We know Superman better than most... Going back to Smallville. You were his best friend. I was his girl. Funny. For awhile I thought you two were the same person. How silly. 
- — Lana Lang src
Lana Lang was a childhood friend of Clark Kent and a rival of Lois Lane to his affection.
History
Lana Lang was born and raised on a farm in the midwestern Kansas town of Smallville. During her teenage years, she met her next-door neighbor, Clark Kent, and developed an instant infatuation with him. Her interest in Clark was matched only by her affection towards the local super-hero, Superboy. Lana spent a large portion of her high school years obsessing over Superboy, and she labored intensively to discover his secret identity.
Lana Lang as Insect Queen
One day Lana rescued an insect-like alien trapped by a fallen tree in Smallville. In gratitude, the alien gave her a Bio-Genetic Ring which allowed Lana to gain insect (and insect-like, such as arachnids) characteristics. She then created a yellow honeybee-like costume and mask and adopted the codename Insect Queen[8] who occasionally appeared as the crime-fighter. She had various adventures with Superboy and became a reserve member of the Legion of Super-Heroes.[9] By the time she left Smallville to enter college, she had yet to learn Superboy's greatest secret. She would later become a rival of Lois Lane for the affection of Superman, and co-anchor the WGBS-TV newscasts with Clark Kent. Lana's affection for Superman began to drift away and became romantically linked to the alien super-hero Vartox. Lana and Clark Kent became romantically involved shortly before the Crisis on Infinite Earths.
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Powers and Abilities
Abilities
- Journalism: Lana Lang is a professional media journalist and television celebrity. Despite her keen intuitive instincts however, she never discovered the secret behind Superman's true identity.
Other Characteristics
- Musophobia: Lana becomes hysterical at the sight of a mouse. The only way to calm her down is by pouring cold water on her.[10]
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Bio-Genetic Ring (which transforms her into the Insect Queen). Lana Lang does not possess any inherent super-powers, however, with the Bio-Genetic ring she possesses these superhuman abilities:
- Flight
- Superhuman Strength
- Superhuman Speed
- Superhuman Agility
- Enhanced Senses
- Metamorphosis: As the Insect Queen, Lana possessed the ability to shapeshift into any arthropod lifeform, including insects from alien worlds.
Notes
- This version of Lana Lang, including all history and corresponding appearances, was erased from existence following the collapse of the original Multiverse in the 1985–86 Crisis on Infinite Earths event and later restored following the rebirth of the infinite Multiverse during the Dark Crisis of 2022-2023. Even though other versions of the character may have appeared, this information does not apply to those versions.
- Lana's genealogy is revealed in Superboy #146:
Trivia
- Like many characters among Superman's supporting cast, Lana's name is an alliteration. Other characters sharing the double "L" initials include: Lex Luthor, Lewis Lang; Lois Lane, Lori Lemaris, Lucy Lane, Lena Luthor, Lyla Lerrol and Luma Lynai.
- As an adult, Lana had a penchant for referring to others as "Luv".
Related
- 690 Appearances of Lana Lang (Earth-One)
- 24 Images featuring Lana Lang (Earth-One)
- 24 Quotations by or about Lana Lang (Earth-One)
- Character Gallery: Lana Lang (Earth-One)
Footnotes
  Daily Planet Staff member |