Lois Lane

Lois Lane first appeared on trading cards in the 1940 Superman Candy & Surprise series from Leader Novelty Candy Co. The images for "Fumes of Doom" and "Snatched from Death" were originally published in Superman #5 (Summer 1940). The panels were illustrated by Paul Cassidy, Wayne Boring, and Paul Lauretta of the Joe Shuster Shop.

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Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane debuted as cover features for Showcase #9–10 in 1957. An ongoing title was launched in the spring of 1958. Kurt Schaffenberger, the preeminent Lois Lane artist of the Silver Age, illustrated 159 stories and 48 covers for the series.

Lois has a younger sister named Lucy, first appearing in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #36 (April 1959). Lucy was created by writer Otto Binder and artist Curt Swan. The Lane family farm was located in the fictional town of Pittsdale, Iowa. Lois' parents Sam and Ella Lane are introduced in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #13 (November 1959). Before moving to Metropolis, Lois majored in journalism at Raleigh College and worked as a reporter for the Pittsdale Star.

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane was the third best-selling comic book of 1962, behind Superman and Superboy. The majority of readers were young males and the tone reflected attitudes of the era. Lois spent much of the Silver Age competing with Lana Lang and scheming to marry Superman. Many of the stories are narrated by Superman teaching Lois a lesson. Superman develops elaborate ploys to trick Lois, often leading to heartbreak and tears.

In Lois Lane #45 (November 1963), the brave investigative journalist gives relationship advice to Daily Planet readers in her “Dr. Cupid” column. Lois was revealed to have won a Pulitzer Prize and her style was updated to a more contemporary fashion in issue #80 (January 1968).

In 1974, the title was merged with Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen and Supergirl into The Superman Family. "Lois Lane" later appeared as a backup feature in The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl from 1982–1983. During this time, Clark and Lana Lang began to develop a more serious relationship that would last until the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" event of 1985–1986.

The Golden Age Lois Lane of Earth-Two married Clark in Action Comics #484 (June 1978). Superman (Kal-L) and Lois held a private Kryptonian ceremony inside the Secret Sanctuary. At the conclusion of Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1986, Lois of Earth-Two accompanied Kal-L and Superboy-Prime to a "paradise dimension." The Lois of Earth-Two dies from old age in Infinite Crisis #6 (May 2006).

The Silver Age Lois Lane of Earth-One was erased from existence during the creation of New Earth in 1986. Her final tale appears in "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow," written by Alan Moore. The two-part "imaginary story" begins in Superman #423 and concludes in Action Comics #583. The events are narrated by Lois in 1997, ten years after Superman had been presumed dead. Lois lives with her husband Jordan Elliot and their son Jonathan. Jordan, named after Jor-El, is revealed to be a depowered Clark.

The Post-Crisis Lois first appeared in The Man of Steel #2 (October 1986). Lois Joanne Lane of New Earth is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist at the Daily Planet. Lois and Lucy are the daughters of General Samuel Lane and Ella Lane. Growing up as an Army brat, Lois received combat training at an early age.

Lois and Clark start dating in Superman #44 (June 1990), and become engaged in Superman #50 (December 1990). Clark finally reveals the secret identity in Action Comics #662 (February 1991). The comic book wedding was originally scheduled for 1993. Due to a conflict with the Lois & Clark television series, a year of planned comic stories were scrapped. During a 1992 "Super-Summit" meeting, the creative team instead decided to kill Superman. Superman died in Lois' arms during the final pages of Superman #75 (January 1993).

After the return of Superman, their relationship became strained. Lois decided to leave Clark and take an assignment as a foreign correspondent in Superman #115 (September 1996). She returns and marries Clark in the one-shot Superman: The Wedding Album (December 1996). The ceremony was officiated by Jerry Siegel. The couple spent their honeymoon at Hotel Lanai in Hawaii.

Jonathan Samuel Kent, the son of Clark and Lois, first appeared in Convergence: Superman #2 (July 2015). The name is derived from his grandfathers Jonathan Kent and Samuel Lane. Lois originally gave birth to Jon in the Batcave of Thomas Wayne, Batman of the "Flashpoint" timeline. The birthplace was later retconned to the Fortress of Solitude on Prime Earth.

Lois and Clark briefly changed their last name to White in order to avoid their younger "New 52" counterparts. The New Earth and Prime Earth timelines are unified and both versions of Lois were merged in Action Comics #976 (May 2017).

In Action Comics #1051 (March 2023), Lois and Clark reveal they have adopted twin siblings Otho-Ra and Osul-Ra. The "Super-Twins" are Phaelosians, an evolutionary offshoot of Kryptonians. After Superman freed the Phaelosians from Warworld, the twins became members of the House of El and Superman Family.

In her 85th year of publication, Lois Lane became Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Planet in Superman vol. 6, #1 (April 2023).