Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane
| Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane | |
|---|---|
 Cover of issue #1. Art by Curt Swan. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Schedule | Bi-Monthly then Monthly |
| Format | Standard |
| Publication date | March/April 1958 - September/October 1974 |
| Number of issues | 137 plus 2 Annuals |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Otto Binder Leo Dorfman Cary Bates |
| Penciller(s) | Curt Swan Kurt Schaffenberger Werner Roth Irv Novick |
| Inker(s) | Mike Esposito Vince Colletta |
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane was a comic book series published monthly by DC Comics focusing on the adventures of supporting character Lois Lane. The series began publication March/April 1958 and ended its run September/October 1974 with 137 regular issues[1] and two 80-page Annuals.[2] With the similarly themed Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen as its senior, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane would mark the second comic series based on a Superman supporting character.
Contents |
[edit] History
Following a tryout in Showcase,[3] DC decided to give Lois Lane her own ongoing series.[4] From the first issue, stories centered on Lois' romantic interest in Superman and her attempts to maneuver him into marriage, only to fail due to a comic plot twist. In the early 1960s Lana Lang made regular guest appearances, generally as Lois' romantic rival. Artist Kurt Schaffenberger drew most of the stories for the first 81 issues of the series, missing only issue #29.[5] Schaffenberger's rendition of Lois Lane became cited by many[6][7] as the "definitive" version of the character. The Catwoman made her first Silver Age appearance in #70 (Nov. 1966).[8] In issue #80 (Jan. 1968), Lois Lane's fashions were updated to a then-more contemporary look.[9]
By the 1970s, the stories began to reflect growing social awareness: Lois became less fixated on romance, and more on current issues. In the controversial story "I Am Curious (Black)!" in #106 (Nov. 1970),[10] for example, Lois uses a machine that allows her to experience racism firsthand as an African American woman. The series saw the debut of Silver Age heroine "Rose & The Thorn" in a back up feature that ran from #105 (Oct. 1970)[11] through #130 (April 1973).
In 1974, the title ended, as Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen had earlier that year. Both would be merged into Superman Family, which chronologically continued from the elder title, premiering with issue #164 (April-May 1974).[12]
[edit] Collected editions
- Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane Archives Vol. 1 - Reprinting stories collected from Showcase #9-10 and Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #1-8. Released on December 28, 2011. 264 pages. (ISBN: 1401233155)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Lois Lane Annual at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Irvine, Alex; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1950s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. "The future title Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane got a tryout in issues #9 and #10 of Showcase, when Lois Lane stepped in as the lead feature."
- ^ Irvine "1950s" in Dolan, p. 89: "Following her successful test run in the pages of Showcase #9 and #10, Lois Lane got her own title Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane in which Superman was ever the prankster."
- ^ Kurt Schaffenberger's run on Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Voger, Mark and Voglesong, Kathy (PHT). "Front Page Romance," Hero Gets Girl!: The Life and Art of Kurt Schaffenberger (TwoMorrows Publishing, 2003).
- ^ Eury, Michael. "Kurt Schaffenberger: Ladies' Man," in "The Superman Mythology," The Krypton Companion: A Historical Exploration of Superman Comic Books of 1958-1986 (TwoMorrows Publishing, 2006), p. 67.
- ^ Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #70 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 128: "She started trading in her generic blouse-and-pencil skirt combinations for a "mod" wardrobe filled with printed dresses, go-go boots, mini-skirts, and hot pants."
- ^ Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #106 at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 141 "The second feature uncovered the roots of Rose Forrest/Thorn's identity, as told by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Ross Andru."
- ^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 159 "DC's 100-page Super Spectaculars were proving popular, so DC said goodnye to Supergirl, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane, and housed the characters together in Superman Family. Continuing the numbering from where Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen ended, the series featured classic reprints with new tales in the lead spot."
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