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Girl Taking Over: A Lois Lane Story FCBD Special Edition #1: 2023
Ambitious small-town girl Lois Lane tackles a summer in the big city with gusto, but a cavalcade of setbacks-including an annoying frenemy roommate, a beyond-tedious internship at a suddenly corporatized website, and a boss who demotes her to coffee-fetching minion-threatens to derail her extremely detailed life plan. And, you know, her entire future. From beloved author Sarah Kuhn (Shadow of the Batgirl, Heroine Complex), and with expressive and lively art by Arielle Jovellanos, comes a charming YA story about the strength it takes to embrace the messiness of life. This Free Comic Book Day special edition features an excerpt from the upcoming original graphic novel Girl Taking A Lois Lane Story.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2023
132 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Kuhn
68 books669 followersSarah Kuhn is the author of Heroine Complex—the first in a series starring Asian American superheroines—for DAW Books. She also wrote The Ruby Equation for the comics anthology Fresh Romance and the romantic comedy novella One Con Glory, which earned praise from io9 and USA Today and is in development as a feature film. Her articles and essays on such topics as geek girl culture, comic book continuity, and Sailor Moon cosplay have appeared in Uncanny Magazine, Apex Magazine, AngryAsianMan.com, IGN.com, Back Stage, The Hollywood Reporter, StarTrek.com, Creative Screenwriting, and the Hugo-nominated anthology Chicks Dig Comics. In 2011, she was selected as a finalist for the CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) New Writers Award.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 13, 2023
I especially loved the color palette here! I love bright pinks and purples and thus, adored them. The art style is also pretty!
It's just I don't get what to expect from the full length novel since the end to this is not the only clearest. Like it's just about her time as an intern? I'm not sure...
It's just I don't get what to expect from the full length novel since the end to this is not the only clearest. Like it's just about her time as an intern? I'm not sure...
Read
August 2, 2023DNF; page 61
I tried to like this, but it just felt SO forced; "show, don't tell" is a saying for a reason. It felt like it was coming from an educational perspective on race, rather than from an experience-based one.
I tried to like this, but it just felt SO forced; "show, don't tell" is a saying for a reason. It felt like it was coming from an educational perspective on race, rather than from an experience-based one.
November 2, 2024
This was just ok for me. It's bright and colorful...but it didn't really suck me in. It was free...so can't complain much but I don't think I will continue with this series.
May 12, 2023
This is one of the worst comics that I've ever seen.
It changes everything about who this character is and makes absolutely no sense — why not just write an original character? — Because it's coasting on brand recognition and nothing more, that's why. It's like when a foreign corp buys a bankrupt American brand-name to release completely unrelated merch and hopes that it sells to someone who recognizes the name but who's too stupid to know the difference.
It plays on racial drama to a highly unrealistic degree. Who in the US has never seen a Japanese person before? Those White kids are all reading manga and watching anime and dramas from Japan, because what American companies like DC are shoveling out for kids is absolute low-intelligence GARBAGE.
No Japanese person was involved in the making of this story and it is unavoidably obvious.
This is more evidence of how DC is willfully laying down in the road to be ran over.
It changes everything about who this character is and makes absolutely no sense — why not just write an original character? — Because it's coasting on brand recognition and nothing more, that's why. It's like when a foreign corp buys a bankrupt American brand-name to release completely unrelated merch and hopes that it sells to someone who recognizes the name but who's too stupid to know the difference.
It plays on racial drama to a highly unrealistic degree. Who in the US has never seen a Japanese person before? Those White kids are all reading manga and watching anime and dramas from Japan, because what American companies like DC are shoveling out for kids is absolute low-intelligence GARBAGE.
No Japanese person was involved in the making of this story and it is unavoidably obvious.
This is more evidence of how DC is willfully laying down in the road to be ran over.
June 4, 2023
Did I Lois Lane, manage to triumphantly escape my aggressively podunk... aggressively sleepy.
Aggressively everything- that-is-boring hometown? Did I work my ass off to get here, besting my entire class in academics. joining every team and club in existence.... and rising through the ranks to become the Macville High Tribune's star reporter?
There is a trend at the moment to do a back story for every character and here we delve into the early life of Lois Lane, intrepid reporter and future partner to superman.
Her life is all coming together as planned when a few spanners are thrown into the works. Firstly, she finds that she has to share an apartment with an old school friend, who has a tendency to ruin well made plans, then she discovers that the local newspaper has been taken over and her position as 'star' intern is put in jeopardy.
Annoyingly, this follows the recent free comic book day trend of being a teaser for a longer series rather than a one-shot story. The style isn't to my taste and the story really didn't grip me. I don't think I'll be checking this one out any further. 2 stars.
Aggressively everything- that-is-boring hometown? Did I work my ass off to get here, besting my entire class in academics. joining every team and club in existence.... and rising through the ranks to become the Macville High Tribune's star reporter?
There is a trend at the moment to do a back story for every character and here we delve into the early life of Lois Lane, intrepid reporter and future partner to superman.
