Summary
- Lois Lane’s position as The Daily Planet’s editor-in-chief causes friction in her relationship with Superman.
- Lois’s decision to remove Clark from covering Superman stories leads to tension at work and at home.
- Superman may need to make a big career change to save his marriage with Lois and find a balance in their relationship.
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Action Comics #1068!A key piece of Superman’s mythos is about to change. It wasn’t that long ago that the love of Clark Kent’s life, Lois Lane, got the promotion of a lifetime and stepped up to become The Daily Planet’s new editor-in-chief.
There have been a lot of changes in Superman’s corner of the DC Universe. Between adopting a pair of Phaelosian twins and Clark striking up a working relationship with Lex Luthor, it’s easy to forget that Lois is running the Planet. However, one of Lois’ decisions is starting to cause friction between her and Superman, and if a change isn’t made soon, there could be trouble for the iconic couple.
Superman is Struggling with Lois Lane Running The Daily Planet
In Action Comics #1068’s backup story “Lois & Clark: In Love. At Work. Part Two” by Rainbow Rowell and Cian Tormey, things are tense at the Kent home. Lois’ recent decision to pull Clark from covering Superman stories is causing a small fight that their son Jon picks up on. Lois tells him that everything’s fine and that Clark is just adjusting to Lois being his boss. But things seem to be worse than Lois is letting Jon know as she and Superman don’t even say anything to each other before going to sleep that night.
Lois agrees and takes Clark off of his usual beat.
The next day, Clark and Lois discuss her decision and Clark implores her to consider how it makes sense for the Planet’s metro reporter to cover any Superman stories. Lois agrees and takes Clark off of his usual beat. When Clark tells her that the position is the perfect cover for him, Lois has to stand firm and responds that it’s not the paper’s responsibility to shield his identity as Superman. Lois ends their conversation by telling Clark his beat is being given to the paper’s new reporter Mariposa while Clark is sent to general assignment.
Clark starts to cover local news like parades and dog shows, something that really starts to get under his skin. While covering a girl attempting to break a world record, Atomic Skull makes another attack on Metropolis. Superman heads out to stop the villain, only to discover that Mariposa and Jimmy are on the scene. The two are nearly killed by Atomic Skull, but Superman thankfully rescues them. However, while bringing them to safety, Mariposa asks for a comment, causing Superman to coldly fly off with no response.
How Lois Lane Made Big Changes to Superman’s Life
This new era for Superman all started when Lex Luthor decided to use Manchester Black’s mental powers and wipe the world of the knowledge that Clark Kent was the Man of Steel. While a small contingent of Superman’s allies were protected and retained their memories, most forgot, including Perry White. When White discovered Clark was Superman, it gave him a small stroke. White was fine, but he went on medical leave and stepped down from running The Daily Planet, allowing Lois Lane to run things as the temporary Editor-in-Chief.
Lois Lane starts her new career in
Superman #1 (2023)
!
But what started as a temporary position soon became a permanent one. During his recovery, Perry decided to throw his hat in the ring and run for Mayor of Metropolis, leaving Lois in charge of the Planet. At the same time, Superman began working with an incarcerated Lex Luthor, who handed over the keys to his business LexCorp, even renaming it Supercorp. Lois’ new position at the Daily Planet proved useful as she got access to the paper’s private archives and discovered information Perry White had buried for years.
But after months in her new job, Lois began experiencing doubt that she had what it took to run the paper properly. However, words from Clark inspired her to do something even Perry White never considered. Citing ethical concerns over a potential conflict of interest, Lois removed Clark from covering any and all stories about Superman. Instead, she allowed Mariposa, a former intern, to take Clark’s usual stories, much to the Man of Steel’s displeasure.
Lois Lane’s Decisions Could Drive Superman Away from The Daily Planet
Generally, Clark isn’t one to second guess his wife. But it’s clear that as much as he respects Lois, Clark is not happy with this situation. But to be fair, Lois has a serious responsibility on her shoulders. She’s not a journalist anymore, she’s running a newspaper and that requires strong ethics and standards. But Clark isn’t a slouch at his job. He’s a fine reporter and he makes a solid point that working the metro beat keeps him in touch with the community when Superman is needed.
Not only is their working relationship suffering, but Superman and Lois’ marriage seems to be in trouble.
Lois and Clark love each other deeply, but they’re at a serious impasse here. Superman wants things to continue like how they were while Lois wants to change the way things are run. Neither of them is necessarily wrong, but their inability to get on board with the other’s line of thinking is causing some serious friction. Not only is their working relationship suffering, but Superman and Lois’ marriage seems to be in trouble. But that could be remedied if Superman makes one small, yet huge, change.
Clark may be prevented from covering Superman stories at The Daily Planet, but there are plenty of other news organizations he could go to. The Daily Star, for instance, could scoop him back up (he did previously work there in the New 52 continuity). He could also strike out on his own as a freelance writer or even television or internet-based news companies. A seasoned reporter like Clark Kent would have no trouble finding work, especially given his work covering Superman. Given the difficulties Clark and Lois are facing, Superman leaving the Planet may be the best option for them.
Superman Could Make a Big Change To Save His and Lois’ Relationship
Lois isn’t going to suddenly drop her ethics any more than Clark is going to stop wanting a job that keeps him connected to Metropolis. Right now, the two aren’t doing themselves any favors by sticking with this new dynamic. But if Clark leaves the Planet, Lois can run the paper the way she wants and Clark can take a reporting job elsewhere that gives him the freedom he needs. It’d be a big change to Superman’s mythos, but it’s something that could ultimately benefit him and the person he loves more than anything.
Action Comics #1068 is available now from DC Comics.
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Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
