Happy Mother's Day Lois Lane

A happy Mother's Day to all, especially to Superman's wife, Lois Lane, who, sometimes has happy kids with Superman, like in Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #23 (February, 1961, with cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye) or not so much, from Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #39 (February, 1963, with cover by Kurt Schaffenberger).

Remembering Artist Curt Swan

Remembering artist Curt Swan on his birthday (February 17, 1920 - June 17, 1996) with a couple of his all too rare covers for Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane (#78 and #80, of October, 1967 and January, 1968)....though these two covers don't necessarily show that Superman and Lois were in a good place at the time.

Remembering Artist Dick Giordano

Remembering artist Dick Giordano on his birthday (July 20, 1932 - March 27, 2010) with his wild and wacky covers for Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane...

....a true gem of the 1970s, with some pretty odd antics for Lois Lane and Superman (and occasionally Thorn of Rose and Thorn) to get into!

Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #107 and #108 (January and February, 1971)

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Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #109 and #110 (April and May, 1971)

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Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #111 and #112 (July and August, 1971)

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Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #113 and #114 (September-October and September, 1971)

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Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #115 and #118 (October, 1971 and January, 1972)

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Happy Birthday Lana Lang

By the old DC calendar, today is the birthday of Lana Lang, one of the more famous residents of Smallville.

She first appeared in Superboy #10 (September-October, 1950) to be a thorn in young Clark Kent's side, trying to prove he was Superboy...

...then, when she was an adult (starting with Showcase #9 from July-August, 1957), she first officially met Lois Lane, making life difficult for her, proving a rival for her as a reporter, as Lana would soon join the ranks of the Daily Planet.  Lana would also be a rival for Lois, competing for Superman's affection.  

Though she would leave Smallville (and later, Metropolis) for a time, Lana would always come back, and kept a connection to both Clark, and even Lois over the years, even developing super powers of her own, usually Kryptonian variations, but, she did have her own super identity (and the one she used to be a reservist in the Legion of Super-Heroes, the Insect Queen).

From time to time, Lana would become interested in another boy or man with super powers (most notably, Vartox), but Lana's heart would return to Superman....

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Curt Swan Super Romance Artist?

Remembering artist Curt Swan on his birthday, and wondering, as it is February near Valentine's Day, why wasn't Curt used on romance comics?

Oddly, he wasn't, but here are a few issues with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen that show he has all the basics down, with weddings, jealousy, crying, fighting, shame and kissing....

Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane 7 and 31

Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane 29 and 30

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Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen 56 and 76

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen 21 and 98

Happy Birthday Pat Boone

Hoping singer, actor, songwriter and author Pat Boone has himself a super birthday today....and, back in the day he was being vexed by Superman, in Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #9 (May, 1959), under this cover by Curt Swan.

In "Superman's Mystery Song" by Robert Bernstein, Dick Sprang and John Forte, Superman had to prevent Pat and Lois from singing a song about Superman that Clark had co-wrote!  

Clark had accidentally put a little too much information into the song....and, if heard by the public, his identity could be deduced. 

This issue also was to get the comic reading audience ready for Pat Boone's own comic book title, which had photo covers, and lasted for five issues, from September-October, 1959 to May-June, 1960.

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Lois Lane Marries Lex Luthor

Lois Lane marries Lex Luthor?  Not a dream or a hoax, but an imaginary story!

Yes, circumstances conspire, in a world similar to the regular fictional universe that Superman, Lois and Luthor occupy, yet so different, wherein Lois Lane decides Lex Luthor is a better match for her than the Man of Steel!

How could this have happened?  Read on.....

The Wife Of Superman's Foe

This was explored in Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #34 (July, 1962) under a cover by Kurt Schaffenberger, who also drew the Jerry Siegel written story.

Luthor gets free of jail, kidnaps Lois Lane and takes her to another planet....where telepaths there turn him "good", at which point, he brings Lois back to Earth and turns himself in!  Luthor saves the governor's life, getting a pardon, then invents many items to make life easier for the people of Earth.  Then, after Superman fails to save Lois once, Luthor uses science to help her recover....after which she marries him, much to Superman's surprise.  Lex and Lois have a son, Larry, who eventually turns to crime after discovering Lex once fought Superman, and then accidentally kills his own father, with Superman pursuing the now evil lad into space.

Lois Lane's Outlaw Son

Jerry Siegel and Kurt Schffenberger provide the follow up to the previous story in Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #46 (January, 1964).

Larry Luthor, now evil, takes up the name of Black Luthor, while Superman (who had married Lana Lang and given super powers), had their own daughter, and she fights crime as Joan Superman.  Lois, who had been the only recipient of an immortality serum from Lex, is horrified to see that Larry has become an interstellar criminal, but Joan Superman has fallen for him.  Joan tries to reform Larry, with no success, but, after one of Lex's henchmen, Ironclaws, tries to kill Lois, Larry stops him and decides to give up his life of crime.  Larry stops an invasion of Earth, then marries Joan.

