Superman Times Two Plus One

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  That's true wherever you might go, even across the reaches of the DC Multiverse.

Not sure about that?  Well, here's a look at that philosophy in action, with DC Comics Presents Annual #1 (September, 1982), by Marv Wolfman, Rich Buckler and Dave Hunt, all under a cover by Rich Buckler and Dick Giordano.

Crisis On Three Earths

It all stars with a battle between Superman and Luthor, as Lois watches.  But, it plays out a little differently depending on which Earth you live on.

On Earth-1, reporter Clark Kent has to avoid Lois Lane to go and fight bald Lex Luthor as the JLA's Superman, saving the Daily Planet (a subsidiary of WGBS Communications) from his attack.

On Earth-2, editor Clark Kent gets help from Lois Kent to go and fight red haired Alexei Luthor as the JSA's Superman, saving the Daily Star from the extreme attack.


Still, the Luthors end up captured and in jail, with the Supermen victorious, and Metropolis safe.

But, a new twist...in jail, the Earth-1 Luthor plans his escape, by switching places with the Earth-2 Luthor....leading to each Luthor taking on the other's Superman...with similar results, and the two Superman deciding to imprison the two Luthors in the Limbo dimension between worlds.

Still, the Earth-1 Luthor was ready....and using equipment in his green and purple suit, take the two to a third Earth, Earth-3, which has its own version of Superman... Ultraman.  But, this is no hero, he's a member of the evil Crime Syndicate of America, and is powered by Kryptonite.

The three villains go off to make plans, observed by this Earth's Lois Lane.  This Lois goes to warn Earth-3's Alexander Luthor....who calls in the two Supermen for aid, and, spurred on by Lois, puts on a super suit of his own, to finally give Earth-3 its first hero.

Meanwhile, the villains have continued their plan, albeit working against each other as much as together.  While the Earth-1 Luthor was looking to conquer the world, the Earth-2 Luthor planned on destroying Earth-1 and Earth-2 (while Ultraman was to betray them both).

Still, the heroes united battle their foes, with Alexander taking out Ultraman while Superman-2 takes down both Luthors, and the Superman-1 prevents the two Earths from merging into the same space.

The villains defeated, the heroes each end up dealing with their own version of Lois, with slightly different results.

All the while, awaiting an approaching bigger Crisis On Infinite Earths..... 

JLA JSA First Multiple Crisis

There shall come a Crisis.  Worlds will live, worlds will die.

But, long before the Crisis On Infinite Earths happened, the Justice League of America and Justice Society of America were dealing with a Crisis every year.

Let's take a look back, and see how these started....with the return of the JSA!

Crisis On Earth-One

It really started with Flash (Barry Allen) who found Flash (Jay Garrick), and after a few team-ups, the JSA.  The JLA and JSA first met in Justice League Of America #21 (August, 1963) by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs, under a cover by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson, and summers were never the same!

This story was where the JLA's Earth (Earth-1) and JSA's Earth (Earth-2) were named, making this the start of the DC Multiverse.  The Crime Champions (villains from Earth-1 and Earth-2) gathered as the Earth-2 villains escaped to Earth-1, then the villains came up with the idea to rob from their own world, and spend their cash on the other Earth.   To prevent the heroes from catching onto their scheme, they imprisoned the Flashes of Two Worlds (Barry Allen and Jay Garrick), who had first traversed the Earths. 

But, the Earth-2 villains got greedy, and faced the JLA (minus Barry) disguised as the Earth-1 villains, magically trapping them in the JLA's Secret Sanctuary.  Using Merlin's Crystal Ball that they had from a previous adventure, they contacted their Flash, who then instructed the JLA how to contact the JSA, whom they teleport to Earth-1 to go face their villains, while the JLA goes to Earth-2 to stop theirs (with Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and Alan Scott going between Earths to rescue the Flashes).

Crisis On Earth-Two

Picking up from where the last issue left off, Justice League Of America #22 (September, 1963) under a cover by Murphy Anderson, and story by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs, the Green Lanterns were searching for the Flashes, while the JLA and JSA were to take down the Crime Champions.