Her life is all coming together as planned when a few spanners are thrown into the works. Firstly, she finds that she has to share an apartment with an old school friend, who has a tendency to ruin well made plans, then she discovers that the local newspaper has been taken over and her position as 'star' intern is put in jeopardy.
Annoyingly, this follows the recent free comic book day trend of being a teaser for a longer series rather than a one-shot story. The style isn't to my taste and the story really didn't grip me. I don't think I'll be checking this one out any further. 2 stars.
December 10, 2023
This snippet of the story was okay, but it feels very cliche. Honestly, I feel like this story would do so much better if it wasn't supposed to be about Lois Lane, but instead a unique character. I know woefully little about the original Lois Lane, but even then, this feels nothing like her. She struggles with trying to live with a roommate who is an ex-best friend and how they're forced to live together in a very crappy apartment. She's trying to survive as an intern in a newspaper that's just gone through a corporate takeover, and her new boss is horrendous. This could all make for interesting stuff, but it feels completely disconnected from "Lois Lane". Also, the character of her roommate is the most cringe thing I've ever read. Yikes. The art I did like. It is VERY colorful, but that works pretty well. I like the fashion choices for the characters! But this free sample just didn't catch my attention so I doubt I'll seek out the full graphic novel.
June 30, 2024
Lois Lane has just arrived in National City, and she’s super excited.
She’s worked so hard to escape her boring, dead-end hometown. Now Lois hopes to reap the results.
She was a star, a diligent study at Macville High School; the lead reporter for the Macville High Tribune.
Before Lois goes off to college in the fall, it’s time for her summer internship.
Lois is very structured. She’s a planner.
Miki Mihara is her surprise roommate—her former BFF, now turned frenemy. It’s a reverse Parent Trap, engineered by their meddling mothers.
Art is basic. Colors are limited. Faces are…functional, at best.
Extremely racialized, even for a woke graphic. We get it, she’s Asian. I didn’t even know Lois Lane had ever turned Asian, so…bad on me, I suppose. But how about some plot to go alongside the huge helping of victimhood?
She’s worked so hard to escape her boring, dead-end hometown. Now Lois hopes to reap the results.
She was a star, a diligent study at Macville High School; the lead reporter for the Macville High Tribune.
Before Lois goes off to college in the fall, it’s time for her summer internship.
Lois is very structured. She’s a planner.
Miki Mihara is her surprise roommate—her former BFF, now turned frenemy. It’s a reverse Parent Trap, engineered by their meddling mothers.
Art is basic. Colors are limited. Faces are…functional, at best.
Extremely racialized, even for a woke graphic. We get it, she’s Asian. I didn’t even know Lois Lane had ever turned Asian, so…bad on me, I suppose. But how about some plot to go alongside the huge helping of victimhood?
February 11, 2025
Girl Taking Over: A Lois Lane Story FCBD Special Edition #1: 2023
Lois Lane has arrived in the big city to begin an internship with Cat Grant. However, plans have a way of letting people down and Lois must think quickly to save her summer.
Interesting angle, having Lois as an immigrant which explains her massive drive to succeed. The artwork is engaging and the colouring adds a certain dynamic to the page.
Lois Lane has arrived in the big city to begin an internship with Cat Grant. However, plans have a way of letting people down and Lois must think quickly to save her summer.
Interesting angle, having Lois as an immigrant which explains her massive drive to succeed. The artwork is engaging and the colouring adds a certain dynamic to the page.
May 24, 2025
Nope free is too much
Lazy lazy stereotype writing every action is predictable and the artwork is well a little substandard but the criminal act is in the coloring. The flat lifeless color pallet looks like a clip and paste from cheap construction paper. Newspaper print has more life and depth. This is the stuff that gives feminist a bad name.
Lazy lazy stereotype writing every action is predictable and the artwork is well a little substandard but the criminal act is in the coloring. The flat lifeless color pallet looks like a clip and paste from cheap construction paper. Newspaper print has more life and depth. This is the stuff that gives feminist a bad name.
April 10, 2025
Not great
It was very short and I didn't like it. It left on a "read on" that wasn't even a good cliff hanger I didn't like how her and her friend didn't get along!😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭i wouldn't recommend reading it.
It was very short and I didn't like it. It left on a "read on" that wasn't even a good cliff hanger I didn't like how her and her friend didn't get along!😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭i wouldn't recommend reading it.
May 10, 2025
I wonder if these YA graphic novels are good sellers for DC since the publisher pushed them rather heavily during comic book events with free previews.
This is supposed to be a "Lois Lane story"? It's a Lois unrecognizable to me. I'm not the target audience for sure.
This is supposed to be a "Lois Lane story"? It's a Lois unrecognizable to me. I'm not the target audience for sure.
Read
October 1, 2023This preview was REALLY GOOD! I kind of want to read the real thing. Because that is how good it was!
October 4, 2023
Fantastic!
