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2003 Comic Book News Archives

August 24, 2003: Greg Rucka on Lois and Clark

With the news of the new teams set to come on board the Superman comic books in 2004, interviews are springing up all over the place with the new creative team members. Comic Book Resources caught up with Greg Rucka, the writer who will be taking over "The Adventures of Superman" comic book title, and asked him what his plans are and what his take on Lois Lane is. Here's an excerpt from the interview...

Of course, the Superman mythos isn't complete without Lois Lane, the wife of Clark Kent, and while it's true that certain creators and fans aren't enamored with her, Rucka says he sees her as an indispensable part of what he's doing in "Adventures of Superman." "I'm not in the 'gold-digger bitch' camp. I think Lois is amazing and it comes down to portrayal. She's the woman that Superman falls in love with- think about who that woman has to be. It's not the most beautiful person in the world, but that's somebody who can so shake his view and once again - I have to quote Waid - and 'surprise' Superman. This is a man who can fly around the planet and for Lois to do or say something that sets him on his ear - this is a guy who's seen wonders we'll never see and Lois is to him, one of those wonders. The biggest thing that gets me, and one of the reasons that Lois gets tarred with the 'bitch' appellation, is that we assume rightly that Clark would be attracted to a woman who is strong, passionate and capable. But those very positive traits can be portrayed - if you're not careful - as very negative things, especially when issues of gender get involved. It's very easy to go from strong and outspoken woman to 'bitch.' A lot of that's societal, there's a sexism involved that allows that kind of self-confidence can be read as arrogance. Consequently, that's one of the landmines you have to dodge when you work with Lois, but I don't mind - she fascinates me. I actually think that one of the reasons that Lois is there, one of the secret brilliances of Siegel & Schuster's work whether or not it was intentional, is that we see not only as a love interest for Clark, but through Lois we see the wonder of Superman. It's easy to take for granted that bullets bounce off Superman. When Lois sees this as a reporter, she says, 'Wow! Bullets bouncing off him!'"

The marriage between Lois & Clark to this day causes a divide among many Superman fans, not to mention some creators, but Rucka's approach to this union is to make it the best he can and he sees a lot of potential in the relationship. "Well it is what it is, so I won't waste time complaining about it. There are some things I couldn't change even if I wanted to - that's one of them, so it doesn't matter what I think. There's plenty of drama to be told in a relationship without breaking them up. Anyone in a relationship will tell you it's more than just, you know, sugar and roses, or racing home for a 'quickie.' It's more than, 'the bills are piling up, I hate you!' A marriage is hard work. If you're Lois Lane, who is hailed as one of the finest investigative journalists working in the world today (at least in the DCU), and you're married to the man who moonlights as Superman, or the other way around, there's tension in that marriage already. But that doesn't mean the marriage isn't valid or good, or that it should be discounted or removed."

Read the complete interview at the CBR website.

2003 Comic News

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2003 Comic Book News Archives

August 24, 2003: Greg Rucka on Lois and Clark

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