Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet's Ace Reporter

by Tim Hanley

In a universe full of superheroes, Lois Lane has fought for truth and justice for over 75 years on page and screen without a cape or tights. From her creation by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938 to her forthcoming appearance in Batman v  Dawn of Justice in 2016, from helming her own comic book for twenty-six years to appearing in animated serials, live-action TV shows, and full-length movies, Lois Lane has been a paragon of journalistic integrity and the paramour of the world's strongest superhero. But her history is one of constant tension. From her earliest days, Lois yearned to make the front page of the Daily Planet, but was held back by her damsel-in-distress role. When she finally became an ace reporter, asinine lessons and her tumultuous romance with Superman dominated her storylines for decades and relegated her journalism to the background. Through it all, Lois remained a fearless and ambitious character, and today she is a beloved icon and an inspiration to many. Though her history is often troubling, Lois's journey, as revealed in Investigating Lois Lane, showcases her ability to always escape the gendered limitations of each era and of the superhero genre as a whole.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Comics, Feminism, Graphic Novels, Adult, Pop Culture

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2016

About the author

Tim Hanley is the author of Wonder Woman Unbound and Investigating Lois Lane. He is also a comic book historian. His blog, Straitened Circumstances, discusses Wonder Woman and women in comics, and his column "Gendercrunching" runs monthly on Bleeding Cool. He has contributed to several comic book sites, including DC Women Kicking Ass and Women Write About Comics.

Reviews

[Shadowdenizen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, well-researched analysis of Lois Lane, and her depiction in the Superman mythos over the course of the last 75 years.

This is a well-researched book; Tim Hanley clearly knows his stuff! And this presents a surprisingly unbiased opinion and analysis of how Lois has been portrayed over the last 75 years, from her early appearances as a "Female Reporter in a Man's World", to her stint as a lovelorn Superman-fanatic, to her more recent incarnation as a feminist icon.

it's interesting to have pointed out how Lois is simeltaneously both a product of her times, and yet also a foil of her times, as well, managing to subtly subvert whatever the status-quo of the moment was.

My only minor disappointment was that this book, which covers the comic version of Lois in exacting details, seems to pay less attention to the multimedia portrayals of the character.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read. Lois Lane "embodies the progress and struggles of American women, an ongoing cycle of advances and setbacks."

The first paragraph of the book talks about Action Comics #1: "…inside was the debut story of a character who would go down in history as a tireless crusader for truth and justice. The hero was fearless and brave, quick to stand up to evildoers when no one else would, and unflappable in the face of danger. Her name was Lois Lane."

But it's disappointing to see that early on, Superman was a giant jerk. Lois would investigate something and figure it out (maybe she should be the World’s Greatest Detective) and when she got into a jam, Superman would swoop in and save her then swoop out and steal her story because he could get back, type it up with his super speed, and turn it in before she could. What a dick!

This book follows Lois’s many lives. So often she was merely a damsel in distress for Superman to rescue. But sometimes it was worse.

In the 50s Mort Weisenberg started the comic Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane in which Superman would be a condescending ass to Lois in just about every issue, deciding that Lois needed to be taught some sort of lesson. Yay, Patriarchy! *sigh* She also broke down sobbing in practically every issue. Sometimes several times. 'Cause, you know - "Women! Even a Superman can't understand them!" (As Superman himself said in one of these issues.) But these chapters refer to Superman as "patriarchy in blue tights"! Perfect.

And so often, Lois was merely there for the romantic angle.

“Over the 15 years that Julius Schwartz edited the Super-books, more than 20 women won Pulitzer Prizes, but in Action Comics and Superman, the female reporters were wrapped up in their love lives.”

I'm glad that the author spent some time talking about women as props in comics on more modern times and even mentioned Gail Simone's website Women in Refrigerators.

But there were times when Lois was a stronger journalist, when:

Lois investigated a story, got into a dangerous predicament, saved herself, and got a front page story, all without the help of Superman.

I knew that in the radio show, they introduced elements that made it into the comics (Jimmy Olsen, Kryptonite…), but I didn't realize that Lois was much more of a badass and less a damsel in distress. And I didn't know that they treated Superman as more of an urban legend and he didn't interact much with the rest of the characters.

