I've made a manipulated image of Clark and Lois from Superman Returns for bradygirl_12's 2007 DCU Fic/Art Halloween Challenge. Since the challenge covers the movieverse as well, my inspiration were Brandon Routh and Kate Bosworth.



The challenge asked for Halloween-inspired art that incorporated at least some of the prompts listed, such as certain Halloween-y food, colors, traditional elements, potpourri, time period, etc. I went with a Clark/Lois picture set in the past, way before Superman was created. Maybe it's a bit Elseworlds or AU? The period seems to be 1890 - 1910. The idea was to make it pretty creepy at first but it ended up looking sweet and romantic instead, hehe! I had sooo much fun working on it.

Setting: It's Halloween. Clark and Lois are already married. Lois is arranging the flowers Clark brought her. There's also a pumpkin and a fruit basket on the table (some of the challenge's prompts ^_^).

( Full-size version here! )

( How it was made )

I've made 6 icons using the above picture, please credit houseofel/houseoficons in keywords/comments if you're taking any, thank you!

01. 02. 03.

( 3 more Clois icons )

Hope you like! Any feedback is much appreciated! :o)

Action Comics #695 from 1994 has a great Superman/Lois (or Clark/Lois) moment that I want to share. This was after he returned from the dead in the famous Death of Superman arc. Lois and Clark were just engaged for a few months before Superman was killed by Doomsday. Just like in those precious months before the Death, once he returned and could continue with his dual identity, Clark and Lois were often seen kissing passionately.

The only problem was Lois being in a relationship with Clark Kent and obviously could not be seen smooching Superman somewhere in the clouds or on the roof of the Daily Planet.



See what happens on their romantic rendezvous one day when Superman takes the time from his usual rounds in Metropolis to meet her on the roof...

( 'We have to stop meeting like this... Someday.' )

A few issues later Action Comics published a fan letter from a female reader in LA commenting on Lois' SHOES in that very scene:

( 'You can tell this was drawn by men!' )

DC's replies to their fan mail were often a little patronizing and defensive. *shakes head* Both the positive and negative feedback is very fun to read, especially from decades past. I'll never forget the one by a girl in 1972 calling Clark Kent "sexy" (when Kurt Swan drew him and he drew him splendidly). It's so true! Must post scans of that.

I was wondering which Superman comic scans to put up next (sooo many I want to post) and then I remembered this great issue about Superman celebrating New Year's in each time zone as he travels the world.

It's another of my fave comics where the art did not impress me when I first read the stories but over time I grew to appreciate it, especially when the stories are so heart-warming and so Superman that the way the comic is drawn becomes less important. 4 pencillers, 5 inkers and 1 colorist worked on this issue and every story was done by a different artist.



Action Comics #810 is one of those lovely and touching issues showing us how people around the world feel about Superman and that he takes time for an individual in need no matter how "trivial" their problem may be in the grand scheme of things. In this case, he helps wherever he can to make New Year's special to those who have sent him letters and asked for him, be it by providing nifty fireworks and playing in the snow with a group of Japanese orphans or helping a woman in Greenland deliver a baby. Spending time with Lois and visiting Ma and Pa in Smallville is a top priority, too, of course.

To celebrate every hour in a new time zone (25 time zones in one night!), even Superman has to be super fast to make it! The first stop is London and him and Lois fly over Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament to watch the fireworks...

( 'Just when you think there aren't any more fringe benefits to being Mrs. Superman... This is incredible.' 'You should see Sydney. Enough to make you cry.' )

*sigh* Superman is a great guy.

This is part 2 of the The Adventures of Superman #613 issue where Superman and Lois go on a date. Continued from my previous post.

Lois and Superman are on the phone:

Superman: "Y'know... I've got a few hours to spare tonight. How 'bout we arrange a little date for ourselves?"
Lois: "Oh, honey, you don't know how thrilling it is for a wife to hear those words, "I've got a few hours to spare"… But keep going."
Superman: "Love your sarcasm, Lois. But let's just cut to the chase. Rent us a Penthouse suite at the Plaza. We'll meet there at ten for a little pre-Valentine's celebration."
Lois: "Charmer. You know what they say about keeping the spark alive in a marriage... You do whatever it takes..."
Superman: "All right then, it's settled. I'll have to drop by the apartment and grab a change of clothes..."
Lois: *bits her lip* "No... Wear the uniform... For old times' sake..."

And the date begins! Lois awaits him on the balcony and the two pretend like they've just met all those years ago. Cue Superman: The Movie similarities!



( 'Is it true that you've got X-ray vision... That you can see through anything?' 'Just about. For instance... I can see right into your heart, miss Lane.' )

This was definitely one of my fave filler issues! They're easy to understand because they stand on their own and you don't have to catch up with the past stories to get the gist of what's going on. Longtime readers aren't fond of them (unless they're truly special and unique) because they want the main story to move forward but to a new fan they mean a lot. Not all of them are useless... Indeed, you can find great gems at the most unexpected of places.

I liked the idea of people in Metropolis being huge fans of Superman just like we are in the real world and that they'd visit a Superman store in a second if there was one!