Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
In July 1933,
Jerry Siegel
corresponded with artist Leo O'Mealia to collaborate on a new comic strip. At
the time, "Superman" was a scientist from a future of evolved superhumans.
O'Mealia suggested that Siegel include a female romance element.
On January 13, 1935, the Cleveland Plain Dealer classified section
printed an ad from an artist model named Jolan Kovacs, also known as Joanne
Carter.
Joe Shuster
hired Joanne for $1.50 an hour and she would become the visual basis for
reporter Lois Lane.
Prototypes of the Lois character can be seen in early Siegel and Shuster
works published by Major Malcom Wheeler-Nicholson and National Allied. In
New Comics #8–10 (August–October 1936), the
Federal Men stories feature Jean Dennis, a crime reporter at the
Tribune. Jerry included a character named Joanne Carter in a
Spy feature for Detective Comics #16 (June 1938).
According to Joe, Jerry named Lois after his high school crush Lois Amster,
but this was later disputed by Jerry and Joanne. Lois was inspired by Torchy
Blane, a detective reporter portrayed in films from 1937–1938 by actresses
Glenda Farrell and Lola Lane.
Joanne and Jerry later married each other in Cleveland on October 14, 1948.
The character's full name was revealed as Lois Joanne Lane in
Superman: The Wedding Album
(December 1996).
.png "Clark Kent & Lois Lane, Action Comics #1 (June 1938)")
Lois debuted as a reporter for the Daily Star in Action Comics #1 (June 1938). The full name of Lois Lane appears in the second issue. Lois describes her newspaper job as "scribbling sob stories all day." Lois first appeared in the Superman daily newspaper strip on February 1, 1939. The Daily Star editor threatens to send her back to the "Lovelorn" column.
.png "Superman & Lois Lane, Action Comics #1 (June 1938)")
Lois first kisses Superman and proclaims her love in Action Comics #5
(October 1938). Although she is infatuated with Superman, she despises Clark
for being a coward. The love triangle would define their relationship
throughout the Golden and Silver Ages.
Lois Lane was the first of many supporting characters with the alliterative
initials of "L. L." The lengthy list includes Lana Lang, Lara Lor-Van,
Linda Lee,
Lori Lemaris, and Lex Luthor.
Despite her tough attitude, Lois was often depicted as a stereotypical
damsel in distress, as seen in her first cover appearance on
Action Comics #27 (August 1940). Lois first suspects that Clark is
Superman in Superman #17 (July–August 1942). She would often place
herself in danger to oust Clark, only to be outsmarted and rescued by
Superman.
Lois Lane first appeared on
The Adventures of Superman
radio series in the February 26, 1940, episode "Dr. Dahlgren's Atomic Beam
Machine." The first actress to voice Lois Lane was
Rosalind "Rolly" Bester. Rolly was married to science fiction author Alfred Bester, creator of
Solomon Grundy and the Green Lantern oath. Rolly Bester voiced Lois in four
episodes broadcast from February 26 to March 4, 1940. Lois first meets
Superman in the March 1, 1940, episode, "Threat To The Daily Planet."
Lois Lane first appeared on trading cards in the 1940
Superman Candy & Surprise
series from Leader Novelty Candy Co. The images for "Fumes of Doom" and
"Snatched from Death" were originally published in Superman #5
(Summer 1940). The panels were illustrated by Paul Cassidy, Wayne
Boring, and Paul Lauretta of the Joe Shuster Shop.
"Lois Lane, Girl Reporter" is a series of twelve color strips published
intermittently in the Cleveland Plain Dealer from October 24, 1943,
until February 27, 1944. The spin-off series accompanied the Sunday
Superman strip from the McClure Syndicate. The features are signed "by Jerry and Joe." The strips were illustrated by Wayne Boring and the Joe Shuster Shop.
Reporter Lois Lane writes the "Heart Throbs" column for the
Daily Planet. Lois is depicted as short-tempered and suffering from
occupational burnout. "Mr. Ellsworth" appears as a nod to Whitney
Ellsworth, Superman editor and producer of
The Adventures of Superman
radio program.
"Lois Lane, Girl Reporter" first appeared as a comic book feature in
Superman #28 (May–June 1944). The four-page stories ran for 13 installments,
ending in Superman #42 (September–October 1946). Each feature is signed "by Jerry and Joe." The scripts were provided by Don C. Cameron and Whitney Ellsworth. Contributing artists include Sam Citron, Ed Dobrotka, Don Komisarow, and Pete Riss.
.png "Adventure Comics #128 (May 1948)")
The Silver Age Lois Lane of Earth-One first appeared in
Adventure Comics
#128 (May 1948). In the
Superboy
story, "How Clark Kent Met Lois Lane," Clark and Lois both win school
contests for a trip to the Daily Planet. Clark is attracted to
Lois, but Lois is more interested in Superboy.
.png "Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #1 (April 1958)")
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane debuted as cover features for
Showcase #9–10 (July–October 1957). An ongoing title was published for 137 issues (March 1958–October 1974). Kurt Schaffenberger, the preeminent Lois Lane artist of
the Silver Age, illustrated 159 stories and 48 covers for the series.