For a brief period starting in 1970, Dorothy Woolfolk took the reins, and Lois became a stronger personality as feminism worked its way into the comic. Of course Ms. Woolfolk didn't last very long in this man's world and soon she and her feminism was gone - from the company as well as from the comic.

I really loved getting chills as the book described Lois's moments in the Superman movie. I'll have to go back and watch that.

The author spends a good amount of time on the more modern animated versions of Lois. He dedicated a whole paragraph to Superman: Doomsday, and I was surprised to see that he didn't make mention of the fact that the opening scene implies they've been in bed together.

This was a great discussion of the character - all within the framework that "…both in the real world and in entertainment, men's stories are dominant…" Too true.

I'm glad to hear that the number of female writers and artists has grown at DC as of late.

And I can't believe I still haven't read Lois Lane: Fallout.

I did find it odd that the author included so much info about George Reeves's death. An interesting aside, maybe, but it didn't have much to do with the character of Lois Lane - except for the impact it may have had on the women that played her in the series he starred in.

Highly recommended. But be warned - don't read the chapters on movies and animation if you don't want movies or TV series spoiled. I'm still trying to get the ending of Smallville out of my head since I haven't seen the last few seasons. (To be fair, all of this info was relevant to Lois's characterization in these media; and these shows have been out for years.)

Thanks to NetGalley and Chicago Review Press for a copy in return for an honest review.

[Elo · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dearest Lois, how I love you!
And how the times have been harsh on you, over and over again, you stayed strong!

No matter how people seemed to be against you and thought you deserved a « good spanking » back in the 60s to the most recent cases of people who couldn’t wait to get rid of you in the New 52 area, you held your position any way you could (despite writers making it difficult).

The work of research for this book is very well done, and both the note materials and bibliography at the end will prove it. It’s abondant in information but not in a way that makes it tedious to read.

Reading about the beginnings of the characters and her evolutions through the ages was both a fascinating and frustrating experience.

While the author himself declares that Lois cannot be a representation of all women and their struggles, because of her class and whiteness, the way she was treated and often poorly portrayed through the ages gives you a good and horrifying view of the place of women in media, fiction and real life through the most recent 20th century time period.

I’d say in huge part by the fact she has been exclusively written by males, granted a few exceptions, even as a fictional character (maybe because of it) she has the ability to show us how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go. And how biased the comic book industry can be.

Obviously, depending on the time, her male counterpart, our most fabulous hero Superman would have all the right to protest his own portrayal.
The manipulative and condescending Supes in Superman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane just want to make me strangle my favorite superhero of all times.

He’s not the shiny hero I love and it pains me to even read about it (while it’s really interesting) but at the end, it’s Lois that gets the worse of it (many fanmails called to arms to have her spanked!).
I like to learn about this particular episode and Tim Hanley made a good job of presenting the facts and putting them in context.

On the situation itself, I’m just deeply sad to learn that the first long lasting publication Lois had in her name (even if to be « Superman’s Girlfriend ») ending being Superman awful trickery and manipulative way to put Lois « in her place » and teach her lessons on how the should behave. You know, the regular « break a girl’s spirit » for her own good. (Hence the call for spanking).
That’s thing I’m glad to know now, and I obviously Supes hasn’t been perfect all these years but I’ll still admit this really got on my nerves and « lady feelings ».

And to say that while I love history, I’m so glad my first takes on Lois was the television ones.
First Terry Hatchers’ portrayal with Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, when I was still a wee lass of 6/7 year old and was so taken by my fierce and flawed Lois I discovered for the first time and a bit later with Smallville’s Erica Durance which I think became my favorite with time.
And now, we have the formidable Amy Adams on the big screen that does justice to the character for me.
Sadly, the book was published just after Man of Steel so we don’t have much insight on the DCEU’s Lois.

Are they perfect human beings? Nope but to me, those versions of the character are the heart of her, and the natural, even if somewhat too slow, evolution that took place both on screen and on page.

