#investigating lois lane: the turbulent history of the daily planet’s ace reporter

[laufire]

march reading meme!

BOOKS

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle. Letters from Watson sent this from January to March, alongside a couple of other shorts ("The Field Bazaar" and "The Man with the Watches"). An interesting thing about it is that Sherlock was portrayed as somewhat bitter on the issue of credit (he does all the work, subpar investigators take underserved glory), while he's usually, in both ACD's later works and adaptations, portrayed as ~above such feelings. "The Field Bazaar" was interesting in that, in describing why Watson is a good "foil" for Sherlock's smarts in the books, actually illuminates why I think the smart investigator/fumbling idiot dynamic just. Fucking sucks for me lol. I don't get a kick out of it, I much prefer when they pair two investigator of different talents and portray those as both interesting and helpful in their investigations.

Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet's Ace Reporter by Tim Hanley. Amazing read. It takes you through the history of the character, often looking at it through the lense of real-life issues and movements, getting into the different eras, adaptations, etc. It's giving me a lot to think about, both within the dc fandom and outside it.

Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. This one I also read in substack newsletters, going for about a year, the last one being sent in March. It was a reread, and I maintain it's a book everyone should at least try to read. Inferno is by far my favourite part (the theology lessons in Paradise grate on me, in comparison).

Batman: The Ultimate Evil by Andrew Vachss. This book was written by a crime fiction author and attorney that specialices in representing children and in child abuse cases, who was approached by DC to write a book featuring Batman facing child sex trafficking. In the book, Bruce ends up discovering that his mother, Martha Wayne, was a sociologist who was investigating a child molester ring, and that's what caused their deaths. That's what caught my eye first, because really, how many canons give any weight and importance to Martha? If they opt to make the Wayne murders a conspiracy, it's always about Thomas's actions. I also appreciated that, even though the author clearly had to follow some dc-mandated lines (fictional country, individual villain), he practically hits you with a hammer when it comes to dispel a lot of the myths we have about child molesters and how they operate, specifically to challenge those dc-mandated lines. I wish we'd seen more of the social worker character, but I liked her as it was.

Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata. I picked this novella exclusively for vibes and not plot, and it's what it gave me. It's also made me think a lot about how men see women, and how through their eyes our selves are twisted. Komako and Yoko are fascinating characters in part for how inescrutable the male lead finds them and how he might be misunderstanding them. There's so, so much hinted under the surface, about their persons and about their relationship.

The Lady Astronaut of Mars by Mary Robinette Kowal. Short novelette I picked on a whim. A 60+ yo astronaut is offered a chance to travel to space again, her dream come true. She has to choose between taking it, or staying with her ailing husband, who has little time left. The story apparently later expanded on some novels/prequels, I might pick them up.

COMICS

Secret Origins 80-Page Giant. I picked this one up for Steph's story (I'm going through her comic arcs), but ended up reading all the others. It's cemented my desire to pick up the Young Justice comics. These teens are sooooo chaotic and fun lmao, all of them (back then) with such weird and interesting backstories.

Lois Lane (1986). A two-part issue that shows Lois getting in deep in an investigation about child abductions. It's gets gruesome and heavy at times, but it's a great read, specially for her character. It shows Lois at a moment that the mainline comics seem to have ignored (she missed out on a great professional opportunity due to Superman), and it shows how obsessive she gets and how that is what makes her a great investigator and reporter. I also liked the glimpse at the dynamic between her and her sister Lucy there, how dismissive Lois was of Lucy's stewardess' job, for example.

DC First: Batgirl/Joker. I don't like it as much as the early-Batgirl (2000) run but it's kind of on that vein. Barbara tells Cass about her first encounter with the Joker, and Cass is determined to prove herself against him. I loved the art as well (very different than in the cover).

