Sidecar to the Superman motorcycle

In the late 60s and early 70s, DC Comics' rival Marvel Comics, proved that juvenile boys would read the comics if heroes weren't quite so pure and if leggy and luscious babes abounded.

That being the case, Lois Lane had little hope of competing against the likes of bare-thighed Wonder Woman in the 12 year-old boy fantasy world.

Lois Lane, working for a living, wearing suits instead of thongs, and bereft of super powers, was not high on the juvenile babe lust list.

However, Lois did remain the woman Superman most often considered as a life partner. Though his fear that she would be in danger as "Mrs. Superman" precluded any trip to the altar.

Back in 1971 when comics were still often judged by their covers, this psycho-sexual tale of superheroes gone bad, depicted Lois as the victim of a Lilliputian version of the Justice League of America.

It wasn't uncommon twenty years ago for Lois to be given some type of power, ability or advantage on a par with the increasing number of superheroes surrounding her. This was done in an attempt to keep Lois interesting to the fanboy readers who had outgrown kiddy stories but still weren't quite old enough to relate to a superhero having an adult relationship.

Apart from the allure of being sexual fantasy objects, one theory contends that juvenile males are attracted to powerful female heroes because such women can also be pals, peers and partners to the male superhero.

The thought that a normal woman could fit that bill never entered into the equation until years later, and never fully until Lois and Clark The New Adventures of Superman.

During the late 70s and early 80s, Lois became more pro-active in her relationship with Superman and no longer readily accepted his old excuses of why they couldn't be together next