Sadly, it’s not because her portrayal on screen has been mostly positive recently that the journey is over. Because writers are so different if approaching characters in the comic book worlds that we tend to go back and forth each time, depending their fancy. (Hum hum New 52! Damn you Barry!)

But even those who dislike her can’t really do without, she’s very much part of this universe, not matter how (and how many times) you try to put her down or aside.
She has no powers and rarely a solo title, and yet still is the second most present woman in publication in the history DC Comics. What about that?


I won’t lose hope, Lois never does,‘, she is Superman’s champion and she can always count me in to be hers!

Now I’ll conclude (because I’m typing on my phone, maybe I’ll add more later) but hightly recommending this well sourced and well written book if you’re even interested in comic books history.
I’d even go as far as saying that even those not particularly enclined toward Lois can find the subject fascinating for her place in comic books history is a unique one.
I have no reason to deny that Tim Hanley is very likely a fan of Lois himself, and where you might expect some bias, I found him to be fairly neutral and exposing the history and the facts in manners you can see all sides (without justifying them).
He puts every Lois apparition in cultural and timely context and doesn’t brush off less glorious aspect of the character.
By reading Investigating Lois Lane, you’ll find yourself with a well rounded and well documented piece on the « Planet’s ace reporter ».
Go for it!

Now I’ll definitely read Wonder Woman Unbound, it promised to be as fascinating as that one!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

much like the wonder woman book, this was incredible! I have always loved Lois Lane probably even more than I love wonder woman so I was very excited to read this so I could know more about Lois' history. Now I am going to jump right into Hanley's book about catwoman, which of the three is the one I know the least about so I am very excited.

[Althea J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a man is going to chronicle and analyze the story and legacy of Lois Lane, Hanley is the guy you want to do it. He is insightful and keen to connect the portrayal of Lois to the real world historical context. Hanley acknowledges the ways in which her portrayal is a result of being a woman written by men. His account of how Lois story lines evolved over the years in the comics is in depth, and I appreciated the critical lens Hanley applies.

For example, his assessment of Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane...
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane embodies every toxic lesson that girls and women are traditionally taught by pop culture -- to value their looks over their brain, that their goal is to land a man, that other women are to be seen as rivals. Lois is portrayed as petty and desperate and annoyingly scheming. Superman manipulates her and tricks her to teach her lessons as if she were a misbehaving child. To such an extent that children were constantly writing in saying she deserved a spanking. Hanley relays story after story that add up to this ghastly era of women as written by men that serves as a helpful sign post we can point to and learn from it in new ways: here's how NOT to write women.

Under spoilers, I wanted to note some of the other interesting commentary Hanley makes.

I dig Hanley's commentary

"In the late 1980s, miniseries like Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’s Watchmen and Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns presented violent, often gruesome stories set in a world of super- heroes. The violence was part of a critique of the genre, portrayed as a symptom of the insanity necessary to don a cape and fight crime in a world of superpowered beings. The books were very popular, and the rest of the industry tried to follow their dark lead, but in doing so they kept only the violence and forgot the critique."



On the list of things I did not know:

"Throughout the 1990s, Lois’s sister, Lucy Lane, was a means to explore the life of a normal American woman in ways stories about Lois couldn’t. Lucy had been a staple of the Silver Age Super-books as a foil for other characters; she was Jimmy Olsen’s fickle girlfriend, and her untimely death led to Lois’s brief feminist revolution. In the post-Crisis universe, Lucy had her own side adventures that delved into feminist subcultures and issues like poverty, race, and unex- pected pregnancy. While Lois flew through the sky with Superman, Lucy was the Super-books’ woman on the street."
---- Who wrote the Lucy Lane Riot Grrl story arc??



