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Roger Allen Slifer (; November 11, 1954 – March 30, 2015) was an American comic book writer, screenwriter, and television producer who co-created the character Lobo for DC Comics. Among the many comic-book series for which he wrote was DC's Omega Men for a run in the 1980s.
Slifer was the victim of a hit-and-run collision in 2012 that left him in institutional care until his death.
Slifer spent most of his childhood in Morristown, Indiana.
By the mid-1970s, Slifer was working as a freelance writer for Marvel Comics. Thanks to Marvel staffers (and former CPL Gang members) Duffy Vohland and Tony Isabella, in the late 1970s Slifer was hired as an assistant editor at Marvel, where he wrote for a number of comic-book series including The Defenders. He also became a colorist. Eventually, Slifer became a special projects editor at Marvel, overseeing comics magazines published by Marvel's parent company such as The Rampaging Hulk. During this time, Slifer worked on the Marvel Classics Comics line, in addition to film adaptations.
In 1979, Slifer (with the financial assistance of David Anthony Kraft), under the publishing imprint Excalibur Enterprises, published Collector's Classics #1: Manhunter: The Complete Saga, which reprinted the Archie Goodwin/Walt Simonson run of Manhunter backup stories from DC Comics' Detective Comics #437–443.
Slifer moved to DC Comics in February 1981, ostensibly as the company's first sales manager to comic book Direct market. He continued writing sporadically, most notably on Omega Men, where he co-created the extraterrestrial alien mercenary anti-hero Lobo with artist Keith Giffen. Slifer served as an editor at DC from 1984–1985 and oversaw the Green Lantern/Green Arrow reprint series, New Talent Showcase, and World's Finest Comics. Slifer left DC after clashing with the company about its stance regarding creators' rights.Slifer, Roger. "Screwed by DC," The Comics Journal #121 (April 1988), p. 25. Slifer had been involved in the creators' rights issue since the late 1970s.Groth, Gary. "Birth of the Guild: May 7, 1978," The Comics Journal #42 (October 1978), pp. 21-28."Ploog & Kirby Quit Marvel over Contract Dispute," The Comics Journal #44 (Jan. 1979), p. 11.
Slifer co-produced the first season of Yu-Gi-Oh! for 4Kids Entertainment in the United States.
S.L.I.F.E.R., the Society for Legal, Investigative and Financial Empowerment and Recovery, was created in July 2012 to assist in bringing the hit-and-run driver to justice and providing updates on Slifer's condition. "About," S.L.I.F.E.R. Needs You Facebook page. Accessed Feb. 23, 2013. The nonprofit assistance organization The Hero Initiative helped raise money to assist in Slifer's legal case and medical care.
Slifer's sister Connie Carlton took over his care, and in late July 2012, Slifer was moved from UCLA's Ronald Reagan Neuroscience/Trauma Intensive Care Unit to Barlow Respiratory Hospital in Los Angeles. At that point, he was still comatose.Alovis, Will. "Roger Medical Update 7/27/12," S.L.I.F.E.R. Needs You Facebook page (July 27, 2012). Slifer's condition improved at Barlow, and he emerged from his coma. In late September 2012, he was transferred to the sub-acute care facility Goldstar Rehabilitation Services, in Santa Monica.Alovis, Will. "Roger Medical Update 10/8/12," S.L.I.F.E.R. Needs You Facebook page (Oct. 8, 2012).
As of late February 2013, Slifer was awaiting surgery to replace the portion of his skull removed immediately after the crash. Carlton had arranged to transport Slifer to Indiana for further rehabilitation.Carlton, Connie. "Roger Medical Update 2/15/13," S.L.I.F.E.R. Needs You Facebook page (Feb. 15, 2013). He died on March 30, 2015.
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