The Super-Men (and -Women) of All-Planets

[Jim Kelly]

Later Lois finds that she has super-powers of her own, guessing that she gained them from the Man of Steel. She puts on a super-costume that she has from a previous adventure.



When the un-Super-man presses her on the question of marriage, Super-Lois says nix to the idea, because he would be in too much danger.

In the end it turns out this was a Superman robot and not the real Man of Tomorrow. The robot took the place of the Metropolis Marvel and arranged the experiment at the Fortress to test Lois Lane's loyalty to his master.



Note: Lois wears the same costume she wore in SUPERMAN'S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE 17 (May 1960)--2nd story, "Lana Lang, Superwoman" by Siegel, Swan and Kaye--in which the Man of Steel offers Lana Lang a transfusion of his blood. She accepts and becomes a Superwoman. He then does the same for Lois, who also gains super-powers and dresses in this green super-outfit. Kal-El did this to protect them from an attack by Brainiac.

"The Reversed Super-Powers" was written by Jerry Siegel, but even if that was known when this story was reprinted, Jerry would never have got any credit. While it's true sometimes that it was hard to find out the writers and artists for these stories--Siegel and Shuster were a special case as it was company policy to erase any credit. The exception being SUPERMAN FROM THE 30S TO THE 70S, which comes out in 1971--that did keep Jerry and Joe's names on the stories; while this was edited by E.Nelson Bridwell, it was published by Bonanza Books, which wouldn't have been involved in the legal dispute with the creators.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE 105 (October 1970)--1st story, "Death House Honeymoon" by Kanigher, Saaf, Andru and Esposito; 2nd story, "Night of the Thorn by Kanigher, Andru and Esposito; cover art by Murphy Anderson; on sale August 13th, 1970:

As part of the editorial shift that had a number of editors altering the status quo of the Superman titles--from what had been during the Weisinger Era--E. Nelson Bridwell institutes a new creative direction for SUPERMAN'S GIRL FRIEND, LOIS LANE. By this time, the Big E. is thirty-nine and while not a youngster, neither is he from the older generation that has tenure.

He's betwixt two generations. Like those younger folks coming into comics, he started out as a comic book fan and can relate to their obsession with the medium. But he's grown up reading the master works from the elder statesmen of the medium--the likes of Jack Kirby and Bob Kanigher.

At National Periodical Publications, he's the home office liaison with Kirby (living out in California) and part of Nelson's job is reading all of Jack's incoming work.

Bob Kanigher and Cary Bates are the main writers for this run of LOIS LANE, yet they already were scribes for SUPERMAN'S GIRL FRIEND during the later Weisinger years. And even though the art team of Ross Andru and Mike Esposito are taken off the lead Lois Lane feature, they still remain as the artists for the back-up feature (through to issue 110).

Werner Roth begins as the Lois Lane artist with this issue, teamed with his steady art partner Vince Colletta. Werner started at Timely/Atlas/Marvel in 1950 on VENUS and then a whole load of titles for that publisher, including their westerns. In the 1960s, he worked on National's romance titles. And at Marvel, under the name "Jay Gavin," he was a regular artist for the X-MEN--the pen name coming from the names of his two sons.

[Jim Kelly]

Being Bridwell's first issue, not counting all-reprint issues, LOIS LANE 105 introduces the 100, a criminal organization that holds great power in Metropolis. The enemy of this mob is a mystery woman known as the Thorn who launches her own publicity campaign to exterminate the gang. She appears in the lead Lois Lane story for this issue and also begins her back-up feature, called Rose and the Thorn.



Rose is Rose Forrest. The shock of her father's death at the hands of the 100 caused her to suffer a mental break, and to cope she manifests a new identity at night as the Thorn. Rose never remembers her crime-fighting deeds as the Thorn.