Hourman and the Atom stopped the Fiddler, Dr. Fate defeated Icicle, and Hawkman and Black Canary beat the Wizard on Earth-1, while Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow and the Atom stopped Felix Faust, Batman and Wonder Woman beat Dr. Alchemy and Superman and Aquaman defeated Chronos on Earth-2.  But, as the Green Lanterns were freeing the Flashes, a spell placed by Felix Faust and the Wizard trapped both teams of heroes in cages in space designed to neutralize their powers.  Still, working together, the heroes escaped, and came back to Earth to beat the combined Crime Champions. 

These two issues started an annual tradition of JLA/JSA team-ups, and was the first Silver Age appearances of Dr. Fate, Hourman, Black Canary, the Wizard and the Icicle.

 

Crisis On Earth-Three

The first pairing of the JLA and JSA proved so popular, that with Justice League Of America #29 (August, 1964) it began again, with this story by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs, under a cover by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson, introducing the teams (and readers) to the menace of Earth-Three!

Adding an "evil" Earth to the Multiverse, the Crime Syndicate of America was comprised of villain versions of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash and Green Lantern called Ultraman, Owlman, Superwoman, Johnny Quick and Power Ring.  These villains defeat the JLA members via trickery (using a magic word to imprison their opponents in the JLA's Secret Sanctuary), and with Aquaman and Martian Manhunter otherwise occupied, the Crime Syndicate goes to Earth-2 to face the JSA (with the JLA having warned them of the villains plans).

The Most Dangerous Of All

Justice League Of America #30 (September, 1964) picks up where the last issue left off, with the JLA  trapped and JSA in trouble with the Crime Syndicate Of America, as shown on the cover by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson, and story by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs.

The JSA (composed of Dr. Fate, Hawkman, Dr. Mid-Nite, Starman and Black Canary) take on the five members of the Crime Syndicate, but, a new wrinkle of the villain team, that of the heroes disappearing to Earth-3 when they claimed victory over the villains.  The Crime Syndicate decide to directly face their Earth-1 dopplegangers, and the JLA beat the CSA, by helping to increase their powers, which makes the CSA defeat themselves by not being able to control their powers.  The JLA and JSA trap the villains between worlds, ending their menace.

This pair of stories was the first Silver Age appearance of Starman.

Earth--Without A Justice League

Time to slow things down, and look at Earth-2's Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt, returning to the fold, and introducing an Earth-1 Johnny Thunder, who causes trouble in Justice League Of America #37 (August, 1965) by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs, under a cover by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson.

Say, you'd think the JSA's Johnny Thunder would be smart enough NOT to summon his magical Thunderbolt, find the Earth-1 version of Johnny Thunder (who was evil), then lose control of his magical T-Bolt to the villain, wouldn't you?   You'd be wrong, as JSA Johnny did.  The evil Johnny then used the Thunderbolt to commit crimes, and, to stop the JLA from interfering, send the T-Bolt back in time to stop the origins of Superman, Batman, Martian Manhunter, Flash, Green Lantern and Atom, creating an alternate Earth (not a parallel world) called Earth-A. 

The JSAers (Flash, Green Lantern, Dr. Fate, Atom, Hawkman and Mr. Terrific) go looking for their missing Johnny Thunder on Earth-1, find out all that has happened, and try to stop the Earth-1 Johnny disguised as JLAers (Flash, Green Lantern, Superman, Atom, Martian Manhunter and Batman), but fail, with the evil Johnny sending his gang back in time to take the place of the JLA which didn't happen, making his gang into the Lawless League.

Crisis On Earth-A

Earth-1's Johnny Thunder has made quite the mess by making Earth-A, home of the Lawless League, who feature in Justice League Of America #38 (September, 1965) under a cover by Mike Sekowsky and Murphy Anderson, with story by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Bernard Sachs.

The JSA quickly defeat Ripper Jones as Superman, Bill Gore as Batman, Eddie Orson as Martian Manhunter, Race Morrison as Flash, Monk Loomis as Green Lantern and Barney Judson as the Atom, because the thugs didn't get any experience with their powers.  Evil Johnny creates new villains, Medusa-Man, Absorbo-Man and Repello-Man, which do defeat the JSA except for Dr. Fate, who, after beating them, takes on Johnny's Thunderbolt, with the evil Johnny giving the Thunderbolt one last command...to undo all he had done, returning everything to the way it was before he met his double.  Then, only the Thunderbolt remembered this adventure....maybe.

