- Lois, dearest! What's Clark got that I haven't got? Forget him and be my bride! Say yes, Lois, and make me the happiest man of earth!
- — Superman
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #4 is an issue of the series Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane (Volume 1) with a cover date of October, 1958.
Synopsis for "The Super-Courtship of Lois Lane"
Having witnessed a hypnotist named Professor Z. Parker, Jimmy Olsen decides to have some fun at Clark Kent and Lois Lane's expense. He plants a tape-recording of Superman's voice underneath Clark's bed. While Clark sleeps, the voice hypnotizes him into falling in love with Lois Lane.
The following day, Clark approaches Lois and professes his undying love. He asks her to marry him, but Lois refuses. Later, Clark changes into Superman, but he is still under the thrall of Professor Parker's post-hypnotic suggestion. Superman likewise woos Lois and offers her a proposal of marriage. Lois begins to suspect that Superman and Clark are conspiring to play a prank on her.
Superman continues to cater to Lois' every desire, and finally she gives in and agrees to marry him. Jimmy meanwhile, regrets having placed Clark in this position, and concocts a scheme to resolve the matter.
On the day that Superman and Lois Lane are to be married, Jimmy throws himself into a nearby river and begins crying for help. Lois Lane interrupts her own wedding ceremony to save Jimmy. Superman finally shakes off the effects of Professor Parker's hypnotic suggestion and returns to normal.
Appearing in "The Super-Courtship of Lois Lane"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Jimmy Olsen
- Perry White (Cameo)
- Template:Apn
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Professor Z. Parker (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Three Overweight Men (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Audience (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Beach patrons
- Top Hat Restaurant patrons
- Candy Factory Owner (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Justice of Peace (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Metropolis
- Lois Lane's Apartment
- Jimmy Olsen's Apartment
- 344 Clinton Street
- Clark Kent's Apartment
- Daily Planet
- Candy Factory (Unnamed)
- Dream Cottage (built by Superman)
- Justice of the Peace
- Beach (Unnamed) (unknown location)
- Top Hat Restaurant (unknown location)
Items:
- Jimmy Olsen's Signal Watch
- Jimmy Olsen's Tape Recorder / Player
- Giant Heart-shaped Chocolate
- Jewels (from a sunken pirate's ship)
- Giant Flowers (from another world)
Vehicles:
- Yacht
Synopsis for "Lois Lane, Working Girl"
Two stage producers named Jed Brant and Ron Harris approach Lois Lane and offer her the opportunity to perform in theater. They are producing a new play and are interested in casting Lois in the lead role. Jed Brant however, thinks Lois could benefit from more experience in the blue-collar industry.
In order to satisfy Brant's suggestion, Lois applies for a position at a pretzel factory for Mr. Evans. However, the factory foreman, Joe Hogg, is bitter at Mr. Evans for hiring Lois, as he was hoping that the position would go to his girlfriend, Maisy. Hogg tries to make Lois appear as a poor worker by deliberately sabotaging her efforts.
Fortunately for Lois, Superman discovers what is happening and rushes in to fix all of the problems. Lois comes off as a superlative employee and the theatrical agents decide to give her another shot.
First, they have her appear on a game show in the hopes of improving her image. Although Lois performs admirably, the agents decide that they no longer wish to sponsor a woman that the public sees as nothing more than a "pretzel-bender". Lois returns to her regular work at the Daily Planet.
Appearing in "Lois Lane, Working Girl"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Joe Hogg (pretzel division foreman) (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Ron Harris (theatrical agent) (Single appearance)
- Daily Planet Employees (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Jed Brant (producer) (Single appearance)
- Two Acting Coaches (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Maisie (Joe's girlfriend) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Mister Evans (pretzel division boss) (Single appearance)
- What's My Job?
- Host (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Four Panelists (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Studio Audience (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Joan (Cameo) (Single appearance)
- Man (Unnamed) (Cameo) (Single appearance)
Locations:
- Metropolis
- Daily Planet
- Perry White's Office
- Jed Brant's Office
- Acme Baking Company
- Pretzel Division
- Lois Lane's Apartment
- TV Studio
- What's My Job? (game show)
- Daily Planet
Items:
- Giant Steel Girder
- bent into a Horseshoe
- bent into a Pretzel
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Annie Oakley Gets Her (Super)Man"
Lois Lane and Clark Kent begin investigating a group of criminals. They track their movements and follow them to a place called Dude City. While riding through the town on horses, Lois falls from her mount and hits her head. When she recovers, she has no memory of her true identity and mistakenly believes that she is the famous sharpshooter, Annie Oakley. In order to humor Lois, Clark begins masquerading as the notorious bank-robber Jesse James.
The two faux gun-slingers eventually embroil themselves in a shootout with one another. The hoods they had been chasing watch in amazement as "Annie's" bullets harmlessly bounce off of "Jesse's" chest.
Before long, Lois shakes off the effects of the amnesia. She then finds the criminals she had been tracking and apprehends them. In order to explain why was not harmed during the gunfight, Clark explains that Lois' bullets and his own bullets struck each other at the same time.
Appearing in "Annie Oakley Gets Her (Super)Man"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Leftie (Single appearance)
- Leftie's Partner (Single appearance)
Other Characters:
- Hub City Residents (Unnamed) (Single appearance)
- Dr. Smith (Single appearance)
- Annie Oakley (Mentioned only)
- Buffalo Bill (Mentioned only)
- Billy the Kid (Wanted Poster) (In picture only)
- Davy Crockett (Mentioned only)
- Daniel Boone (Mentioned only)
- Jesse James (Wanted Poster) (In picture only)
- Horses
Locations:
- Dude City
Items:
- Revolvers
Vehicles:
- None
Notes
- Cover dated September-October 1958.
- Know Your Pet! public service advertisement.
- Cora the Car Hop gag strip.
- Peg gag strip.
- Chuckle Box one page of jokes.
- This issue is reprinted in Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane Archives Vol. 1.
- Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Perry White appeared last in Action Comics #243. They all appear next in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #31.
- Superman last appeared in Action Comics #243. He appears next in World's Finest Comics #96.
Trivia
- The Super-Courtship of Lois Lane takes place on April 1st and 2nd.
- Lois Lane, Working Girl
- This issue is not the first time that Lois has tried her hand at acting. As recently as Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #2, Lois attempted (and almost failed) to star in a Superman movie playing herself.
- What's My Job? is a pastiches of What's My Line?
- Annie Oakley Gets Her (Super)Man
- Annie Oakley was a real-life celebrity sharpshooter, who demonstrated her talents at Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in the late 19th century.
- Jesse James was a real-life American outlaw recognized for his career as a bank-robber in the 19th century.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Superman Family Recommended Reading
- Action Comics (Volume 1)
- Adventure Comics (Volume 1)
- DC Comics Presents (Volume 1)
- Superboy (Volume 1)
- Superboy (Volume 2)
- Supergirl (Volume 1)
- Supergirl (Volume 2)
- Superman (Volume 1)
- Superman Family (Volume 1)
- Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane (Volume 1)
- Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (Volume 1)
- World's Finest (Volume 1)