In her dissociative state, Rose enters an abandoned brownstone next to her home, where she finds a storeroom of costumes, including the wig and clothes to transform into Thorn. She also has a stylized utility belt, equipped with thorn-themed gadgets. This was quite the sexy costume for its time.

Her late father, Sgt. Phil Forrest, had a young partner, Detective Danny Stone. Stone is likewise determined to bring the 100 to justice and has a romantic interest in the daughter of his deceased colleague.

Another character who pops up is Vince Adams, a funeral director who seems on the up and up but is actually a high-ranking member of the 100. Rose comes to work for him at the funeral home as his secretary.

Organized crime had become a hot subject in comic books, maybe because Mario Puzo's novel THE GODFATHER, published in 1969, spent 67 weeks on "The New York Times Best Seller" list (getting a film treatment in 1972).

Not only is the 100 operating in Metropolis, but so are Inter-Gang (secretly controlled by Darkseid, with Morgan Edge as his proxy). The Metropolis Marvel hasn't been doing a good job of fighting crime in his city.

[Jim Kelly]

Lois is raven-haired (blue-black) with a short bob as in previous issues.

Kurt Schaffenberger retired the classic cut for a flip in issue 75, although in issue 73 her "fairy godmother" gave her a makeover that involved a lot more hair--see post #81.





Miss Lane didn't keep the flip for long and had the much shorter hair when Ross Andru became penciller in issue 82.



The blonde Rose Forrest has a similar short hair-do, but in her Thorn wig, she has long titian hair. The colouring can vary in these comics--Morgan Edge, Vince Adams and Danny Stone all have brown or black hair, depending on the colour codes.

[Jim Kelly]

FLASH COMICS 89 (November 1947)--1st story, "Introducing the Thorn, the Flash's Newest Opponent" by Bob Kanigher and Joe Kubert; cover art by Joe Kubert:



When Jay Garrick, the original Flash, first encounters the super-villain known as the Thorn, in FLASH COMICS 89, she vanishes and in her place appears Rose Canton. The blonde relates to the Scarlet Speedster that she is the Thorn's sister. They had gone to the jungles of Tashmi to assist Professor Hollis in his research, but Rose's sister became infected by a wild thorn that gave her super-human abilities. The Thorn ran off and Rose has trailed her to Keystone City.





However, Rose has misled the Flash. In her delusion, she does not realize that she and the Thorn are one and the same person.

Note: The modern Rose and the Thorn differ in that the new Thorn is on the side of good and that she has no super-powers, just an arsenal of weapons.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE 106 (November 1970)--1st story, "I Am Curious (Black)" by Kanigher, Roth and Colletta:

"I Am Curious (Black)" is an infamous Lois Lane narrative.



While it takes its title from a 1967 Swedish erotic film, I AM CURIOUS (YELLOW) [Swedish title: Jag är nyfiken--en film i gult], the subject matter is actually lifted from the book BLACK LIKE ME (1961) by John Howard Griffin, about his experience posing as a black man in the Deep South.



The story was dramatized as a motion picture in 1964.

Kanigher's yarn is well-meaning and raises some valid points about the treatment of African-Americans in the United States, but the reader can't get over the cringe-factor when Lois appropriates a black identity for a scoop.

She does so because, when she first goes to "Little Africa" (a "slum" in Metropolis), as a white woman she gets the cold shoulder from all the black residents. Later, when she reverts back to her Caucasian appearance, no one is all that shocked by the change. I guess it's a well-known fact in Metropolis that Daily Planet reporters are prone to transformations on a regular basis.

Lois gives blood to save the life of an important Little Africa resident, Dave Stevens, who will show up in other issues. Indeed, Little Africa is not just a one-off for this story, but a significant location for other stories to come.

The transfusion of blood was still a segregation issue at this time. Dr. Charles Drew, an African-American, pioneered blood banks for transfusions during World War II. He directed the blood plasma programs in the United States and Great Britain. Yet, when it was ruled that the blood of African-Americans would be segregated, he resigned his position.