#reading meme #books #comics #dc comics #my thoughts #dc thoughts #id in alt text #captioned #lois lane #investigating lois lane: the turbulent history of the daily planet’s ace reporter #divine comedy #arthur conan doyle #batman: the ultimate evil #snow country #the lady astronaut of mars #secret origins 80 page giant #lois lane (1986) #dc first: batgirl/joker

[dragonomatopoeia]

Working Bibliography

This is a (currently incomplete) inventory of the sources I'm pulling from when researching material for Counter/Feint. It will be divided into three sections: General References (for things like sewage treatment, state laws, tax codes, white collar crime, etc), Original Media (for comics, episodes, movies etc), and In-Line References/Allusions (for when a character's narration makes a literary allusion, uses jargon, or directly quotes a line from part of the source material)

some of them will be in MLA format and some won't because i am prone to arbitrary whims

General References

“A Fix for Combined Sewers — The Cost of Cleanliness.” PBS, 8 June 2022, https://www.pbs.org/show/a-fix-for-combined-sewers-the-cost-of-cleanliness/. Accessed 5 Sept. 2022.

Collins, Chuck. The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions to Hide Trillions. Polity, 2021.

Delaware's Regulatory Provisions Concerning Public Health

Delaware Solid Waste Auth. v. News-Journal Co., 480 A.2d 628 (Del. 1984)

Hanley, Tim. Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet's Ace Reporter. Chicago Review Press, 2016.

Houston, Brant, et al. The Investigative Reporter's Handbook: A Guide to Documents, Databases and Techniques. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002.

Kurkjian, Stephen A. Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled off the World's Greatest Art Heist. Public Affairs, 2016.

Kent County, Delaware's Sewer Regulations

Michel, Casey. American Kleptocracy: How the U.S. Created the Greatest Money-Laundering Scheme in History. Scribe, 2021.

Murphy, Jarrett. “Through Illegal Pipes and Improper Dumping, Homes and Businesses Pollute NYC Waterways.” City Limits, 17 Jan. 2018, https://citylimits.org/2018/01/16/in-unknown-numbers-and-often-unwittingly-homes-and-businesses-pollute-city-waterways/.

Planet Princeton's award-winning series of investigative pieces on the Princeton Sewer Operating Plant bribery case, including this piece: https://planetprinceton.com/2020/03/08/state-fined-municipality-of-princeton-35000-for-operating-illegal-dump-at-sewer-facility/

Ritter, Roy H. “The Wilmington, Delaware Sewerage System.” Sewage and Industrial Wastes, vol. 28, no. 5, 1956, pp. 644–50. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25033068. Accessed 5 Aug. 2022.

Original Media

Superman: The Animated Series- "World's Finest" - This one started the whole exercise because I thought it was hysterical that Lois had dated Bruce/ found out he was Batman WAY before she learnt anything about Superman's identity. Hilarious.

Superman: TAS- "The Late Mr. Kent"- This one's important to me and my characterization of Clark for about one million separate reasons

Batman: TAS- All of it

Batman #177- notable for Bruce Wayne's love of cubist expressionism and also the character of Roy Rennie who shows up here and never again. He wants to be the Alfred Foundation's publicist so, so, so bad. I have realized his dream

chapter 2 edit: this is also where the Lathrop Gallery comes from! In the comics, the Lathrop Gallery received an endowment from the Alfred foundation

Fraction, Matt, et al. Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen? DC Comics, 2020.- This is in MLA again because it's physically in front of me. It has a profound impact on my characterization, especially Lois's. Her disdain for conspiracy theories and insistence on using the term 'sociogram' over 'conspiracy board' comes from this. It's also the origin of Janie Olsen

Superboy (1949)- I think it's funny to pick and choose elements from this and incorporate it into Clark's backstory arbitrarily. I also think it's funny that I first wrote the line about Clark wanting to kiss Superman if he hadn't BEEN superman before i started reading Superboy because guess what. He forgets he's superboy constantly. and what does he immediately do. Start sighing over superboy. I am SO good at comics

Superboy #85- Especially notable for the appearance of Mightyboy! "Who is Mightyboy?" you might ask. As well you should, since he appeared once in 1960 and never again. However!!!! This is a surprise tool which will help us later because he lives in my brain and also Clark's backstory

World's Finest #285-288- There's just. A lot to unpack here. But I sure have incorporated it into characterization and quirks! Still undecided on if I want Clark to have super hypnosis or not because I think it would be characterful for him to have it and not use it. and also it's extremely stupid as a concept and i love stupid. but also i hate hypnosis

World's Finest #84- Spoiler for the fic, but this premise was so hilarious to me that I immediately decided to replicate it, but with a twist that is typical of my ethos: making bruce step directly onto a rake

Ironically enough, a similar story was presented in Adventure Comics #275, but again. It does not make Bruce step on enough rakes for my taste. Still works as inspiration though!

