What's your favourite version of Lois Lane?

[Darth Joker]

Of all the various versions of Lois Lane, which one do you think is the definitive Lois Lane, or the closest to that?

There's a lot to choose from, of course - there's Golden Age Lois Lane, there's Kidder's Lois Lane, there's Teri Hatcher's Lois Lane, there's DCAU Lois Lane, the Lois Lane in the comic books today, and the most recent movie Lois Lane.

Lois Lane always struck me as one of the harder characters to write - because you have to hit just the right balance with her. She should be a hard-nosed tough news reporter with a cynical edge to her... but not so cynical that she wouldn't be swept off her feet by Superman. She should like/love Superman and naturally think highly of him... but play her cards close to her vest and keep her emotions in check with firm logic/rationality. She should have a good, sound ethical code... but be ruthless in trying to beat Clark out for scoops. She should be drawn as physically attractive... but not as drop-dead supermodel gorgeous. She should be street-smart and intelligent, but not Batman-good.

When she's wrote too soft, she can become a bit of a farce, and cease to be a good foil for Superman's eternal optimism. OTOH, when she's wrote as *too* much of a tough cookie, she becomes a hard character to like, and that's not good for Superman's most important supporting cast character (and one of DC's 10 most important characters overall, quite possibly).

So... like I said, hard to strike the balance.

DCAU Lois Lane comes very close for me, though I think that they erred just a touch too much on the 'tough cookie' side with her. Kidder's Lane is also close for me, though I think that they erred just a touch too much on the 'soft' side with her.

Overall, I'd take DCAU Lois Lane.

Everyone else?

[Froggy]

I actually liked current comic Lois, 00-07 version, with DCAU lois a close second

[Gingold]

I think Darwyn Cooke gets her just right in the current Superman: Confidential arc.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Mix Dana Delaney's Lois from the cartoon with Margot Kidder's Lois from the first movie with Darwyn Cooke's Lois from New Frontier. Shake and serve with a side order of Jack Kirby's Jimmy Olsen.

[cactusmaac]

Erica Durance on Smallville.

[Superheroic]

Erica Durance on Smallville.

While I don't think she's the definitive Lois, I like her portrayal a whole lot.

[TimT]

DCAU Lois Lane got the closest to getting it right for me. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think she really had it awfully close to perfect. I don't think she was too edgy, she was smart and confident and just cynical enough (as she would need to be as a news reporter). Further, as someone mentioned in another post at this forum, if they had one more year with DCAU Superman, a lot more was going to happen in that series. Characters in a good story, just like a real person, have to grow and develop over time. If the series had continued, we might have seen Lois soften some in her relationship with Superman/Clark. Finally, while I don't think Erica Durance is the definitive Lois either, I really liked her portrayal of a young Lois in Smallville too.

[Kara Zor El]

Courtney Cox of course.;)

[shyguy]

I like the DCAU Lois a lot, too.

I've also found myself liking Lois a lot recently. Gail Simone did a very nice job with her in her Action Comics run.

I will say that the fashion sense of the Lois of the 40's and 50's can't be beat, though

[Brian "Vash" Ashby]

Lois in smallville is unquestionably the worst for me. Doesnt feel like lois to me

Would be a cool character if she wasnt named Lois


My favorite Loisii are the Teri Hatcher version and the version from that really old like 1930s 40s cartoon

[Metamorpho]

My favorite Lois is Phyllis Coates from the old Superman TV show, she was a dead on Golden Age Lois. Tough as nails.

[J. Robb]

My favorite Lois is Phyllis Coates from the old Superman TV show, she was a dead on Golden Age Lois. Tough as nails.
I think that's my answer as well, she was great.

[Eliseu Gouveia]

I liked Kidder´s Lois the best, despite the smoking.

Hatcher was too pretty for Lois, she looked like a top model impersonating a reporter.

Smallville´s Lois is just plain awfull, worst of them all . Hot she may be but Lois she is definitely not. Chloe is SO much better in that role!

[Trademark]

My favorite versions are the Joan Alexander version from the radio show and the Kurt Schaffenberger version, best remembered today for the SuperDickery covers.

[dancj]

Margot Kidder is the best.

Smallville's is the worst

[Roger Stern]

http://www.offersdirect.net/images/his-girl-friday.jpg

...plus, put a pair of glasses on Grant, and you have Clark.

-- Uncle Rog

[Harding Prime]

I'll like a combonation of the new Lois since Birthright and the Smallville Lois. They both kinda have a Mary-Jane Watson feel to me. I like the independence and not the helplessness.