It's amazing to see in this comic and others, that there is a great deal of discrimination and poverty in Metropolis. You would think that the Champion of the Oppressed would have done something about all these inequities in his adopted city. If even Metropolis is plagued with social ills, what hope is there for the rest of the United States?

It's like Metropolis has suddenly suffered a severe socio-economic shockwave, what with the slums and the organized crime.

Note: Black characters had appeared in comic strips published by African-American owned newpapers for decades before the 1970s. Jackie Ormes (born Zelda Maven Jackson) had her first comic strip, TORCHY BROWN, published in the Pittsburgh Courier starting on May 1st, 1937.

In the mainstream press, the first syndicated strip about an African-American woman, FRIDAY FOSTER, started its run on January 18th, 1970. Created by Jim Lawrence with artist Jorge Longarón and syndicated by the Chicago Tribune, a few different artists would work on the strip, including Gray Morrow.



FRIDAY FOSTER got her own movie, starring Pam Grier, released on Christmas Day, 1975.

Next week: What do you get when you fall in love?

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN 232 [G-78] (December 1970 - January 1971)--"Krypton Lives Again in These Mighty Tales" cover art by Swan and Anderson; on sale October 13th, 1970:



In an epic adventure, Kal-El returns to Krypton, where he falls in love with Lyla Lerrol, in this Giant issue which comes out a month before Julius Schwartz institutes his changes for the SUPERMAN title.



Reprints are from--

SUPERMAN 141 (November 1960)--"Superman's Return to Krypton" by Siegel, Boring and Kaye
ADVENTURE COMICS 313 (October 1963)--2nd story, "Father's Day on Krypton" by Dorfman and Papp
SUPERMAN 164 (October 1963)--2nd story, "The Fugitive from the Phantom Zone" by Siegel and Plastino
ADVENTURE COMICS 216 (September 1955)--1st story, "The Wizard City" by Finger, Swan and Klein

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE 107 (January 1971)--1st story, "The Snow-Woman Wept" by Kanigher, Roth and Colletta:



Lois Lane returns to her alma mater, Raleigh College, along with Clark Kent--Lana Lang will sub in for Clark in his newscast, a portent of things to come. Ms. Lane is upset that she will be covering the Winter Carnival at Raleigh, while Kent will get to interview a Nobel Prize winning scientist there. He argues that this will be his last hurrah as a newspaper reporter so give him a break

It seems like an unnecessary dispute, since they are both going to the same place and they could cover both stories together.

Lois ends up being put on ice for real, when foreign agents steal the invention of the scientist.



Of course, at story's end, Superman and Lois are crowned the Ice King and Queen at the Winter Carnival--taking the crowns away from deserving Raleigh students, who will no doubt plot revenge for this slight.

[Jim Kelly]

BATMAN 188 (February 1967)--1st story, "The Eraser Who Rubbed Out Batman" by Kanigher, Moldoff and Giella:

"The Snow-Woman Wept" resembles Kanigher's earlier work, "The Eraser Who Rubbed Out Batman." The Eraser is Lenny Fiasco, someone Bruce Wayne knew in his college days.



Always jealous of Bruce, Lenny blames the playboy for stealing the woman of his dreams, Celia Smith, the Ice Queen of the Winter Carnival.





The Eraser puts Bruce inside an ice statue, in a similar fashion to what happens to Lois. This makes me wonder if Bob Kanigher drew upon some personal experience for both stories. Is he trying to work-out his trauma over a tragic winter carnival?

[Jim Kelly]

E.N.B. on the D.C. in the S.G.F.L.L. 107 announces this is the BIG month!

[Jim Kelly]

ACTION COMICS 398 (March 1971)--2nd story, "Spawn of the Unknown" by Dorfman (as Geoff Brown), Swan and Anderson:



The Action Ace believes his cousin has been transformed into a plant, but in fact the plant simply mimics her appearance.