Superman Annual #11- For the man who has everything. I love this one so so so so much. It greatly informs my understanding and portrayal of Superman, but also it's just a really tight narrative. Also!!! Jason Robin is there!!! Every day I regret placing this fic on a timeline that doesn't align with Jason making an appearance. Lad of all time.

Also important from Superman Annual #11 is the imagery of Batman pathetically presenting a designer rose he had commissioned special for his boy bestie, only for it to be crushed underfoot in the wake of a battle. now there's some symbolism. there's some pathos. there's some grade a pathetic bruce-isms.

Yang, Gene Luen, and Janice Chiang. Superman Smashes the Klan: The Graphic Novel. DC Comics, 2020. - Absolutely phenomenal work that digs into the diaspora elements of Superman's narrative and grapples with The American Ideal, racism, and what it means to stand for your community against violent bigotry. Also the art is soooo charming. I reference this one a bunch because I love it. It's got everything I love about Superman

There's way more to add but I'm tired and this is a working bibliography. I promise more will come

In-Line References/Allusions

Because comics are the way they are, I wanted to make this fic feel like it existed in a bunch of overlapping time periods all at once.

This means that instead of refraining from making references to broader pop culture like I do with other fics, I'm leaning into them instead. Therefore, some of these are going to be deliberate references that I thought would be characterful. Especially since Lois and Clark are reporters, and Jimmy and Bruce went to fancy schools for fancy little lads

"You're killing me, Smalls"- A famous line from The Sandlot (1993). I am unable to resist the pull of low-hanging fruit

"he could always depend on the kindness of strangers"- semi-ironic deployment of a line from A Streetcar Named Desire. on one hand, Clark genuinely trusts in and relies on mankind's desire to do right by each other. on the other, he thinks bruce wayne is a complete and utter tool here. he's being a bit tongue in cheek about how he's relying on a jackass to help him out

"the pale blue light of a sympathetic moon" is from The Drowsy Chaperone. It's such an evocative phrase. I think Clark would enjoy musicals

"Saint Laurent"- Listen. I read fashion blogs for this. I asked my friends who lose their minds over fashion on the regular. I looked through ready to wear collections and slide shows. And while I want to have faith in the Bruce Wayne that lives in my head and nowhere else, I understand that the search for an ethical designer label is a fruitless one. All I can do is say "in this universe, YSL was never acquired by Gucci, and yet it still, inexpicably, has the insufferable ready to wear collection that includes the ugly fucking gentrified rodeo wear."

also a lot of the outfits look like they're designed for haunted little victorian boys. which. [gestures at him]

"Dorothy [...] you're not in Kansas anymore"- I think this one's obvious, but it's a Wizard of Oz reference

“Is there a ‘c’ in ‘absence’?”- Lois's habit of frequently misspelling words comes up in a lot of adaptations and runs, and I think it's incredibly charming

"There better be a thirty on your buyback piece!"- Traditionally, -30- marks the end of copy that's been submitted for editing

Backfielding- Another term for conducting line edits

Ron Troupe- Political analyst for the daily planet. In comics, he was introduced RIGHT before Superman died but I'm playing calvinball here and I like him :) so

Adam Grant- Cat's son! I'm not killing him off, unlike the comics. There's a lot re: The Toyman where i'm just. y'know. i'm just not gonna. look. at whatever's going on there. So it goes with comics

"the gentle way the strongman had spoken to him, telling him about the disarming power of a silly costume, the way performance became its own kind of strength"- referencing a sequence from Superman Smashes the Klan. This will not be the last time

Lan-Shin Lee- For instance, Lan-Shin is from Superman Smashes the Klan! At the end of the original work, she becomes a cub reporter