[Brian "Vash" Ashby]

Although i know i shouldnt, a part of me must say

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g75/TheHuzzah/agin.jpg

[Pinnacle]

I would have loved to see Natalie Portman take over the role in Superman Returns. I loved Kate Bosworth's look but I didn't like the character. I never really liked the Kidder version and I've heard that those who do like that version were not to keen for Bosworth either.

I like Allison Mack as Chloe Sullivan and I think that with the right character adjustments her character is probably the best Lois ever.

DCAU Lois was also great.

Above all, Lois should be a very intelligent woman that you believe is a worldclass reporter who is also very beautiful.

In fact, if Rory Gilmore (the character not Alexis Bledel) was raised by a neocon General I think she would grow up to be the perfect fit.

[Harding Prime]

Yeah, a Smallville Lois Chloe combo would be on the money. But still the latest comic book Lois has been done very well.

[marshal99]

The thing with Lois , she doesn't have any defining visual characteristics. Her appearances in the comics differs from artist to artist. With Mary Jane in spider-man , you can always recognise her because of her red hair and dimples in her cheeks irregardless of artists. With Lois , it's harder to define.

[alabama assassin]

erica durance minus the sexual tones they give her lois.

[Nefarius]

Although i know i shouldnt, a part of me must say

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g75/TheHuzzah/agin.jpg

It's true,it's true.....

[glennsim]

Just to be obscure:

My personal favorite Lois is the one from the later issues of Superman Family and the back-ups in the subsequent Supergirl series.

She was gorgeous and you believed she could get the bottom of the story, but she did it without having to be this "tough chick".

She was nice enough to actually call Clark "Clark", instead of giving him a silly "Smallville" nickname. But she was tough enough to learn Kryptonian martial arts...

[devildinosaur]

Margot Kidder...no one else comes close. And that goes for Kate Bosworth, too...all 12 years old of her. ;)

[malephoenix]

And that goes for Kate Bosworth, too...all 12 years old of her. ;)

That was seven flavors of perfectly stated.




(My personal favorite has to go to DCAU Lois, though.)

[devildinosaur]

That was seven flavors of perfectly stated.




(My personal favorite has to go to DCAU Lois, though.)

Yeah, Bosworth was just all wrong...too young, wrong hair color, too short...you name it. She did, however, act very well in "Returns"...at least I think so.

[jeangreydp]

Best Lois?

Well, if we throw comics versions into the equation I'll pick any version of Lois post 1985 over any actress that has ever portrayed her.

I really dig Kidder's depiction- but those movies are so silver age that I consider them a differnt category entirely.

I'm only 23 so I've always only read modern age comics.

So for modern Lois actresses we've got

Teri Hatcher: Loved her all 4 seasons of L&C. But truthfully, she was only a good Lois for the first 2 seasons.

Dana Delany: I love her sarcastic voice, but she's just a voice so I don't think I'd choose her.

Erica Durance: She's not fully developed Lois yet, but she's on her way. And so far I'm loving the hell out of her.

Kate Bosworth: Oh god. Worst ever.

I take Lois Lane very seriously. She's been my hero since I started reading so I'm always very critical of any actress portraying her and right now I think I'm leaning toward Erica Durance when she's written properly. *See Prototype for more*

But Chloe is Chloe. She's so far from Lois. Seriously. I love her, but... not even close guys.

[Brian "Vash" Ashby]

I always thought Sela Ward would have made a pitch perfect Lois.

To me Lois needs to be about 5-10 years older than clark. I dont know what their ages are in the books in relation to each other, but she needs to be his senior by a span.

[chriskenny]

In this order:

1. Richard Donner film version
2. Bruce Timm cartoon version
3. Max Fleischer cartoon version

[CapFan]

http://www.offersdirect.net/images/his-girl-friday.jpg

...plus, put a pair of glasses on Grant, and you have Clark.

-- Uncle Rog

Amazing how that works.

[Bo-Man]

The Golden Age Lois or the Phyllis Coates Lois. Both tough and to me both the best.

[Azrael52]

Mine would have to be Jeph Loeb's lois and Terry Hatcher's, too.

[Dr. Drake Ramoray]

Erica Durance has really been growing on me during the last two seasons of Smallville, and without giving anything away, I think she'll only improve next season.

[Heraclevs]

Teri Hatcher


- Romans 9

[Brian "Vash" Ashby]

Erica Durance has really been growing on me during the last two seasons of Smallville, and without giving anything away, I think she'll only improve next season.

Depends on how many barn doors nearly hit her.

[Harding Prime]

Something new to add. Erica Durance's Abs are my favorite.