Paneling: Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane #19

As of this writing, today is the birthday of the late Kurt Schaffenberger, the one artist I associate most closely with a certain prize-winning investigative reporter.

I mean…

When I saw it mentioned on Bluesky that today was his birthday, the above is the first thing that came to mind.

Then I thought of another face Lois made in a specific panel, so I decided to take a look at an offering form Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane #19. Specifically, from the cover story, which is the third story in the comic, entitled “Mr. and Mrs. Clark (Superman) Kent!” which was written by Superman (and Lois) co-creator Jerry Siegel.

This “Imaginary Story” was the first to explore what it might be like if the impossible happened and Superman and Lois got married.

As is typically the case, things don’t really go that well. This was by design. After all, DC didn’t want them to get married no matter how much readers might demand it, so they used these stories to basically say, “See? If we gave in and gave you what you wanted it would end in disaster!”

This one isn’t as bad as some of the imaginary stories that followed, and it’s not one that’s marred by tragedy, but nevertheless, their marriage isn’t exactly a happy one.

The problem? Lois didn’t marry Superman; she married Clark Kent.

And that makes a difference, because the only reason she accepts Clark’s proposal is that he reveals the truth to her.

Right away, that becomes a problem.

You see, while she knows the truth, no one else does or can, and though she initially believes she can live with the secret, the whispers, the judgment, and the inability to brag to the world about her husband’s super-deeds start to eat away at her.

During the honeymoon phase, all seems to be well, but as Lois settles into a life in the suburbs and has to deal with catty neighbors, her patience wears thin.

She tries to put on a brave face, but while Superman brings her gifts from all over the universe, she can’t show them off to anyone.

She can’t even confide in her sister.

…which, honestly, is probably for the best, because her sister is Lucy Lane, after all, and she’s just the worst.

Things really come to a head when Superman is off to deal with “very important business,” which Lois suspects is not so important at all, and Lois and Lucy go to an in-person appearance from Hollywood star Gloria Lamour, with her special guest…Superman!

When Superman presents Ms. Lamour with a plaque from the Metropolis theater owners, the beautiful starlet impulsively kisses the Man of Steel right in front of Lois.

Which brings us to the panel that popped into my head, the fourth panel on the 8th page, which features the greatest Lois Lane expression of all time.

You can hear that forehead vein throbbing.

In the end, after she lets her hubby have it, Lois acknowledges that she’s being unreasonable, but she just can’t help the way she feels and how she feels is desperately unhappy.

That’s where the story ends, with a promise of future stories to come that will further explore the downsides of a Marriage of Steel.

In any case, the point was to share that delightful panel in honor of a delightful artist who illustrated many delightful stories full of panels just as delightful as this one.

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