The end of the Clark Kent/Lois Lane marriage

[starwolf_oakley]

Excuse me while I sigh sadly, like Will Farrell as Alex Trebek having to introduce Sean Connery yet again.

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/06/dan-didio-signals-the-end-of-the-clark-kentlois-lane-marriage/

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/popcornbiz/DC-Comics-Major-Reboot-May-Split-Up-Superman-and-Lois-Lane-124020299.html

Why? Why?! Because Dan DiDio hates you, that's why.



“Let’s just say it's being reexamined,” says Didio, who oversees the 77-year-old comic book company, which relaunches all of its titles with 52 new #1 issues in September, “because it's something that I think is something that is so valuable to the character's story that you really want to explore all facets of it. Not just as it exists currently.”

The marriage of the leading couple of superhero-dom was initially launched as a tie-in to the planned TV nuptials of the characters in the ABC series “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” in 1996 and proved popular with fans who found it fresh take on the age-old love triangle between Lois, Superman and his own alter ego, Clark Kent. But it may be time to redefine their romance once again.

You have to admit, they did rush everything into one big wedding album to time it with "Lois & Clark." Maybe they want to try "A to B to C" again at their own pace. Also, the mainstream media should know that Lois Lane has known Clark's secret since 1991.

Oh, and Dan DiDio hates you. And me. And everyone that reads DC Comics.



This page from ACTION COMICS #775 isn't the best example of how Lois and Clark love each other so much it is downright irritating, but I was in a hurry.

Comments

[sherkahn]

It's a good thing I just got new gardening tools for the summer.

Let me get my pitchfork and torch....

Oh, I can't wait for ComiCon in SD this year.

[q99]

So.... has DC editorial heard about OMD?

[roguefankc]

That was actually my first thought too...and then I wanted to ask DiDio, "What exactly do you have against marriage, again?"

Seriously, it's like a superhero who's married is like the unforgivable characteristic that no writer/editor wants.

[droolfangrrl]

Oh #$^% no!

[turtlefu]

It's OMD!

Also, I feel like that by not having them together, this will sadly mean Lois won't have a major role in anything. You might as well say Good-bye Lois Lane!

She's an excellent character and their dynamic was interesting, fresh, and unique.

[arbre_rieur]

For decades before the marriage, Lois played a consistent major role in the Superman books. Regardless of whether the marriage gets undone, I doubt that will change anytime soon.

[cyberghostface]

I knew it!!!

[chocochuy]

I knew Joe-phisto was the mastermind behind all the weird stuff that Didio has been doing lately. Just take a look at his evil grin as he plots how to make Didio order Ma Kent to marry a Zombie Samuel Lane (revived by Satanus), thus making Lois and Clark into "siblings", making them unable to remain married.

[chocochuy]

OK, DC Comics, we have taken enough punishment from you and we will not tolerate it any further. Don't mess with Lois and Clark or you'll end up facing a lot of losses. Some of us have grown up with the excellent romance between Lois and Clark and most of us were happy when they finally got married. It took years to get to that point on the Superman mythos but it was worth it. Superman didn't lose its edge when he got married but gained the opportunity of telling more neat stories. I simply can't understand why to murder one of the best Super-Couples (pun intended) that have ever existed.

Good stories are not the ones that change the Status Quo but the ones that provide us with an interesting storyline as well as allowing their characters to evolve.

I will go fetch mine pitchfork and torch. Tonight DC Comics will pay.

Thank you!

[roguefankc]

Good stories are not the ones that change the Status Quo but the ones that provide us with an interesting storyline as well as allowing their characters to evolve.[quote]

*applause*

Because this couldn't be said enough.

[benicio127]

Man, I don't expect question and answer time at the comic-cons are going to go over so well for DC this year.

[icon_uk]

They should certainly be.... interesting.

[sindra]

Wow....I thought this whole reboot thing was to mimic another attempt at a Ultimate Marvel dealio, but it looks like it's all just one big OMD that they're copying from the Book of Quesada.

Ewww....

[venatosapiens]

Which is a real shame, because if they launched an ultimate style imprint with Grant Morrison and Mark Waid and such, I would have bought every trade. Instead we got Straczynski and Geoff Johns.

No, the lack of new writers in the DCU doesn't bother me, why do you ask?