This batch of stories marked the first Silver Age appearance of Mr. Terrific and Johnny Thunder's Thunderbolt.

Crisis Between Earth-One And Earth-Two

Batman features on the cover to Justice League Of America #46 (August, 1966) by Mike Sekowsky and Joe Giella (due to the Batman TV show), and even in the story by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Sid Greene.

The two Earths were having multiple menaces this time....with people mysteriously transferring from one Earth to another, while the Anti-Matter Man headed towards the two Earths, now being drawn together.  Solomon Grundy was sent to Earth-1, where he faced the JLA's Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman with the JSA's Black Canary and Dr. Mid-Nite.  On Earth-2, the Earth-1 Batman worked with Dr. Fate, Sandman (returning in his original costume) and Wildcat to stop Blockbuster.  The Spectre became aware of the Anti-Matter Man's approach and went to stand between the Earths to try to hold them apart....while, on Earth-1, Ray Palmer (the Atom) was unable to help as his size-control unit on his suit would not function.

The Bridge Between Earths

Holy crossover, Batman.  Batman continues to be a big part of this issue, Justice League Of America #47 (September, 1966), by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky and Sid Greene, under a cover by Mike Sekowsky and Joe Giella.

The Atom is finally able to get involved after he finds the problem with his suit...a space warp machine created by his assistant, Enrichetta Negrini.  That machine was also causing the transference between Earths, so stopping it exchanges Solomon Grundy with Blockbuster.  Dr. Fate finds out about Spectre's problems, and brings the heroes to him to help against the Anti-Matter Man while Atom and Spectre find a way to restore the Earths to their proper location.  Meanwhile, Green Lantern kept Grundy and Blockbuster busy by having them fight each other!

This is Sandman's first Silver Age appearance, but fellow charter JSA member Spectre and later inductee Wildcat only are a part of their first JLA/JSA team-up, having returned in Showcase and Brave and the Bold just before this meeting.

This seems a natural spot to end the summaries of the JLA/JSA team-ups, as this is where the Crisis On Multiple Earths Volume 1 ended (with a wonderful painted cover by Alex Ross).

But, there were more Crises for the teams to face, as there were more volumes in this series of reprints!

Who Is Fishing Who?

A nice time on the lake, enjoying your time there...fishing....but, who is trying to catch who?


That's the question, the answer is in House Of Mystery #94 (January, 1960), with a cover by Dick Dillin and Sheldon Moldoff, and in the story of "The Creature In Echo Lake"  with art by Bill Ely.

Lobo Convention Special

With San Diego hosting their annual convention, here's to hoping all that are there are having a good time.

But, there was a time when the Main Man went down to the convention floor, and all hell broke loose!

First, though, a little history of dolphin loving Lobo!

Lobo's Origins

Lobo premiered in Omega Men #3 (June, 1983) by Roger Slifer, Keith Giffen and Mike DeCarlo, where he had been hired by the Citadel to capture Queen Kalista.  Appearing here and there in the series, Lobo helped the Omega Men defeat the Citadel.  Later, he returned in
Justice League International #18 (October, 1988), now working for the Cluster, and, through a series of mishaps, fighting Green Lantern Guy Gardner.

Joining L.E.G.I.O.N.

Spinning out of the Invasion! event, L.E.G.I.O.N. got its own title, and Lobo followed soon after.  He appeared first in L.E.G.I.O.N. '89 #3 (April, 1989), finding one of his precious space dolphins dead, he went to track the killer.  Lobo decided it was Garryn Bek, and, as he was about to kill him (and other team members like the Durlan), Vril Dox (the son of Brainiac)  made him an offer he couldn't refuse, leading to Lobo joining L.E.G.I.O.N. in L.E.G.I.O.N. '89 #5 (June, 1989), with Dox using Lobo's battle energy to convince Bek's disreputable police force to be the foundation of an intergalactic police patrol, taking down an interplanetary drug lord with an army of Lobos (as Lobo replicates when his blood is shed....)..

