldiers were attacked by Confederate Soldiers, because those guys can never accept a loss. After defeating them Lobo left his gun by a tree and told his squad mates that he was leaving. Lobo then headed west to make a name for himself as a cowboy without the violence.
It turns out he wouldn't be that lucky. Instead Lobo found a world where he would constantly find himself in duels and fist fights. This wasn't because he was a violent man, it was because of racism. He would often be challenged by white cowboys who wanted to test his manhood. This is seriously the story, he would be attacked because they didn't see him as a real man because he was black and wasn't a fan of violence. Things only get worse from there.
Lobo is forced to go on the run when he's accused of murdering a man named Johnson who funded a cattle run. The rumor is that prospector had saw Lobo commit the murder. Lobo finds the eccentric prospector who tells Lobo that someone else has framed him. For his troubles the prospector promises to devote his entire fortune to proving Lobo is innocent. Instead Lobo takes a bag of gold coins with a wolf and an "L" engraved on them.
When the two men who accused him rob a bank Lobo goes after them. He manages to capture the men who demand Lobo be arrested but the sheriff refuses because he sees good in Lobo's eyes. When Johnson is found he had been placed on a wooden stake by an Apache tribe for attempting to steal horses but he's already dead and Lobo can't prove his innocence. When he returns to the old minor he finds him near death from illness. He gifts Lobo his fortune on the condition Lobo must do some good.
In the second and final issue Lobo rescues a man strapped to wagon that was speeding off to his demise. He learns that a man calling himself The King of The West is attempting to recreate himself as King Arthur in the wild west. Lobo heads out to put a stop to this man before he can hurt anyone else.
When Lobo arrives none of the townspeople are willing to help him take down the king because they fear him. Lobo barges into the castle alone equipped with some flash bangs. Outnumbered he's forced to retreat. Later he learns the king has made some duplicates of his Lobo Coins and started leaving them at crime scenes to frame Lobo and draw him out of hiding.
Lobo once again heads to the king's castle. This time they battle with weapons from the middle ages. Lobo has the upper hand until the king's men attack. He manages to grab a woman that was being held hostage and escapes. He turns the woman over to the sheriff that once again refuses to arrest Lobo. King arrives and shoots the woman but fails to kill her.
Lobo chases him down and the king falls into a pit quick sand. Lobo still saves him only to be attacked. Lobo knocks the king out and turns him over to the sheriff who lets Lobo go because he sees good in him.
Abilities and Skills
- Above average strength
- Expert marksman
- Skilled horseback rider
- Skilled in hand to hand combat
- Detective skills
- Improvise gad
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Black Superheroes