[philippos42]

You have to admit, they did rush everything into one big wedding album to time it with "Lois & Clark." Maybe they want to try "A to B to C" again at their own pace. Also, the mainstream media should know that Lois Lane has known Clark's secret since 1991.

Actually, you have it backwards: The Superman books pushed back the marriage a year to match "Lois & Clark." In that year they did "Death of Superman," "Funeral for a Friend," and "Reign of the Supermen."

[freezer]

No, no; they did rush the comic wedding forward to match Lois & Clark. The original plan was for Lois and Clark to break things off, for Lois to go on a year-long, globetrotting "walkabout" to figure out what she really wanted, and for her to return and marry Clark. The Powers That Be wanted the TV and comics marriages to synchronize, so Lois returned abruptly and they got hitched.

[freezer]

I've heard it said here that DC and Marvel keep pulling stunts like this because they don't want new readers. I disagree.

They don't want old readers. Or at least, readers that aren't as old as Didio/JoeQ. They want the comics they remember falling in love with. And now that they're in charge, they're bring them back, one scorched earth action at a time. And if it means pissing off a literal generation of comics readers in the process, so be it. As long as they get their Bronze Age back.

[chocochuy]

What you have stated, Freezer, is both true and sad at the same time. I was born in 1988, one of the first years of the Spider-Marriage, and all the stories I read were the ones done during that period. I learned to like these stories as well as liking the stuff from Lee and Ditko as well as the Bronze Age. I would be a liar if I said I didn't like some of the old stories (I personally liked Gwen Stacy) but it's much better to remember those good days with nostalgia as well as fleshing/updating them without murdering the current status quo. It's an insult to both the older stories and modern stories to do things like OMD, an event that technically erased most of mine life. OMD reminds me of Ozymandia's plot to save the Earth by using a phony Alien attack because things will obviously change the moment the main orchestrator is no longer at a powerful position or alive. I just hope things get fixed eventually at both DC and Marvel.

[star_of_airdrie]

I'm shocked at this one and I know there will be more -

From Newsarama yesterday per Berganza and Harris :

"- While planning the September relaunch, DC's editorial team constructed a timeline that details the universe's history. Everything from the past that editors thought was integral and important was kept.

- DC confirmed that stories like Blackest Night, Brightest Day, Identity Crisis, Death in the Family, and Killing Joke are still part of the DCU history. In fact, editors said, some events in those stories are specifically referenced in September.

- DC would not confirm that other storylines will or will not be part of the universe's new history. (For example, we asked about Geoff Johns' recent Superman: Secret Origin story, to no avail.) Readers will have to wait and see.

- Both Action Comics and Justice League are set at the "dawning of the age of superheroes," DC said. (But that dawn doesn't appear to be too long ago, since it's being reported that they will take place only five years in the past.)

- All other September titles will be taking place in DC's "contemporary times," unless it's a period piece, like Demon Knights, Jonah Hex or Legion of Super-Heroes.?

Full article: http://www.newsarama.com/comics/dcnu-bob-harras-eddie-berganza-history-in-tact-110615.html

(of course I'm worried about Dick and Kory's past... and future)

[mrstatham]

Please. AS IF they'll dare wipe out anything Johns has had a hand in during the past five years. Green Lantern's 'staying largely' the same, so you can almost guarantee Morrison will have some sort of editorial edict not to tread near Johns' precious Silver-Age blowjob that is Secret Origin. Why would they wipe out something so recent and by their new top dog?

[shadowpsykie]

honestly, i am reserving judgement until it actually happens... part of me thinks they would be INSANE to change it, another part of me thinks thats what they WANT us to think....

oh look my blue lantern ring is glowing ever so bright....

[shadowpsykie]

oh one more thing... has anyone stoped to think that maybe Lois and Clark are still married, but in Action Comics and Justice League they are not because these are stories told in the "early days?" hence keeping Lois and Clark married while at the same time exploring the relationship "From the other perspectives" they were talking about?

[hawkmoondirge]

GOOD THEORY! I actually didn't think of that. I mean Lois and Clark are huge, everyone knows it so why, in a modern tale with many events still on the table, would they disregard it?

For the record, anyone else feel like the whole reboot/relaunch is not as huge as it's made out to be?

