Bibbo Bibbowski

Superherobox


caption = Bibbo on the cover of "Showcase '95" #6.
character_name = Bo "Bibbo" Bibbowski
publisher = DC Comics
debut = "Adventures of Superman" #428 (May 1987)
creators = Jerry Ordway (art)
Marv Wolfman (script)
full_name =
supports=
powers = Skilled pugilist

"Bibbo" Bibbowski is a supporting character in "Superman" comics. He first appeared in "Adventures of Superman" #428 (May 1987).Citation | last = Beatty | first = Scott | author-link = Scott Beatty | contribution = Bibbo | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The DC Comics Encyclopedia | pages = 47 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | place = London | year = 2008 | ISBN = 0-7566-4119-5]

Fictional character biography

Bibbo first appears in a Suicide Slum bar called the Ace O' Clubs. When Superman 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 because "yer tough". He would later refer to Superman as his "fav'rit" hero.

Later stories establish Bibbo as a longshoreman and former boxer, however he remains largely a comic relief character, portrayed as vaguely well-meaning but not too bright. His admiration for Superman remains based on physical strength, as his admiration is briefly transferred to Lobo when the Czarnian appears tougher.

He becomes a more significant part of the comic when he finds a winning lottery ticket and uses the money to buy the Ace O' Clubs bar and help those living in the Slum.

Bibbo attempts assistance when Superman becomes involved in a drawn-out fight against the murderous Doomsday. Bibbo works with the genius Professor Hamilton in a plan to blast Doomsday with a large laser. They score a direct hit but the monster is not affected.

When Doomsday and Superman ultimately kill each other, Bibbo is part of the team who unsuccessfully performs CPR on the hero. 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 souvenir stock to get him off the street, then offers him a job at the Ace O' Clubs. While Superman is gone, Bibbo takes to putting on a 'disguise' of sorts and helping out on the streets. His rescue of a cat from a tree is featured second-hand on the news.

Bibbo briefly takes care of a small white dog named Krypto, not to be confused with the current Kryptonian dog of the same name. The original Krypto's name arose when the engraver Bibbo hired made an intentional mistake, trying to extort more money from Bibbo (the price accorded was for six letters). It was supposed to be Krypton. Angry, Bibbo took the dog tag as it was. Krypto would later be watched over by Superboy, then even later a neighbor Krypto has come to like.

The Ace O' Clubs bar is the site of a battle between the life-force devouring Parasite and the heroic Aztek. Bibbo, usually one for joining in on a fight, stays back in this incident. A touch from the Parasite can easily kill a human being.

In "The Power of Shazam!", Ordway introduces Professor Bibbowski, Bibbo's pacifist scientist brother.

Bibbo makes a reappearance in Superman #679, shown as one of the champions of Metropolis that the villainous Atlas defeated.

Alternate versions

Bibbo plays an important part in the alternate universe story "". He watches out for Jimmy Olsen, keeps an eye on Lois Lane and fights back against invading alien forces from Apokolips.

Appearances in other media

Live action television

Bibbo briefly appears as the owner of the Ace of Clubs in "Double Jeopardy", an episode of "". He was played by Troy Evans.Ace of Clubs appeared thrice in "Smallville"'s seventh season. Bibbo has yet to appear.

Animated series

Bibbo is featured in "", as Lois' source on the docks. In the animated universe Bibbo is an unemployed sea captain who frequents the Hobb's Bay section of Metropolis. He appears in the episodes "A Little Piece of Home", "Livewire", "", "World's Finest" part 1, and "", and is voiced by Brad Garrett.

Bibbo makes a non-speaking appearance in the "Justice League" episode "Hereafter".

Film

Bibbo apparently appears in an early scene in the 2006 Bryan Singer-directed movie "Superman Returns" played by Jack Larson, who had portrayed Jimmy Olsen in the 1950s "Adventures of Superman" (as well as in one episode of the "Lois and Clark" TV series). Larson's credit only reads "Bo the bartender", but since his character is working in the Ace o'Clubs, it could be inferred that he is Bo "Bibbo" Bibbowski. Although Larson, 75 at the time of filming, was much older than the "Bibbo" character in the comics (usually portrayed as middle-aged, late 40s-late 50s); a more logical deduction might be that "Bo," in fact, is "Bibbo's" father, or some other older relative.

References

Other sources

* [http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=bibbo Bibbo at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe]