Comic Book Writer and TV Producer In Coma After Hit-and-Run

Comic book writer and TV producer Roger Slifer remains hospitalized today in critical condition after being struck this weekend in Santa Monica by a hit-and-run driver.

Slifer, 57, was crossing Fifth Street in the crosswalk at Colorado at around 1:00 a.m. Saturday when he was struck by a motorist making a left turn, according to City News Service. As a result of the impact, Slifer suffered major head and body trauma. He is "currently lying in an induced coma at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center," notes FishBowlLA, who have taken notice of an effort on Twitter for fans of Slifer's work to help find the hit-and-run driver.

The motorist who struck Slifer was driving a late 1990s to early 2000s white sedan with a sunroof and tinted rear windows. The Santa Monica Police Department are asking that anyone with information about the incident get in touch with them immediately.

Slifer "began working for Marvel in the mid-1970s and a writer and assistant editor before moving to DC Comics in 1981 as its first sales manager for the direct market," describes Comic Books Resources, adding: "He also wrote Omega Men, for which he created the alien mercenary Lobo with Keith Giffen."

The comics writer then moved into television production, notably with Sunbow, the company behind 1980s animated now-classics like "Jem" and "The Transformers."