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 as its protagonist. The series began publication with a March/April 1958 cover date and ended its run in September/October 1974 with 137 regular issues and two 80-page Annuals. 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.
At the peak of its popularity in 1962, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane was the third best selling comic book in the United States, surpassed only by Superman and Superboy in sales.
Publication history
Following a tryout in Showcase, DC decided to give Lois Lane her own ongoing series. 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. Schaffenberger's rendition of Lois Lane became cited by many as the "definitive" version of the character. Singer Pat Boone appeared in issue #9 (May 1959) before starring in his own comic book series. "The Monkey's Paw", a story from issue #42 (July 1963), featured a one-panel appearance, with his costume mis-colored, by the defunct Fawcett Comics' Captain Marvel, who was not yet a DC character. The letters page of #113 (October 1971) described it as "strictly a private joke" on the part of former Captain Marvel artist Schaffenberger. The story was reprinted in #104 (October 1970) with the costume coloring corrected. The Catwoman made her first Silver Age appearance in #70 (November 1966). In issue #80 (January 1968), Lois Lane's fashions were updated to a then-more contemporary look.
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 (November 1970), Lois uses a machine that allows her to experience racism firsthand as an African American woman. The series saw the debut of the Silver Age heroine "Rose & The Thorn" in a back up feature that ran from #105 (October 1970) through #130 (April 1973). Editor E. Nelson Bridwell had several characters and plot concepts from Jack Kirby's "Fourth World" appear in issues #111-119 (July 1971-February 1972). Lois' sister, Lucy Lane, was believed to have died in issue #120 (March 1972) but the character was later revived.
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 (Aprilâ€"May 1974). The release of the last issue of Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane was delayed for several months due to a nationwide paper shortage.
Other Lois Lane titles
The character has appeared in several self-titled miniseries and one-shots including:
- Lois Lane â€" a two issue limited series published in August and September 1986.
- Superman: Lois Lane â€" a one-shot published in June 1998 as part of the "Girlfrenzy!" Fifth-week event.
- Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance â€" a three issue limited series published August 2011 - October 2011 as part of the Flashpoint crossover.
- Superman: Lois Lane #1 â€" a one-shot published in April 2014.
Collected editions
- Showcase Presents: Superman Family
- Volume 1 includes Showcase #9, 576 pages, March 2006, ISBN 1-4012-0787-1
- Volume 2 includes Showcase #10 and Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #1-7, 520 pages, February 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1656-0
- Volume 3 includes Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #8-16, 576 pages, March 2009, ISBN 1-4012-2188-2
- Volume 4 includes Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #17-26, 520 pages, March 2013, ISBN 1-4012-3837-8
- Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane Archives Volume 1 - collects Showcase #9-10 and Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #1-8, 264 pages, January 2012, ISBN 1-4012-3315-5
- Superman in the Fifties includes Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #8, 192 pages, October 2002, ISBN 1563898268
- Showcase Presents: Supergirl includes Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #14, 528 pages, November 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1717-6
- Superman in the Sixties includes Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #20 and 42, 240 pages, October 1999, ISBN 1563895226
- Catwoman: Nine Lives of a Feline Fatale includes Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #70-71, 208 pages, July 2004, ISBN 1401202136
- Diana Prince: Wonder Woman Vol. 2 includes Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #93, 176 pages, August 2008, ISBN 1401218253
- Superman in the Seventies includes Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #106, 224 pages, November 2000, ISBN 1563896389
See also
- Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen
- Superman Family