Mini-Series

After encounters with Superman and Mr. Miracle, Lobo had a few mini-series, specials and even an Annual.  His first 4 issue mini-series from 1990 by Keith Giffen, Alan Grant and Simon Bisley, had Lobo going after a person who wrote an unauthorized biography of the Last Czarnian (him).  A 1992 mini-series, Lobo's Back, finds Lobo dead, but neither heaven nor hell want him, so he gains an immortality.  After a few other specials, full of inappropriate violence and language (all proving popular), Lobo, "he who devours your entrails and enjoys it" finds himself in...

The Convention Special

The Lobo Convention Special #1 (September, 1993) was a give-away at the SDCC (and sold through comic shops across America), by Keith Giffen, Alan Grant and Kevin O'Neill.

Lobo, finding his copy of the Death of Superman messed up, wants to get a new one, and decides the best place to get a comic (and not be ripped off)  is the San Diego Comic Convention. 

Full of Lobo's unique brand of social commentary (along with plenty of violence...lots and lots of violence), he both succeeds and fails in his quest for the elusive deal on that issue, leaving plenty of carnage in his wake.

The success of his various mini-series, specials, guest appearances and L.E.G.I.O.N. membership lead to....

His Own Title

Lobo finally got his own regular title, with Lobo #1 (December, 1993), which lasted for 64 regular issues as well as a zero issue and one special 1 Millionth issue, ending in July, 1999.

Still somewhat offensive, but much more in a comedic vein, quite a bit of fun was had here, firmly implanting Lobo in the DC Universe, where he continues to be revived here and there (in places including R.E.B.E.L.S. and Young Justice to this day.

Riverdale Comic Con

With CW's Riverdale likely a part of the San Diego Comic Con, it is time to show that Archie and his friends have been a part of Comic Cons for years, with this cover by Bill Galvan and Mike DeCarlo for Archie And Friends #156 (August, 2011), the last issue of the series with a new story (the next three issues of the series were reprints).

On the cover are:  Betty Cooper (Avatar), Archie Andrews (Pureheart The Powerful), Veronica Lodge (Snow White), Sabrina Spellman (Princess Leia), Josie McCoy (Catwoman), Reggie Mantle (Harry Potter), Chuck Clayton (Luke Skywalker), Jughead Jones (Spock) and Bingo Wilkin (vampire)....with the group dealing with someone in a Maximus Chrome robot costume trying to wreck their show in a story by Alex Segura, Bill Galvan and Jim Amash.

Ultraa A Prime Earth Hero

Ultraa was an alien sent to Earth by his race to avoid their imminent destruction, wherein he landed in the Australian Outback, and with his enhanced speed, strength and senses, was running to the United States over the ocean to become a hero. 

Ultraa was all set to become the first super-hero of Earth-Prime, a world that was suppose to be our own, but, the Justice League of America prevented that from happening.

Earth's First And Last Super-Hero

Ultraa premiered in Justice League of America #153 (April, 1978) by Gerry Conway, George Tuska and Frank McLaughlin, under a cover by Rich Buckler and Jack Abel.

Ultraa was from an alien world, raised by the Indigenous Australians, planning to use his enhanced abilities to help the world.  While running to the USA, Ultraa was tracked by the United States Air Force, and came into conflict with the Justice League of America, who had ended up on Earth-Prime thanks to a poll of the most popular Leaguers editor Julius Schwartz had had in their magazine (the JLA were fictional comic book characters on Earth-Prime).  The League and Ultraa battled due to a misunderstanding, then had to team up to stop Maxitron, Ultraa's spaceship's controlling computer that had gone insane.  During the course of their battle, the heroes realized Earth-Prime was not ready for super-heroes of their own, so when the JLA figured out how to return home, they brought Ultraa with them.

The Super-Power Of Negative Thinking

Ultraa quickly returning in Justice League of America #158 (September, 1978) by Gerry Conway, Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin, under a Rich Buckler/Frank Giacoia cover, finds himself in the middle of a battle between the JLA and the Injustice Gang of the World.

