Comic Creator Critically Injured in Hit-and-Run

Comics and animation writer Roger Slifer was in critical condition Tuesday afternoon, four days after suffering major head and body trauma in a hit-and-run in Santa Monica.

A white sedan slammed into Slifer, 57, in a crosswalk on Colorado Avenue near Fifth Street at about 12:45 a.m. Saturday, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

A former Sunbow Entertainment producer, story editor and writer, Slifer worked on such series as Jem and the Holograms, Transformers and G.I. Joe Extreme. He joined DC Comics in 1981 and is the co-creator of Lobo, a series about a mercenary bounty hunter, according to comicbookresources.com.

He is heavily sedated in an induced coma but they lightened the sedation a little bit this afternoon, Slifer’s cousin Emma Slifer wrote Monday night in a Facebook post. He also has a broken shoulder, collar bone and an unknown number of ribs, all on the left side. A feeding tube has been installed with an Ensure type nourishment. His intercranial pressure is within the range that they want.

In a press release Tuesday, Santa Monica police said they have no information on the driver. The car was described as a late 1990's to early 2000 sedan, white, with a sunroof and tinted rear windows.  

"The vehicle may have damage to the right front corner," said Sgt. Richard Lewis.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigator Jason Olson at (310) 458-8954, Sgt. Phillbo Rubish at (310) 458-8950 or the Santa Monica Police Department on its 24-hour line at (310) 458-8495.

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