| Bibbo Bibbowski | |
|---|---|
.png) Bibbo Bibbowski as depicted inShowcase '95 #10 (September 1996). Art byDenis Rodier. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | The Adventures of Superman #428 (May 1987) |
| Created by | Jerry Ordway Marv Wolfman |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Bo Bibbowski |
| Team affiliations | Ace o' Clubs |
| Supporting character of | Superman |
| Abilities | Skilled pugilist and martial artist |
Bibbo Bibbowski is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. He is typically portrayed as a close friend and supporter ofSuperman.
Bibbo Bibbowski first appeared inThe Adventures of Superman #428 (May 1987) and was created byJerry Ordway andMarv Wolfman.[1] He is based on Ordway's friend Jo Jo Kaminski, described as a "hard-as-nails softie".[2]
Bibbo Bibbowski has appeared in various media outside comics, primarily in association with Superman.Brad Garrett,Miguel Ferrer, andCharles Halford have voiced the character in animation.
Bibbo first appears in aSuicide Slum bar called the Ace o' Clubs. WhenSuperman comes in looking for information, Bibbo, thinking this is "some clown in a Superman suit", punches Superman, damaging his hand. He gains respect for the Man of Steel. He would later refer to Superman as his "fav'rit" hero.[3]
During the Eradicator saga, Bibbo teams up withLobo and Raof, a teleporter and a tribute to Marvel'sNightcrawler, to witness Lobo kill Superman. Lobo gives Bibbo a set of special goggles that will record the battle. All three, however, get drunk on Okarran liquor and thus suffer loss of all memory of the battle, which Superman won by a ruse engineered by the Eradicator artifact. Additionally, Bibbo wore the goggles backwards, and thus the entire recording was of his reactions. As a result, the aliens who retained Lobo to kill Superman have no proof that there even was a battle.
Bibbo becomes a more significant part of the comic when he finds a winninglottery ticket dropped byGangbuster and uses the money to buy the Ace o' Clubs bar and to help those living in the slum.[1]
Bibbo attempts to assist Superman when Superman becomes involved in a fight againstDoomsday. Bibbo works withProfessor Hamilton on a plan to blast Doomsday with a large laser. They score a direct hit, but Doomsday is unaffected.[4]
When Doomsday and Superman kill each other, Bibbo is on the scene and helps Hamilton use a device to try to perform CPR on Superman, despite the risk of the device killing Bibbo himself. The plan fails and Bibbo is injured. Hamilton takes over CPR but also fails.[5]
Shortly afterward, Bibbo encounters a young man who, his family rendered homeless by Doomsday's rampage, is blatantly selling "Death of Superman" commemorative souvenirs during a public commemoration honoring the Man of Steel. At first outraged at the man's crassness, Bibbo feels some sympathy for his losses and buys his entire inventory to get him off the street, then offers him a job at the Ace O' Clubs.[6] While Superman is gone, Bibbo takes to putting on a 'disguise' of sorts and helping out on the streets. Around this time he saves a man from suicide. This is mostly told through tall tales concerning various super-villains.[7]
Bibbo briefly takes care of a small white dog named Krypto whom he had saved from drowning, not to be confused with theKryptonian dog of the same name. The name was supposed to be "Krypton", but the engraver Bibbo hired to make a name tag made an intentional mistake, trying to extort more money from Bibbo (the price accorded was for six letters). Bibbo took the tag as it was.[8]
A poster seen by the heroAztek indicates that, at one point, Bibbo fought the heroWildcat during a charity boxing event.[9] Later in the series, The Ace O' Clubs bar is the site of a battle betweenParasite and Aztek.[10] Bibbo and his friends ignore the fight, playing cards instead and trusting others to handle the villain.
InThe Power of Shazam!, Ordway introduces Professor Bibbowski, Bibbo's pacifist scientist brother.
Bibbo reappears inSuperman #679, shown as one of the champions of Metropolis thatAtlas defeated. He is established by then as having worked in the Ace of Clubs, even bringing himself to boldly menaceAtom Smasher for "talking trash about Sooperman".[11]
Bibbo returns in 2016Superman vol. 4 #4. He is seen arm-wrestlingHacken and easily beating him, before Superman's fight with Eradicator moves into his bar. Bibbo is shocked to see what appears to be Superman running away from the fight, but quickly realizes Superman is simply trying to lure Eradicator somewhere when there are no innocent bystanders.[12]
Later Bibbo and his niece show up in Superwoman. When Ultrawoman takes over Metropolis, Bibbo is seen trying to start a fight with her minions but is saved by Natasha Irons and Traci 13.
Perry White recommends Clark andLois take theirson over to Bibbo's 'Ace O' Clubs' for burgers.[13]
At one point, Superman saves Bibbo from being murdered by gun-wielding muggers.[14]
Bibbo and his history with the Clubs bar is examined inHouse of Brainiac. As Bibbo tries to help Perry White's run for mayor, he reminisces working at the bar since he was a child. Bibbo also gets involved in related mayoral issues, namely that Perry's opponent is leading axenophobic campaign.[15]
Bibbo Bibbowski appears in theDC Animated Movie Universe filmsThe Death of Superman andReign of the Supermen, voiced byCharles Halford.[17]