As this new evolution in plant life could present a problem for the world, Kal-El and Kara Zor-El transplant the entire biome to another planet.

[Jim Kelly]

SUPERBOY 172 (March 1971)--2nd story, "Brotherly Hate" by E. Nelson Bridwell and George Tuska
SUPERBOY 173 (April 1971)--2nd story, "Trust Me Or Kill Me" by Bates and Tuska:

The SUPERBOY title introduces a new ongoing feature, Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes, beginning with issue 172. The first story briefly reviews how the original Legionnaires first met, as well as the origins of Mekt, Garth and Ayla Ranzz on the planet Korbal and shows how the villainous Mekt, a.k.a. Lightning Lord, had his hair turn white.



In the following issue, reserve member Superboy is called into action from the 20th century, when two Cosmic Boys appear in Legion H.Q. One is a manifestation of Mordru's magic, but which is which?



The Teen of Steel tests their magnetic abilities in a sneaky way.



And for those interested in the Legion, there was a Giant collecting some of their early Adventures . . .

[Jim Kelly]

ADVENTURE COMICS 403 [G-81] (March-April 1971)--"Presents the Legion of Super-Heroes" cover art by Swan and Anderson; on sale January 7th, 1971:



Departing from the subject matter of the regular ADVENTURE COMICS feature at the time--Supergirl--the Giant ADVENTURE COMICS was an all Legion of Super-Heroes compilation presenting "The Complete Saga of the Death of Lightning Lad."



Reprints from--

ADVENTURE COMICS 304 (January 1963)--2nd story, "The Stolen Super-Powers" by Siegel and Forte
ADVENTURE COMICS 305 (February 1963)--2nd story, "The Secret of the Mystery Legionnaire" by Siegel and Forte
ADVENTURE COMICS 308 (May 1963)--2nd story, "The Return of Lightning Lad" by Hamilton and Forte
ADVENTURE COMICS 312 (September 1963)--1st story, "The Super-Sacrifice of the Legionnaires" by Hamilton and Forte

There's also a new "Diagram of the Legion Headquarters Complex"--a "complete layout of the Super-Heroes' homebase" (art by Andru and Esposito).

[Jim Kelly]

Also in the Giant ADVENTURE was the special feature "Fashions from Fans"--"new Legion costumes designed by our readers" (art by Andru and Esposito).

[Jim Kelly]

What do you get when you fall in love?

SUPERMAN’S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE 109 (April 1971)--1st story, "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" by Bates, Roth and Colletta; 2nd story, "The Mark of Death" by Kanigher, Andru and Esposito:



Lois is enticed into the laboratory of Prof. Lorraine Denison. In fact, Denison was a teacher at Hudson University, when Lana Lang was a student there. Lana confided in Lorraine her plans to win Superman by going to Metropolis and becoming a broadcast journalist. But when Lana got there, Lois Lane stood in her way. Denison had her own heartache, when the man she loved--the actor Roland Kirk--fell for a Hollywood starlet and married her instead of Lorraine.



Denison took her revenge on that woman and now she plans to do the same to Lois, by using a laser that will remove that part of her brain that makes her feel love.

The Man of Steel and the cops bust into the joint in time to capture Denison, but not before the laser has done its work. Now Lois does not respond to the Caped Kryptonian's touch.

She doesn't even feel anything for her sister, Lucy. However, when a child is about to be run over by a car, in a burst of self-less love, Lois runs out to save the girl.

Meanwhile, Lana has gone to visit her old teacher in jail. She explains to Denison that she's given up on Superman and wants to move on with her life. In concert with the Man of Might, his Smallville Sweetheart gets the professor to reveal exactly how her laser device worked.



Note: For those keeping track, Clark Kent's alma mater is Metropolis University, Lois Lane's is Raleigh College and Lana Lang's is Hudson University (same as Dick Grayson's).