Re: post-Wedding Lois in the comics being relegated to wife and soundboard for Superman

"In contrast, both Lois & Clark and Smallville turned Lois and Superman into a team after his secret identity was revealed and they got together. Her more prominent role in those adaptations may have been due to the input of female writers; Lois & Clark had several women on the writing staff, even after Deborah Joy LeVine left, and Smallville was a bastion of female scribes. The Super-books were not. Throughout the entirety of the post-Crisis era, sixty-six different people wrote issues across the line’s several ongoing series. Only five of them were women, and only one, Louise Simonson, wrote more than ten issues.* Based on the stories these many men told, it seems that they just didn’t know what to do with Lois."


rising sexualization of women in comics in the 2000s

"Lois and Clark’s active sex life meant that Lois was often scantily clad, but this became a common occurrence for Lois in the 2000s no matter the setting. While the Super-books’ writing staff was almost entirely male, there were no female artists across the entire ongoing Superman line in the post-Crisis era. Almost two hundred different artists worked on the books, and all of them were men. Both their gender and their art reflected the dominant trends of this period.

Over the course of the 1990s, the depiction of women in comic books had become increasingly sexualized. Female superheroes had always worn smaller outfits than their male counterparts, but art- ists now found ways to emphasize their bodies even more. Waists became tiny, breasts became globes, and outfits were drawn as if they were painted on. Over time, this objectified approach to female superheroes became the norm, then spread to all female characters. “Sexy” became the default setting for the entire gender.

Throughout the 1990s, Lois had hardly been a fashion plate. She wore big jackets and sweaters at the Daily Planet and baggy T-shirts at home. Lois was drawn like a normal woman, and comfort and functionality were her only concerns. Then in the 2000s, she started to wear skintight belly shirts and pants so low that her thong underwear was visible. Lois stopped waiting around for Superman in her pajamas, instead donning skimpy negligees."



issue featuring Lois and Wonder Woman WW #170

"Lois also patched things up with Wonder Woman when she was granted exclusive access to write a day-in-the-life piece on the amaz- ing Amazon in Wonder Woman #170. Initially, Lois was cold and distant, approaching the story from a cynical angle. Her jealousy of Wonder Woman was foremost in her mind, and the two women weren’t clicking at all. Then, instead of fighting, Lois and Wonder Woman talked about their issues over a game of pool. Wonder Woman even offered to let Lois use her golden lasso, which compels people to tell the truth, to ask her about Superman. Lois refused, because over the course of their conversation she’d come to respect and trust Wonder Woman. The issue presented a nuanced portrayal of Lois that was missing from the Super-books in this period, and today it is considered an iconic Lois Lane story. It showed her flaws but also her ability to change and grow. Lois also beat Wonder Woman at pool, which was no mean feat."



AND, above all else, I want to share this link to a song all Lois fans should hear: http://youtu.be/qdXxeQtX9Uc

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no idea where my previous status update went for this book. WTH, Goodreads?

Anyway, I don't feel particularly witty right now, just took my sleeping gummy and doing the chill vibe before bed. Finished this one up in the bath tonight. I will admit sometimes I got bored reading an entire book about Lois Lane and some of the points got repetitive - BUT some of the chapters and sections were interesting, I learned a lot, and I was surprised how varied and far-reaching her history went back. The book mainly focuses on early Lois and early feminism movements, bizarre race stuff, anti-feminism, the history of the original TV show and the drama of the radio. I feel like the book started running out of steam later with the movies after Margot Kidder, but really, the author makes a point that the movie Lois in each new version misses out on a lot of what made Kidder and earlier versions work as well, so there just wasn't as much to say other than summary. My favorite chapter was the TV show history and the first part of the book, and while my interest did not hold up to a 4 star the whole book, it's definitely a 4 star minimum for coverage, in-depth history, honesty, enthusiasm from the author.

I also had no idea the cat-fights and intensity of so many Lois versus Lana fights throughout history. Fun stuff.

Also interesting to note that romance was not hinted at or in the forecast for so long between Clark and Lois. This became a much later addition.

And with history and such, Clark and Superman could both pull out some asshole zinger lines and "lessons"

The audience writing in wanting Lois to keep getting spankings was just weird. Come on, people!

Man, some of this history....

Case in point: https://envisioningtheamericandream.c...

[John Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading The Secret History of Wonder Woman and The Caped Crusade, I was hoping to find a book about the history of Superman. When I didn't find the book on the shelf at my local library, this book was the next best thing. The majority of people may know that Lois Lane was the second half to Superman/Clark Kent/Kal-El.

