Originally Posted by
K. Jones
Can anyone give me a catch-up not just on who Lois's family is (Sam, Ella, Lucy, Suzie, yadda) but when they were first introduced, by what writer, and then who retconned them into whatever shapes they tended to take?
The Lanes seem to be a lot like the Kents in that whenever there's a reboot, soft or hard, they get all swooshed around and incohesive. I guess the difference is that the Kents tend to remain true to who they are, it's just a matter of if they're alive or dead in whatever continuity. The Lanes get personality makeovers. So when was the last time Ella was even seen in a story (let alone mentioned)? Who turned Sam Lane into General Sam Lane? What's the preferred Lucy scenario (Jimmy foil? Army girl? Superwoman? Insect mutant?)?
I'll throw it out there as far as preferences - I think Sam Lane being top secret super-general Sam Lane is a bridge too far. I mean at this point WHOSE DAD ISN'T? (I'm looking at you, Batwoman). I'd prefer a bit more normalcy in Lois's life. I do very much like Sam being a military guy and Lois growing up moving a lot. That part makes sense to me. But all the top secret super-stuff is a little beyond. I'd way rather he just be some Army guy. Or even like ... a different tack ... a J.A.G. or a Military Journalist or something. Something a little less conspiracy theory and more truth and justice.
I don't know enough about Ella Lane to give an opinion. I'd like to know who she was, even if someone like Rucka has to basically invent it now, contemporarily.
Lucy ... I mean Lucy being the chip off the shoulder, "I joined the Army, too" kid is like ... again, just freaking like Batwoman's story. Bette did the same thing. Kate did the same thing. And then the "Lucy being the secret weird foe at the moment" thing is ALSO just the same thing as Batwoman, since that's Elizabeth's storyline these days. I'd frankly way rather have Lucy be ... well, "Normal" is a tough word in the super-books because they're all bound to have some Strange Adventures ... but like, normal like Jimmy normal. And maybe just more of a connection to Metropolis as a place, Lois as a person. I'd be nice if Lois being this high profile Pulitzer woman of achievement, if Lucy was like ... a young girl who can't quite get her act together, and who Lois on top of being an all-star reporter, muck-raker, super-heroine, wife and mother, is also just a kick-ass big sister for.
I'd way rather she was a normal Metropolis girl. Not so rebellious that she's the constant thorn in the family's side, bailed out of "big trouble" by Lois or Sam. Just young and with no idea what to do with her future. But savvy, sharp, and cunning, because that's Lane women.
Who else? Suzie? I like Suzie being some weird space age brain mutant who has sort of erased her existence from her family's minds so she can go to Captain Comet school. The implication there of course, since her last name is Thompkins, is that Lois also has an OLDER sister. I'd love to meet her. Historically that was Lucille, which is a pretty samey name to Lucy. But I think there's a few names out there Lucy can be short for. Maybe a little weird to name two daughters Lucille and something else ... like Lucia or something. But hey! You know Lois's older sister is also going to start with an L, and be an LL. I'm down with the idea that "erasing" herself from everyone's memories, but when she shows up, everyone remembering her, and being like "Suzie! Welcome back!" pretty comic booky. It'd be pretty nice to at least get all the Lane sisters together for a scene or twenty.
Also who doesn't want to see Suzie interact with Jon, because they're first cousins! Come on, DC!