Crazy, right?   But, events transpired in the regular DC Universe, with Lois and Lex getting close once.....and, in an alternate reality, Lois and Lex did get married, and the results of that union were an important part of the Crisis On Infinite Earths!

Lois Lane Tries Out Being Batwoman

Lois Lane has assumed some pretty interesting jobs over the years as an ace reporter for the Daily Planet, but she really tried something different with a new look in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #14 (January, 1960, under a cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye).....


....as she tried out Batwoman's look in a ploy to hook Batman?

Lois Lane's Secret Romance

To be fair, this story by Jerry Siegel and Kurt Schaffenberger doesn't really feature Batwoman (or even Batman), but it does feature her costume, and it's Supergirl's fault! 

Supergirl tried to help out her cousin, who wasn't getting any closer to Lois Lane, and figured if Clark married Lois, the two could adopt her and get poor Linda Lee (who was Superman's secret weapon at this time) out of Midvale Orphanage.

Supergirl first tries painting Lois' face on billboards for Clark to see, then works on a dinner, then a relaxing boat ride, but, Superman's super responsibilities tend to get in the way of any romance between Lois and Superman.

Supergirl even tries copying Batman's handwriting and sending love letters to Lois as Batman (as well as a Batwoman costume for her to wear....).  None of this really works, and Supergirl girl tries subliminal programming on Clark to get him to propose to Lois...but it works too well!

Supergirl realizes her efforts are too much, and stops trying to interfere in her cousin's life.

This story was reprinted in Lois Lane Annual #2 in Summer, 1963, and many of Supergirl's main life events were reprinted in Supergirl Action Giants!  Sadly, the original Batwoman and Supergirl seemed to have never met!

 

Lois Lane's Four Fantastic Kisses

Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane #29 (November, 1961), with a cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye, had three stories in it......but, at this moment, just taking a look at the cover story....with "The Irresistible Lois Lane" (with a mistakenly blond Lana Lang on the cover).

This story, by Robert Bernstein, Curt Swan and Stan Kaye, is a little odd for the time, with four super-heroes guest starring in Lois Lane's feature.

Lois receives a mysterious gift as Krypto flies above the Daily Planet making an "L" symbol.  Lois, having had a break in stories for a bit due to Superman not being around, goes to Perry White to sell a new story....of super-heroes she has kissed!  

Lois then goes out and finds Green Arrow, Aquaman and then Batman, and leaves ruby red lipstick on all of them (after a kiss, of course).  This frustrates Lana Lang to no end, but odder still, the heroes meet up after, gather the lipstick remains, after which, Batman flies in his Batplane to near Superman's Fortress of Solitude, where invading aliens are holding Superman captive with Green Kryptonite....so, Batman throws Superman a handkerchief full of Lois's lipstick?  

Superman, now immune to the Green K, chases the aliens off.  Then, Lois explains....Superman had a Plan "L" for Lois, where she would get Red Kryptonite (this variety which gives the Kryptonian exposed to it 48 hours of invulnerability to Green Kryptonite) to Superman.  

Lois, realizing her mystery gift was a device from the aliens to monitor her, came up with the kissing facade to get the Red K to Batman, who, as Superman's friend, knew where the Fortress was, and could get it to him.   (You think Batman is a planner, he's got nothing on Silver Age Superman and Lois).  As a reward for her aid, Lois gets a kiss from Superman!

Why a mention of a fantastic foursome?  Well, because this comic also came out the same month as Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's Fantastic Four #1!   

Not knocking the Lois Lane tale, but just using it as an example of the changes that issue helped bring to the comic industry!

 

 

Catwoman Vs. Lois Lane

Since Catwoman had disappeared from Batman comics in 1954, it took an investigative reporter (Lois Lane of the Daily Planet) to find her, and feature her in two issues of Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane to restart Catwoman's career of crime in the 1960s.

Well, Catwoman being missing for a time was true, there was more to the story, as will be revealed here!

The Catwoman's Black Magic

Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #70 (November, 1966)  by Leo Dorfman and Kurt Schaffenberger (who also drew the cover) was where Catwoman returned, oddly, with Lois Lane tracking down the Penguin, who she feels is going to rob a bird sanctuary in Metropolis (guess Penguin decided being beaten by Batman enough times in Gotham was enough, though how would Lois know....).

So, of course, Catwoman shows up, hypnotizes Lois to think she's Catwoman, and has her wait to kill him.  Lois does try, but Superman and Batman take him down, and Superman finds out Lois is Catwoman, then tracks down Catwoman to free Lois.  Catwoman uses her magic wand (???) to turn Superman into a black cat, and cages him in a Kryptonite cage, with Lois coming to fight Catwoman to save him.

Who will win?  Tune in, same Lois-time, same Lois-channel (or, just keep reading.....). 

Bad Luck For A Black Super-Cat

The conclusion to the story was in Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #71 (November, 1966)  by Leo Dorfman and Kurt Schaffenberger (with Kurt drawing the cover referencing the other story in this issue), with Catwoman battling Lois Lane.