In this book, Lois Lane went through several transitions as the ace reporter of the Daily Planet. She is tagged as Superman's girlfriend, she becomes an independent woman through the Women's Liberation, becomes the wife of the Man of Steel, deals with his death, and succumbs to death herself.

For me, the best depiction of Lois Lane in movies was Margot Kidder from the Chris Reeve Superman movies; the best tv Lois Lane was Teri Hatcher of Lois and Clark (cannot count the two actresses from the 1950s The Adventures of Superman or Smallville since I haven't seen an episode of either show); and I enjoyed the animated Lois of TAS of Superman.

This was an excellent read. I would recommend it to anyone.

[Foggygirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read about the most famous fictional reporter and her turbulent history in comics. On more than one occasion I was rolling my eyes and thinking "oh for F@#K's sake!" at the ridiculous and oftentimes demeaning lines and situations that Lois was being depicted in and given to say. On the whole her role was truly ground breaking and impressive as she has managed to remain on the page and screen for 75 years!

[Kym Masera Taborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot remember when I have enjoyed a book more than this. It is a thoroughly exhaustive study of all incarnations of Lois Lane (comics, TV, movies, radio, etc) and its context in history, popular culture, and sociology. The obsessive Lois Lane fan that I am squealed in delight almost every page. I was sincerely saddened when I came to the end of the book.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overall history of Lois Lane in all the different media she has been portrayed it. it showed her different ways she was portrayed from the Golden Age through to the New 52 reboot. You definitely get a sense that after 80 years, the longest running comic book female as had moments to shine but never to her full potential as the human that is, in the words of one Smallville and Superman comic writer, " ....Clark Kent's Superman"

[SmartBitches · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet’s Ace Reporter is a very well written, well-researched book by Tim Hanley. It’s a fascinating look at comic book culture, how women are depicted in comics, and what happens when a female character is written almost exclusively by men. It’s also a book that pissed me the hell off (because of what the book described, not because of any flaw with the book itself).

One thing I love about Tim Hanley is that he believes in the best core qualities of the characters he studies. You can tell that he is rooting for Lois. He portrays her characteristics of ambition, empathy, courage, and intelligence as essential components of her character, and expresses anger on her behalf when those components are ignored.

This book made me absolutely enraged, not because it’s a bad book but because it’s a good book that often describes upsetting things. However, I also felt inspired by Lois, and fascinated in her deeply dysfunctional relationship with Superman (Hanley considered Superman to be Lois Lane’s “constant adversary…Superman is the worst thing to ever happen to Lois Lane”).

The fact the Lois has such a persistent following speaks to a craving for representation. Many readers loved to hate Lois, finding her a useful scapegoat. It was easy to punish Lois vicariously for being out of her “place.” Other readers love Lois, because they recognize her courage, ambition, intelligence, and heroism. Readers can see those qualities struggling to escape, and we root for Lois to be her best self. Hanley’s book does a great job of putting her highs and lows in a cultural and historical context. The book is useful and thoughtful and educational – just be prepared to get really, really mad on Lois Lane’s behalf.

- Carrie S.

[Fantasy Literature · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something irresistibly appealing about Lois Lane, DC Comics’ globe-trotting and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter. In the hands of a good writer, she’s got grit and guts to spare, she’s smart enough to track down crime bosses or dissolve child-smuggling rings, and she’s tough enough to stand toe-to-toe with the likes of supervillains Lex Luthor and Braniac. In the hands of a bad writer — and there have been many — she’s a sex object, a romantic conquest, a pawn whose numerous meaningless deaths are nothing more than the catalyst for Superman’s emotional arcs. This is a character who, in the year 2011, was referred to as a “trophy wife” by a DC editor at San Diego Comic-Con. “Turbulent” isn’t a strong enough word for Lois Lane’s 77-year history, but it’s a good place to start.

Investigating Lois Lane’s ten chapters focus on one ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

[Aishuu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this more than I did - Lois Lane is an awesome character. Instead, I came away trying not to one star it.