Lois has a younger sister named Lucy, first appearing in
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #36 (April 1959). Lucy Lane was created by
writer Otto Binder and artist
Curt Swan.
The Lane family farm was located in the fictional town of Pittsdale,
Iowa. Lois' parents Sam and Ella Lane are introduced in
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #13 (November 1959). Before
moving to Metropolis, Lois majored in journalism at Raleigh College and
worked as a reporter for the Pittsdale Star.
Bizarro-Lois
first appeared in Action Comics #255 (August 1959). Lois uses the
duplicator ray on herself to create a companion for Bizarro. Bizarro and
Bizarro-Lois immediately fall in love and leave Earth to live in a
faraway solar system.
.png "Kurt Schaffenberger, The Superman Family #164 (April-May 1974)")
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane was the third best-selling comic book of 1962, behind Superman and Superboy. The majority of readers were young males and the tone reflected attitudes of the era. Lois spent much of the Silver Age competing with Lana Lang and scheming to marry Superman. Many of the stories are narrated by Superman teaching Lois a lesson. Superman develops elaborate ploys to trick Lois, often leading to heartbreak and tears.
In Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #45 (November 1963), the brave investigative
journalist gives relationship advice to Daily Planet readers in
her “Dr. Cupid” column.
In 1974, the title was merged with Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen and
Supergirl
into The Superman Family. "Lois Lane" later appeared as a backup
feature in The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl from 1982–1983.
During this time, Clark and Lana Lang began to develop a more serious
relationship that would last until the Crisis on Infinite Earths event
of 1985–1986.
The Golden Age Lois Lane of Earth-Two and Superman (Kal-L) were married
in
Action Comics #484 (June 1978). The couple held a private
Kryptonian ceremony inside the Secret Citadel. At the conclusion of
Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1986, Lois of Earth-Two accompanied
Kal-L and
Superboy-Prime
to a "paradise dimension." Lois Lane of Earth-Two died from old age in
Infinite Crisis #6 (May 2006).
.png "Lois Lane by José Luis García-López & Dick Giordano (1982)")
The Silver Age Lois Lane of Earth-One was erased from existence during the creation of New Earth in 1986. Her final tale appears in "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow," written by Alan Moore. The two-part "imaginary story" begins in Superman #423 and concludes in Action Comics #583. The events are narrated by Lois Lane Eliot in 1997, ten years after Superman had been presumed dead. Lois lives with her husband Jordan Elliot and their son Jonathan. Jordan, named after Jor-El, is revealed to be a depowered Clark.
.png "The Man of Steel #2 (October 1986)")
The Post-Crisis Lois first appeared in The Man of Steel #2
(October 1986). Lois Lane of New Earth is a Pulitzer Prize
winning journalist at the Daily Planet. Lois and Lucy are the
daughters of General Samuel Lane and Ella Lane. Growing up as an Army
brat, Lois received combat training at an early age.
Lois and Clark start dating in Superman #44 (June 1990), and
become engaged in Superman #50 (December 1990). Clark finally
reveals the secret identity in Action Comics #662 (February
1991). The comic book wedding was originally scheduled for 1993. Due to
a conflict with the
Lois & Clark
television series, a year of planned comic stories were scrapped.
During a 1992 "Super-Summit" meeting, the creative team instead decided
to kill Superman. Superman died in Lois' arms during the final pages of
Superman #75 (January 1993).
.png "Superman: The Wedding Album #1 (December 1996)")
After the return of Superman, the relationship became strained. Lois
decided to leave Clark and take an assignment as a foreign correspondent
in Superman #115 (September 1996). She returns and marries Clark
in the one-shot Superman: The Wedding Album (December 1996). The
ceremony was officiated by
Jerry Siegel. The couple spent their honeymoon at Hotel Lanai in Hawaii.
Jonathan Samuel Kent, the son of Lois and Clark, first appeared in
Convergence: Superman #2 (July 2015). The name is derived from
his grandfathers Jonathan Kent and Samuel Lane. Lois originally gave
birth to Jon in the Batcave of Thomas Wayne, Batman of the "Flashpoint"
timeline. The birthplace was later retconned to the Fortress of Solitude
on Prime Earth.
Lois and Clark briefly changed their last name to White in order to
avoid their younger "New 52" counterparts. The New Earth and Prime Earth
timelines were unified and both versions of Lois were merged in
Action Comics #976 (May 2017).
In Action Comics #1051 (March 2023), Lois and Clark reveal they
have adopted twin siblings Otho-Ra and Osul-Ra. The "Super-Twins" are
Phaelosians, an evolutionary offshoot of Kryptonians. After Superman
freed the Phaelosians from Warworld, the twins became members of the
House of El and Superman Family.
.png "Ariel Colón, Superman #1 (April 2023)")
In her 85th year of publication, Lois Lane became Editor-in-Chief of the
Daily Planet in Superman vol. 6, #1 (April 2023).
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Nemo, The Classic Comics Library. No. 2, Fantagraphics Books, Inc.,
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Hayde, Michael J.
Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio & TV's
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Lamparski, Richard.
"Whatever Became Of... Superman and Lois Lane?"
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December 1966.
Siegel, Jerry. Creation of a Superhero. Draft. 1979.
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30 May 1998, pp. 6, 9.
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