May 5, 2024
It's got that hot steaming female empowerment. Can't wait to read her full story
December 14, 2025
I genuinely love this art style so so much and the colour is beautiful. I love that the story line is about being overwhelmed and remembering to breathe. one of my fav FCBD comics!!
June 1, 2023
Truthfully, I expected to like this one. Then I expected to hate it. Then I ended up kind of enjoying it a bit.
This story's initial red flag was when Miki said "Our moms are still B.F.F.s, unfortch. Classic #AsianParents scheme." UNFORTCH?! EW! WHO USES HASHTAGS IN A CONVERSATION? This happens in EVERY DC YA story. Dialogue that's completely innacurate to how people (especially teens, let's be honest) talk.
The art was also less impressive than I hoped. It's pretty good, but looked somehow too simplistic at times. That's weird coming out of my digital mouth, because I usually love simplistic art. In this certain style it just doesn't work.
The good here is that I despise the villain, which means they did a good job. I found a very small amount of humor in some parts, too. And I kind of liked Lois' mom. Other than that, I really can't say, but it was enjoyable enough that I refuse to give it 1 star.
I didn't realize how much conversation there was over this book until I googled it. Since Lois is Asian in this story, there's a lot of negative and a lot of positive talk. Some people are ecstatic that they see themselves in the character and others think this should've been a story focusing on a character that's always been Asian.
I could've sworn that Lois had been asian in so many comics and shows before this. In most things she's been white, so it was different, but definitely not bothersome or strange.
The strange part here is how heavily the story focused on her being Asian + racism when it's (apparently) a new concept. Making a story that focuses almost only on things that haven't been a part of her character in the past is a bad idea, in my opinion. It feels more like a story about a different character that had a famous characters name slapped on it. Because of that, I can agree that it should've been a new or lesser known character to make it feel less fake. Clearly this is a topic that's close to the author, so I think this would benefit a lot from it (or from being on something other than DC YA, because I think those stories legally have to be bad).
I'm white, so this is a story that will speak to other people a lot more than me. I can't speak on that part, but I'd be interested in hearing how accurate it is to real life.
This story's initial red flag was when Miki said "Our moms are still B.F.F.s, unfortch. Classic #AsianParents scheme." UNFORTCH?! EW! WHO USES HASHTAGS IN A CONVERSATION? This happens in EVERY DC YA story. Dialogue that's completely innacurate to how people (especially teens, let's be honest) talk.
The art was also less impressive than I hoped. It's pretty good, but looked somehow too simplistic at times. That's weird coming out of my digital mouth, because I usually love simplistic art. In this certain style it just doesn't work.
The good here is that I despise the villain, which means they did a good job. I found a very small amount of humor in some parts, too. And I kind of liked Lois' mom. Other than that, I really can't say, but it was enjoyable enough that I refuse to give it 1 star.
I didn't realize how much conversation there was over this book until I googled it. Since Lois is Asian in this story, there's a lot of negative and a lot of positive talk. Some people are ecstatic that they see themselves in the character and others think this should've been a story focusing on a character that's always been Asian.
I could've sworn that Lois had been asian in so many comics and shows before this. In most things she's been white, so it was different, but definitely not bothersome or strange.
The strange part here is how heavily the story focused on her being Asian + racism when it's (apparently) a new concept. Making a story that focuses almost only on things that haven't been a part of her character in the past is a bad idea, in my opinion. It feels more like a story about a different character that had a famous characters name slapped on it. Because of that, I can agree that it should've been a new or lesser known character to make it feel less fake. Clearly this is a topic that's close to the author, so I think this would benefit a lot from it (or from being on something other than DC YA, because I think those stories legally have to be bad).
I'm white, so this is a story that will speak to other people a lot more than me. I can't speak on that part, but I'd be interested in hearing how accurate it is to real life.
May 13, 2023
Seems cute, but boring. :(
TW: racism
TW: racism
May 11, 2023
I really think the story could have been told with three swear words removed and it would be an all ages book, I'm not really sure who the target demographic is. It was okay for a teen drama. Not really related to Lois Lane except in name.
May 6, 2023
Asian American heritage month.
Good color artwork. Aimed at the 13- 19 years old market. Lois lane is now Asian American? And of course is hitting all the tropes along the Life Plan.
Good color artwork. Aimed at the 13- 19 years old market. Lois lane is now Asian American? And of course is hitting all the tropes along the Life Plan.
May 7, 2023
Who is this?
It isn't the Lois Lane I grew up with. Completely different. I know kids today want a different set of superheroes and side kicks.
It isn't the Lois Lane I grew up with. Completely different. I know kids today want a different set of superheroes and side kicks.
May 6, 2023
Love the sample and storyline of it all!
Fun read, never really got boring. I wasn't really fond of the cliff hanger at the end though, however, if I could, I'd buy the full book.
Fun read, never really got boring. I wasn't really fond of the cliff hanger at the end though, however, if I could, I'd buy the full book.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews