LOIS LANE #80 (1968)
by Leo Dorfman & Kurt Schaffenberger
Cover by Curt Swan & Neal Adams
This is supposed to be the beginning of a new era for Lois Lane, in sharp contrast with what came before. The results were… weird.
It begins like a normal story, with a birthday party for Lois Lane.
Only Clark Kent and Superman are missing from the party.
Jimmy tries to cover for Superman’s absence, giving Lois a fake present from the Man of Steel.
Being Jimmy Olsen, he fails.
She’s really down about this, but she figures that Superman must be away on an important mission.
But no, he’s in the local junkyard!
She’s UNDERSTANDABLY furious about this!
And finally, after 79 issues of being treated like garbage, Lois is just DONE with Superman!
Do you have any idea how hard it is to make me root for Silver Age Lois Lane? But this comic is doing it!
This is so serious that Lois leaves the Daily Planet (!!!) and even Metropolis (!!!).
She also tries some 60s fanservice.
All of this is good, Lois, but maybe changing your name is going a little too far.
Even Superman thinks that this is for the best.
Lois picked up her destination at random, selecting a small city.
Which is conveniently next to a space center.
Ah, the 1960s. Where you could get a job as nurse with a fake ID, no references and (presumably) no formal education on medicine.
Only one person can save this comic: Kirby!
Unfortunately Jack Kirby won’t write/draw Jimmy Olsen for years, so Lois has to settle for Commander Kirby.
Maybe she should’ve tried jumping off the window. That usually works better for her.
But Superman doesn’t show up, so she has to save Kirby with a blood transfusion.
Sounds legit.
Things seem to be going rather well for Lois!
Too bad Superman is not taking this well.
He’s overjoyed at seeing a woman risking her life!
There’s something in the water of Metropolis that turns people crazy, right? It can’t be a coincidence.
Eventually he gets an assignment to cover the space program and finds Lois as Clark Kent.
She might not know that he’s Superman, but after all this time watching Lois utterly ignore him is very satisfying.
At this point Superman is the stalker. That makes things even more creepy!
“I don’t usually make like a super-showoff”. Riiiiiight.
Unfortunately for Supes, before he can go back to the beach as Clark Kent he has to pretend to risk drowning, so Kirby has to save him.
I have to wonder: can anyone root for Superman in this comic? Other then a sociopath like him?
Later Lois and Kirby discover that a spy ring is operating at the space center, so she unwillingly asks for Superman’s help.
Superman captures the spies, but he’s not taken the hints that Lois wants nothing to do with him.
This has NOT aged well.
Oh my God, Superman, YOU’RE STILL NOT GETTING IT!?
I’m 100% with Lois this time. There is NO WAY he didn’t do this on purpose!!!
AND HE’S STILL GOING!!!
Okay, turns out he didn’t drug her on purpose… she faked doing it and he immediately took advantage of the situation.
WHICH IS EVEN WORSE.
And that’s the end!
At least for now, because this will continue in the following issue.
Historical significance: 8/10
The new attitude towards Superman won’t last long, but the attempt to turn Lois into a human being will be at least somewhat successful.
Silver Age-ness: 3/10
So crashing your space rocket means you go into a coma that is cured by a blood transfusion?
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
This is a tough call. On one hand, Superman is even worse than usual: completely and utterly unsympathetic. On the other hand, Lois repeatedly calls him out on this, and it’s pretty clear that the comic is siding with her. That saves this coming from going into a negative score.
You can retell this story today, but it would completely ruin anyone’s ability with side with Superman. That’s the main reason why this gets a 0/10, but for different criteria than usual.
Stupid Lois Lane moment
I can’t really fault her for dumping Superman, or even for leaving Metropolis. But ditching her journalistic career? Why!?
Interesting letters: I’m surprised it took this long to see this letter.
Also a letter from Julie Kupperberg. I wonder if there’s a relationship with writer and editor Paul Kupperberg.