Theory Timm Universe

[hawkmoondirge]

Why use Bruce Timm universe/ because it makes sense.

If the universe is getting a patch job, then yes Lois and Clark may not be married. BUT, who's to say they won't GET married?

What may happen is this. They aren't married. They are co-workers. Lois only knows clark kent as a friend and crushes on supes. Clark can't reveal his identity but as Supes returns the feelings, while trying to gain love as clark.

Its just like the Timm universe.

Alliteratively, she's the end of the road, and others will come and go.

After OMD, I don't believe DC would follow Marvel's folly.

Re: Theory Timm Universe

[freezer]

What may happen is this. They aren't married. They are co-workers. Lois only knows clark kent as a friend and crushes on supes. Clark can't reveal his identity but as Supes returns the feelings, while trying to gain love as clark.

Its just like the Timm universe.

Except Justice League Unlimited showed them as a couple - not married, but Lois explicitly calls Superman "Clark" when they're alone.

If one only counts Batman/Superman:TAS as the "Timmverse" I suppose your point still stands.

[mullon]

I really wish DC would be more upfront with whatever it is they are doing. It's not like they don't have access to the internet so they can't see why everyone is getting so riled up.

[stolisomancer]

Didio's had a problem for years with being unable to tell the difference between excitement and irritated controversy, hasn't he?

[darkknightjrk]

Uh...the way I read it, they're not confirming the end of the marriage at all. As a matter of fact, it more or less says that they're going to try to do something different with the marriage to make it more fresh.

[icon_uk]

Lois and Clark with optional Lana and Bruce if either/both happen to be town? Heck, throw in Jimmy for variety every now and again

FOr credit is due...

[silverzeo]

Not as bad OMD/OMIT, this isn't the end of a relationship, but a refreshing take of why Lois and Clark should be the perfect couple

I remember seeing a deviantART comic strip in which had Supes on a game show in which he had choose between three women: The home town girl that knows him for his entire life and understands him, the warrior woman who matches his strength in body and morals and accepts both his human and alien life; and finally: the career seeking news woman who constantly throws herself in life threatening danger for scoop ever 30 seconds, and Supes, just blind picks the third woman..

[arbre_rieur]

In Morrison we trust...

[arilou_skiff]

Yeah, I'm not sure they're actually ending the marriage (and even if they are, not permanently) at most I suspect they'll be going back to the "Clark>Lois>Superman" love triangle.

Which would be annoying since it's been done, but still.

[freezer]

How annoying, I suppose, would depend on how far back they go. As has been said by people far more articulate than me; it makes no sense to modern eyes that Lois could be around both Clark and Superman that much and not put two and two together in short order. And then, it makes just as little sense that Clark wouldn't realize that Lois wouldn't put it together eventually. Hell, you could swap Lois for Jimmy with equal validity (he isn't stupid). I don't know if Perry White has been around Superman enough to make the same type connections.

TL;DR: This only works if it's short term. The classic love triangle just wouldn't work these days.

[cypherfdp]

Bloody fucking hell. This probably means Chris is going to be rebooted out of existence too.

I just... Jesus Christ. Did DC not pay attention to the vicious backlash OMD got? Did Joe Quesada convince Bob Harras to troll DC fans? Is Mephisto writing comic books now?

[fifthie]

Oh look, DC's doing the stupidest, least-interesting thing it's possible to do with these characters.

[fifthie]

"The literally like 70 years we spent exploring the most boring phase of this couple's relationship wasn't enough" - Dan Didio

[drexer]

I just got wasted yesterday and woke up half an hour ago, and NOW you're giving me a reason to get wasted right now?

Goddamnit DC, goddamnit.

[biod]

So, if DC goes crazy, can we still call him Superman?
I'm gong for the wait and see approach for now.

[jlbarnett]

as long as they're dating I suppose I'll be happy.

[icon_uk]

I'm still veering towards "different books are set at different points in time" theory. Clark and Diana dating early in both their careers would be perfectly fine, with hopefully both realising that it's not what they want, but remaining good friends and allies.

See also Samaritan and Winged Victory dating in Astro City, both great heroes in their own right who go on a date because their friends keep suggesting they should, but both quickly realising they're not compatible that way.