Ultraa decides super-hero battles could also spell the end of Earth-1, thus hatches a plan to end them.  Inventing a device that fills people with "negative radiation", he uses this on the JLA, which takes away their will to use their powers.  Ultraa then uses his ray gun on the IGW, but the negative energy simply empowers them.  Only realizing his mistake after the IGW captures him, it takes the undefeatable will of the JLA to overcome his power dampening device, allowing them to beat the IGW, and unmask their new, mysterious leader.

But, what to do with the untrustworthy Ultraa now?   Well, after his brief return, meeting up with World Citizen's Defense Society Lawyer Ernest Sloane in Justice League of America #168 (July, 1979), readers find out.

The Doomsday Decision

Ultraa's next full return happens in the Justice League of America #169 (August, 1979) by Gerry Conway, Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin, under a cover by Dillin and McLaughlin.

Due to recent actions by the JLA (due to a mind swap with members of the Secret Society of Super-Villains), the world has less trust for its heroes.  The team is brought in front of the World Court of the United Nations, because of lawyer Ernest Sloane, as it was found out that the League put Ultraa in a "status cube" designed by Superman.  Sloane helped free him, but now declares the JLA a menace to humanity.  While this trial is happening, a rash of disasters and rioting break out all over Earth, and Batman coordinates the JLA's response from the JLA Satellite.  Ultraa, meanwhile, finds out his lawyer is a manifestation of the Over-Complex, an alien entity causing the disasters. 

While A World Lies Burning

Ultraa and the JLA (along with Supergirl) are dealing with disaster in Justice League of America #170 (September, 1979) by Gerry Conway, Dick Dillin and Frank McLaughlin (cover by Dick Dillin and Dick Giordano).

The Over-Complex is on to Ultraa's discover of him, but it matters not, as the Over-Complex was able to defeat Superman, with the League having his cousin help look for him.  The JLA, being hampered by the disasters and UN court proceedings is distracted, but eventually finds Superman, while Ultraa helps the JLA reveal Ernest Sloane as the Over-Complex.  When Wonder Woman finds Superman, he reveals the aliens were stealing Earth's Hydrogen, causing the disasters, but, Batman had already defeated the aliens, sneaking aboard their satellite, and sending their ship away from Earth.  Now less of a menace, Ultraa wanders away without a purpose.

A Hero For All Seasons

Ultraa's last pre-Crisis appearance happens in Justice League of America #201 (April, 1982) by Gerry Conway, Don Heck and Robert Allen Smith, under a George Perez/Dick Giordano cover.

Trying to live a simple, civilian life as Jack Grey in Atlantic City, Ultraa is accidentally found by Joe Parry (the small time crook who created the menace of Super-Duper, who fought the JLA when Hawkman joined).  Manipulating Ultraa into a life of crime, the JLA fought him, until Hawkman (disheartened by the absence of his wife, Hawkwoman) convinced Ultraa to stand down, with the Justice League capturing Joe Parry as the true criminal.  Ultraa decides on abandoning the big city heroic life to live peacefully in the Australian Outback, amongst people similar to the one's who raised him back on his own Earth.

Post-Crisis, Ultraa returned as a suitor for Maxima, facing Captain Atom, in Justice League Quarterly #13 (Winter, 1993), and then joined with a team of other villains to be a group of League Busters when the JLI was facing Judgment Day in Justice League International #65 (June, 1995), but, here, he was just a native of Almerac, living by his own code with enhanced abilities, now including telepathy and telekinesis as well.

Another Ultraa returned thanks to the Multiversity, this time as one of many characters invading Earth-Prime via comics (along with Gary Concord, the Ultra-Man and Ultra the Multi-Alien) with the Intellectron in The Multiversity: Ultra Comics #1 (May, 2015) by Grant Morrison, Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy, Mark Irwin, Keith Champagne and Jaime Mendoza. 


Faced by Earth-Prime's only hero, Ultra Comics (a manifestation of the will of the readers to protect them from reality), the villain was defeated....only when readers stopped reading!

Jimmy Olsen Trend Setter

Fact of the matter is, it's hard being Superman's Pal and a cub reporter at the same time. 