This is a comic book history of Lois Lane, but the problem is it basically retold Superman history. There was very little new in it if you've read Superman histories (and I have). The book is fairly solid as a straightforward history, but it really needed to expand more on Lois as a reflection of society or something outside of the straightforward history (creation, comics code, Silver Age, etc.) to make it worthwhile. The writing is solid (which is why I didn't one star it), but the entire book is superfluous to things like Superman: The High-Flying History of the Man of Steel.

I didn't really take away anything new. Very disappointing.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book review would have been 4 stars, until I read the footnote on page 231: "The hive mind gaming angle was especially timely in the wake of the ridiculous Gamer gate scandal that pervaded the online gaming world in 2014 and 2015."
Ridiculous, huh? Women being threatened with rape, torture and murder, as a matter of course, because they DARED to speak their minds or, worse, admit to being female, is ridiculous? This author's credibility is flushed down the toilet.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Edelweiss for giving me the opportunity to read this. I really enjoyed this book. Lois Lane has had a long trip and is still going strong. I am amazed with the fact that, as iconic as she is, she rarely gets used to her full potential.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today’s post is on Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet's Ace Reporter by Tim Hanley. It is 303 pages long and is published by Chicago Review Press. The cover is white with Lois Land in Dark blue and the city behind her in light blue. The intended reader is someone who likes Lois Lane, is interested in her history and the history of comics. There is no foul language, talk of sex, and talk of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- In a universe full of superheroes, Lois Lane has fought for truth and justice for over 75 years on page and screen without a cape or tights. From her creation by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938 to her forthcoming appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016, from helming her own comic book for twenty-six years to appearing in animated serials, live-action TV shows, and full-length movies, Lois Lane has been a paragon of journalistic integrity and the paramour of the world's strongest superhero. But her history is one of constant tension. From her earliest days, Lois yearned to make the front page of the Daily Planet, but was held back by her damsel-in-distress role. When she finally became an ace reporter, asinine lessons and her tumultuous romance with Superman dominated her storylines for decades and relegated her journalism to the background. Through it all, Lois remained a fearless and ambitious character, and today she is a beloved icon and an inspiration to many. Though her history is often troubling, Lois's journey, as revealed in Investigating Lois Lane, showcases her ability to always escape the gendered limitations of each era and of the superhero genre as a whole.

Review- Let me get this out of the way first, I am a big fan of Lois Lane. She is brave, smart, and creative. She stands tall in the face of heroes, villains, gods, and she does not back down. Lois Lane is a wonderful character and I loved reading about her past and hope for her future. Hanley loves her too and I think that it shows in this book. He researches so much about her and her long story but with great respect and at times frustration for how Lois was handled by the men in the cutting room. Hanley does not spare them from his displeasure with how in the 1950s, Lois was infantilized, how her core character traits where ignored and down played throughout the whole of her history. But he also points out that Lois Lane is tougher than that and always bounces back to be herself again. I really enjoyed the way that Hanley wrote about her and I am going to be reading his other books on Wonder Woman and Catwoman. If you are a fan of comics and of Lois Lane, you should read this book.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

[Casey Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a comic book history that focuses solely on Lois Lane, or you hope to better understand this character just through the trials and tribulations of those who created and shaped her, this isn't the book for you.

This is, instead, a book for those interested in the evolution of the character as well as the external factors that caused an almost manic change in her personality and focus throughout the decades.

Though a good balance has been struck between portrayal of character traits, politics, and company dynamics, this narrative does read a bit lopsided for anyone interested in a neutral telling of the social environment in which the comics and characters were created.

Ultimately, it's an interesting history of Lois Lane writers, illustrators, and audience. The context of her co-characters' (notably Superman and Jimmy Olsen) framing and arcs makes for a well-rounded understanding of Lois through the generations. A must-read if you're interested in comic book culture and history or just how culture shapes fiction.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative and engaging read for anyone who knows a little or a lot about the world's greatest reporter! Hanley has clearly done his research, and presents an in-depth and unbiased account of Lois Lane's history throughout most media formats. While Hanley does discuss the impacts of men writing a female character, this is by no means a feminist analysis - there are however several points in the book where feminist theories could be applied (maybe I'll have to write that myself!). As a long-time fan of Lois I thoroughly enjoyed expanding on what I already knew about the character, especially how the intersection of comics and tv/movies affected her characterisation. Overall a great read.

