Review of "Lois Lane: A Celebration of 75 Years," edited by Robin Wildman

Review of

Lois Lane: A Celebration of 75 Years, edited by Robin Wildman ISBN 9781401247034

Five out of five stars

 Lois Lane has had many incarnations through the many adventures of Superman, what is often lost on the modern reader is how she was originally portrayed. In the early stories of Superman, she was an energetic, fearless reporter with a strong personality that backed down from no one. Everyone from the powerful villains to her male co-workers were subject to her ire as she pursued the story, even when there was great danger.

 In the middle years, she was femaled out a bit, becoming less of a strong woman, sometimes depicted as an emotional wimp. However, in the last years, Lois has once again been portrayed as a powerful, dynamic woman bent on getting the story and changing the world.

 Her early depiction is contrary to how female co-stars were generally depicted in entertainment at that time, present only to scream and faint at the slightest hint of danger. This is a welcome relief and shows how comics can be a force leading to social change. Although the artwork, dialog and storylines have changed, the Lois Lane of the last years is once again the Lois of the early years.

 The slightly over 20 stories in this collection form what could be a textbook on how comics have changed over what is essentially their existence. Society changes over time and the forms of entertainment both reflect and drive the change.