LOIS LANE #102 (1970)
by Robert Kanigher & Curt Swan
You’re about 100 issues late, Superman, but better late than never!
We begin with Lois Lane covering the International Parade Of Rare Animals.
As a photographer.
So I’m guessing Perry White is just done following her crazy stunts?
The animals belong to a super-wealthy rajah, who saves Lois when a tiger decides to use her as a little snack.
The rajah immediately hits on Lois, because of course he does. This is already ludicrous enough until you realize his name is… Satdev.
Yes.
SATDEV.
He is absurdly wealthy, doesn’t care about his harem and… I’m sorry but you don’t name a character “Satdev” and expect us to move past it!!!
And that is enough to make Lois fall for him.
Totally normal conversation to have.
Also: didn’t we get through an entire story in Lois Lane #41 about NOT joke about selling your soul to the devil?
Last time she did that, Superman went through an absurdly elaborate plan to make her regret it. If she does it again he could do something completely reckless like, oh I don’t know, destroy a skyscraper!!!
But don’t worry folks, demolitions can’t possibly hurt anyone on a Sunday. (WTF!?)
Also this is Silver Age Superman we’re talking about, so this is barely an inconvenience for him.
What are YOU complaining about, Superman!? You’ve done just about everything to get her to stop trying to marry you!!! Take the win and leave!!!
As if having a character called “Satdev” wasn’t hilarious enough, apparently he’s also really, REALLY into hearing people ask favors to the Devil.
Okay at this point Kanigher is just trolling us. He has to be!
Lois must be thinking that Satdev has a fetish for hearing about people asking for wishes.
What could possibly be hiding beneath Satdev’s turban?
Could it be that he is perhaps *gasp* bald!?
Yes, Kanigher is DEFINITELY trolling us here.
A quick question for the ladies!
If you’re out on a date with a man who keeps talking about asking wishes to the Devil and then not-so-subtly gives you the option of drinking from the Fountain of Youth, do you:
A) immediately drink whatever he puts in front of you, or
B) do LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE!?
I trust that I don’t have to tell you what Lois Lane decides to do.
And now for the moment you have all be waiting for: what is Satdev’s secret?
You mean to tell me that a guy who looks like Satan and keeps talking about the Devil AND who calls himself Satdev is actually…
…THE DEVIL!?
Then Superman discovers Lois and Satdev because, by sheer coincidence, he was taking Lana Lang on a world tour for her birthday.
He’s not trying to make Lois jealous or anything!
It just so happen that, while Lois is having a date with another guy, Superman JUST HAPPENS to fly by carrying his OTHER stalker in his arms.
Riiiiight.
Also there’s a laser battle between the Devil and Superman! How do you make THAT lame!?!?
Basically by doing nothing with it.
And believe it or not… THAT is out cliffhanger!!!
This is a Kanigher story, so YOU KNOW it’s going to get even crazier in the second part!!!
Historical significance: 0/10
Spoiler alert: Lois isn’t actually dead.
Silver Age-ness: 12/10
A laser battle between Superman and the Devil!!!
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
When the scene where a skyscraper is destroyed without hurting anybody is the most easily adaptable scene, that’s saying something!
Stupid Lois Lane moment
HIS NAME IS SATDEV and he drops a hint in just about every panel. Lois doesn’t pick up ANY of them.