I would love to see an updated version or addendum concerning Lois since 2016, as the DC universe has been rebooted again since then (with some interesting storylines for Lois), and she has had many more appearances in comics miniseries and events, tv and movies, and YA books/graphic novels!

[Winnie Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

- a good read about Lois Lane, a character with enough qualities and attitude to star in a series of her own, but is mostly relegated to the side because writers don't know what to do with her beyond her relationship with Superman

-Found it interesting that Lois Lane had more TV/movie/animated feature appearances than Wonder Woman ( at least from directly comparing the information in "Wonder Woman Unbound" and in this book)

-book also discussed the oh- so- annoying problem of thin, 1-D female support characters. They are supposed to be the reason that drives the heroes towards an end goal, but the audience doesn't know or care about these female characters.

-featuring tough female reporters, sexism, intense unromantic romance, things-that-only-happen-in-comics, and douchebag Superman

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lois Lane is a paradox. On the one hand, she's one of fiction's best known female characters, has been around for 80 years, and a smart, professional woman. On the other, she's primarily known as Superman's Girlfriend (more recently his wife) so even in her own book she's playing second fiddle to him. And being written mostly by men, she's often been handled in a painfully sexist way over and above that.
Hanley does a good job chronicling how Lois has developed (or not) in different media, developed independence, lost it again, and how becoming Clark's wife has done her no favors (writers forget her career, and she's been seemingly killed a half-dozen times to bring Superman some grief). Though DC's New 52 initiative retconning out the marriage didn't help either.
4.5 because of a couple of minor errors.

[MAP · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A thorough look at the myriad incarnations of Lois Lane. I do wish he had done a little deeper analysis - Hanley will mention, for example, that in the ‘50s Lois was a product of her time by being obsessed with romance and marriage, but we don’t get as much in depth discussion of the social contexts driving her ever-changing character.

I was super disappointed to read about how she has been handled since the latest reboot - I bailed on comics a few years before it and I’m glad I did.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a classic website (I forget the name) that collects examples of the phrase "Superman is a dick." After reading this historical treatment of how Lois Lane is portrayed and treated in comics, movies, and other mediums, I think it's fair to say that (most (but not all) of the) editors and writers are also dicks.

[connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

I loved this! Such an insight into the history of a female character that has played an intrinsic part of the growth of DC comics and I feel better knowing more about her history. Lois Lane is incredible, and now all I want to do is read all the Superman comics just for her and Jon Kent (Also the superboy comics when he was all punk, just because)

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was kind of a disappointment. There was no real in depth character analysis of Lois Lane. This book is more of a dry summed up history of the comics of Superman and how Lois' role in that story changed over time and how it is linked to the changing role of women in society. Just like Lois Lane was created by men, you can tell this book was written by a man.

[Edward Wendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and well researched examination of Lois Lane. Far from being overly praiseworthy of her role as Superman's sidekick, this is a critical look at her portrayal from a progressive standpoint. The level of detail here is often astounding, leaving the reader to ponder just how many comics the author had to read to get so much insight.

[livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book only reaffirms something i already knew: lois lane is the best character ever and she deserves better. i was genuinely shocked at how many writers and fans hate her, and i hope they know that they will not step foot in heaven.

also smallville lois lane is the best and thats a fact

[Amy Ravenel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love movie and TV Lois Lane, but I didn't know much about her comics history. Interesting!

[M.L.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author concludes at the end of the volume that Superman is the worst thing to have ever happened to Lois Lane, & I'd have to agree. This makes me want to revisit the Super-Dickery website.

[Lauren Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting look at one of my favorite comic book characters of all time.

[Amy Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting insights into LL as a reflection of her times and as a rebel against gender stereotypes.