Being a reporter means having to constantly be on the go, learning new things..

...and those new things that Jimmy Olsen would learn at times, would put him at odds with his friend, Superman!

The Red-Headed Beatle Of 1,000 B.C.

How fab!  Jimmy has taken up rock and roll, making him a popular as the Beatles (well, as Superman points out, maybe only as much as Ringo) in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #79 (September, 1964) by Leo Dorfman and George Papp, all under a cover by Curt Swan and George Klein.

While wearing a Beatle wig, Jimmy is listening to the Beatles, but he stashes the wig in his pocket as he gets a knock on the door.  Kasmir is here, claiming to be a lawman sent to Jimmy by the Legion of Super-Heroes, who want Jimmy to take Kashmir back 3000 years.  Jimmy drives Kasmir's time bubble there, where the future man reveals he was really a criminal, and needed Jimmy to drive the vehicle (which only got to Jimmy's time because it was pre-programmed). 

Firing on Jimmy, Olsen is saved by Mighty Youth, a young hero in a turbin with incredible strength.  Mighty Youth sends Kasmir fleeing, and takes the now damaged time sphere to his secret base, then helps Jimmy get a job as a sheep-shearer (with Jimmy finding out his helper is really Samson, hiding his hair to keep his strength).  Making too little, Jimmy dons his Beatle wig, and, after making twelve Beatle wigs with black dye and leftover wool, sells the wigs as he entertains the townspeople with Beatles' songs.  Kasmir finds him, and tries to steal Jimmy's profits, but both end up in jail.  Mighty Youth helps free Jimmy, and Superman shows up, having tracked the time sphere, helping Jimmy and Samson against Kasmir (who tried to depower Samson by cutting his hair, except Jimmy had slipped his wig on Mighty Youth in the dark).  After one last performance, Superman takes Jimmy and Kasmir back to their respective times.

Hippie Olsen's Hate-In

The days of peace and love seemed to take a wrong turn in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #118 (March, 1969) by Otto Binder and Pete Costanza (with a Neal Adams cover),  as Jimmy turned into a hippie, getting his hate on for the Man of Steel!

Jimmy avoids the barber for a while, letting his hair go for an assignment for Perry White...to join Guru Hansen's hippie cult.  While there, Jimmy listens to them preach love, and falls under a spell of their flower power, with a mist that he thinks takes him to dream land (wherein he goes to punch Perry White for not giving him a raise on this assignment).  He comes back to the love-in thinking it was all a dream, only to be exposed to the flower gas again, which sends him to get revenge on his girl, Lucy Lane, who was out dating another boy after seeing how messy Jimmy was becoming.

Going back to the commune, the Guru and his partner, Blacky Sloan, send Jimmy out again, where Jimmy tries a "hate-in", with signs saying how much the hippies hate everything (but supposedly with opposite sayings on the back).  Superman shows up and confronts him angrily, but quickly leaves (being the Guru is disguise).  When Jimmy comes back to the commune, the Guru baits Jimmy into wanting to get even his with pal, by killing him with Kryptonite (since it will "only be a dream").  Jimmy does, making lead-coated Kryptonite bead necklaces, which, after Superman arrives, Jimmy dissolves the lead with his signal watch.  Guru and Blacky arrive as Superman is dying...which helps Jimmy realize this is real, and he saves Superman, who catches the criminals (and helps the hippies realize how wrong they were to follow criminals who were exploiting their lofty ideals).  Jimmy then heads back to the Daily Planet, where he is confronted by an angry Perry White (and avoids an even angrier Lucy Lane).

National Bikini Day 2019 With Betty And Veronica

Hoping that this summer day doesn't find you drenched in rain, and wishing you a Happy National Bikini Day with this cover from the all new Betty and Veronica #5 (October, 1987) by Dan DeCarlo. 

An unfortunate change in the weather resulted in Veronica having an unusual circumstance....her swimsuit getting wet, as pointed out by Betty in her bikini!

Happy 4th Of July With the Justice League

Salute the flag and celebrate the Fourth of July with the Justice League of America, as shown in this patriotic scene by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano, from the 1976 Super DC Calendar.

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!