LOIS LANE #88 (1968)
by E. Nelson Bridwell & Irv Novick
Cover by Neal Adams
My first question with this cover is “And the downside would be WHAT, exactly!?”.
We begin with Lois Lane posing as a blind woman for an article of questionable taste.
Then she REALLY becomes blind when someone shoots at her. Note that the shot COMPLETELY misses her but she’s blinded by the bullet passing in front of her eyes. (WTF!?)
You might think that the bullet grazed her eyes, or that it’s just being censored by the Comics Code. But no, really, she’s blinded by a bulled that doesn’t touch her! I could understand if the gun went off inches away from her eyes, but this seems pretty unbelievable.
Although it might just be the kind of blindness that goes away on its own. (???)
Now, with a premise like this, you might expect a story with the message “blind people are capable of anything”. And I guess it kinda is, but it’s also “Superman to much of a jackass to be allowed anywhere near a blind person”.
But she has a solution, which she discusses with her sister Lucy (who will appear less and less in the series). It’s a pair of earrings invented by Lana Lang’s uncle, Professor Potter.
Yes, Professor Potter is indeed Lana Lang’s uncle! It never comes up in Jimmy Olsen stories, but it’s mentioned in a couple of Superboy stories.
Although this might be a different Professor Potter since his invention actually makes sense!
And of course Superman has to come up with a way to expose Lois’ secret.
Glad we wasted a couple of pages on these because these two couldn’t talk like normal people.
The damage to her eyes turns out to be permanent, but she does have a chance to get her vision back.
I know it’s an alibi, Superman. You just murdered the first person you saw to steal his eyes, didn’t you?
Lois has the same reaction I had: who cares if the donor was a murderer!?
So… story over, right?
Don’t tell me this is not the face of someone who kills a random guy to steal his eyes.
Nightmare Superman isn’t the only bad sight: now Lois sees dead people.
I’m sure these hallucinations will go away on their own in a few days.
I WAS KIDDING!!!
Turns out Lois is seeing the death of the people murdered by the eye donor.
In the final act, Lois has to testify against a mobster and the whole hallucination thing is presented as evidence of her insanity.
As if you needed MORE proof that Lois is insane!
And then, THE NEXT PANEL, Lois shows why this stunt was completely unnecessary!
Yep! In a twist that shocked exactly nobody, the eye doctor was the real bad guy the whole time.
Sounds legit.
Note that the criminals had to come up with ALL THIS in a couple of days at best: Lois really was temporarily blinded by the gunshot.
Historical significance: 0/10
Don’t expect to see references to this story.
Silver Age-ness: 4/10
Those miniature lenses are one heck of invention to waste on these idiots!
Does it stand the test of time? 5/10
Surprisingly competent for 60s Lois.
Stupid Lois Lane moment
Why exactly did she have to freak out in court seconds before explaining she knew she wasn’t seeing dead people?