During the fight, Lois accidentally triggers Catwoman's Earthquake machine (sigh....) which leads Batman and Robin to her headquarters, where they capture their feline foe.  But, with the magic wand out of power, how is Lois to return Superman to his natural form?  Well, she gets some help from Lana Lang, who uses a magic item her archeologist father found, of course...

...the wonderfully fun camp of the Silver Age, but a first meeting between Catwoman and Lois Lane!

Better still, if you see all of these issues, they have been reprinted, once in Catwoman: Nine Lives Of A Feline Fatale TPB of 2004, and in Catwoman: A Celebration of 75 Years from 2015, along with many other Catwoman stories in both!

Remembering Margot Kidder Superman The Movie's Lois Lane

Remembering the late Margot Kidder (October 17, 1948 - May 13, 2018), who played Lois Lane in the 4 Christopher Reeve Superman movies.


Margot Kidder played a fiercely independent Lois Lane....smart, sassy, self-confident, who really didn't need a Superman, and that is what Lois Lane felt for a couple of issues of Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane.

Get Out Of My Life, Superman

By the time of Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #80 (January, 1968 with a cover by Curt Swan and Neal Adams, and story by Leo Dorfman and Kurt Schaffenberger), Lois had had it with Superman.

Superman missed Lois' birthday party, and that was too much for her.  Lois moved to Coral City, changed her name to Lois Lorne, taking a job as a nurse (which she had the skills to do).  As a nurse, Lois saved the life of astronaut Rand Kirby, and thus a new romance began.  Clark Kent, assigned to a story in Coral City, finds Lois, but Lois tells Clark not to tell Superman she is here (a little hard, as Clark is Superman).  Still, things go bad, and Lois admits she needs Superman's help, getting it...but, Lois (feigning being under truth serum), tells Superman she doesn't love him anymore.

No Witnesses In Outer Space

Following up on that bombshell was Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #81 (February, 1968, with cover by Neal Adams, and story by Leo Dorfman and Kurt Schaffenberger).  Lois and Superman were a couple no more.  They both went to extremes in this story to change that!

Superman decided he would travel back in time to make it to Lois' party, but, even then, couldn't make it, so, resigned himself to be without Lois.  Lois, still working as a nurse in Coral City, helps Dr. Culver with an experiment, testing a gas on death row prison convicts.  Some of the prisoners break free, taking Lois hostage, until Superman saves her.  Lois, exposed to the gas, gains temporary ESP, allowing her to read Superman's mind, finding out he still loves her, but is scared to commit to her due to it making her a target for his enemies.  Lois also abandons plans to marry Rand Kirby, but her new temporary powers also give her a flash to the future, where she sees Superman dying from Kryptonite in space, with Rand saving him, but dying in the process.  Lois stows away in Kirby's rocket, saving Superman, but, he breaks her lifeline to the ship, and she passes out.

This was a bit of a misdirect, as Lois wakes up on Earth, as Superman had to snap the line as it had become tangled, so he saved her.  The two patched things up, and Lois returned to Metropolis and Superman. 

Superman The Movie

Margot Kidder portrayed a very different Lois Lane in Superman The Movie.  Her Lois Lane was independent, self-confident and self-reliant.  A drastic change from the days of the Adventures Of Superman TV show, or the earlier comic books.  Her Lois Lane was very focused on her career and getting the story....though that did get her into quite a bit of trouble, and, thankfully, Superman was there to rescue her, even from the most horrible of fates.

Superman II

By the time of the second Superman movie, Lois begun to suspect Clark was Superman....and she was right.  The two grew much closer, and the great chemistry between Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve was  a joy to watch.  Margot's Lois got into even bigger trouble in this movie, but always had her Superman there to pull her out, even if the ending undid the majority of their best interactions during this movie.

Superman 3, 4 and Smallville

Still, Margot Kidder was a trouper, not unlike Lois Lane, and returned for Superman III and IV.  Neither of those movies inspired as the first two did, nor did they do much for Lois Lane (or Margot Kidder), with Lois being in little more than a cameo in III, with Annette O'Toole really filling in with Superman, as Lana Lang.  Still, at least Margot and Annette became friends, as Margot did get to play a role as Dr. Swann's assistant (Dr. Swann being Christopher Reeve's role) on Smallville.

While her life wasn't always super, Margot Kidder will be remembered by Superman fans for her time as Lois Lane.

Celebrate National Nurses Day With Lois Lane

"Lois Lane -- Volunteer Nurse" was the title of one of the stories of Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane #43 (August, 1963), this one by Leo Dorfman and Kurt Schaffenberger.  Taking a look back at this story to celebrate National Nurses Day today!

Lois uses her training to become a nurse to help a wounded Perry White, and, while in the hospital, meets Lt. Paul Hunt, Perry's roommate, falling in love with him.  She arranges for Superman to fly the pair to Mexico, supposedly for treatment, but, once there, she finds out he is a member of the criminal 14-Karat Gang, using her to smuggle items out of the country, so calls Superman to bust the gang, ending her new romance.

Just another thing for a nurse to handle in the course of her busy day!