Carmine Falcone- I still have never read a frank miller comic and you can't make me. but i will steal the occasional character. for flavor. anyway he's either one of the biggest or the biggest ringleader of organized crime in Gotham, depending on the run and adaptation

“While discontinuous in action, perceived surveillance—”- Bruce is paraphrasing a bit of Discipline & Punish here, specifically the part about panopticism

“Have you tried committing a felony?”- This line comes directly from the World's Finest episodes of Superman: the animated series that first inspired this fic

Superman Signal Watch- this one's a classic. As seen in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, the watch works just as the fic describes

#there was a sewer man #air's dabbles

[loisfreakinglane]

tagged IN THEORY by @novasforce

Relationship Status: single

Favorite Color: PINK

Favorite Food: rn blueberry waffle ice cream is my siren song

Song stuck in my head: a complete list of fears age 5-28 aprox by the yellow dress

Last thing I googled: aqua marina puppet

Dream trip: to see my mom in oz

Something I want: blueberry waffle ice cream, obvsly

Currently reading: investigating lois lane THE TURBULENT HISTORY OF THE DAILY PLANETS ACE REPORTER

Last Song: alexander in charge by tub ring

Last Series: watched the terrible roswell xmas episode w my girlie. also in the midst of the last movie stars w my oTHER girlies

Last Movie: reign of the superman- last in theaters movie was marcel the shell with shoes on

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: savory

Currently working on: making random ass tier lists bc why not

Time: 1:30 pm

and i will tag! @nikita-mearss @bluetiefling @mermaidsirennikita @saint-cecilias @katesharmasheart OR WHOEVER ELSE WANTS TO DO IT

#personal

[fyeahbatcat]

For more than 75 years, Catwoman has forged her own path in a clear-cut world of stalwart heroes, diabolical villains and damsels in distress. Sometimes a thief, sometimes a vigilante, sometimes neither and sometimes both, the mercurial Catwoman gleefully defies classification. Her relentless independence across comic books, television and film appearances set her apart from the rest of the superhero world. When female characters were limited to little more than romantic roles, Catwoman used her feminine wiles to manipulate Batman and escape justice at every turn. When male villains dominated Gotham on the small screen, Catwoman entered the mix and outshone them all. When female-led comics were few and far between, Catwoman headlined her own series for over 20 years. 

True to her nature, Catwoman stole the show everywhere she appeared, regardless of the medium. But her unique path had its downsides as well. Her existence on the periphery of the superhero world made her expendable, and she was prone to lengthy absences. Her villainous origins also made her susceptible to sexualized and degrading depictions from her primarily male creators in ways that most conventional heroines didn't face. Exploring the many incarnations of this cultural icon offers a new perspective on the superhero genre and showcases the fierce resiliency that has made Catwoman a fan favorite for decades. 

The Many Lives of Catwoman: The Felonious History of a Feline Fatale by Tim Hanley is available online and in retailers now. 

Also check out Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet’s Ace Reporter and Wonder Woman Unbound: The Curious History of the World’s Most Famous Heroine. 

#catwoman #Selina Kyle #the many lives of catwoman #tim hanley

[faleronofkingsreach]

The Books I Read in 2016

This the annual list of everything I read in a year. This wasn’t a particularly productive year; I only read 52 books. There’s fiction and non-fiction, adult, YA, and middle grade books (I also read a lot of picture books, but I didn’t keep track of them). My top ten books of the year are bolded below.

Soundless - Richelle Mead

Pairing Off (Red Hot Russians) - Elizabeth Harmon

The Score (Off-Campus) - Elle Kennedy

Come on Closer (Harvest Cove) - Kendra Leigh Castle

Proposal (The Mediator) - Meg Cabot

The Aubrey Rules (Chicago on Ice) - Aven Ellis

We are the Ants - Shaun David Hutchinson

Allie, First at Last - Angela Cervantes

Call the Midwife: A True Story of the East End in the 1950s - Jennifer Worth

Calling It - Jen Doyle

Getting in Back (Red Hot Russians) - Elizabeth Harmon

Mutt’s Promise - Julie Salamon

A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls - Jessica Spotswood (Editor)

Of Mice and Magic (Hamster Princess) - Ursula Vernon

We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler - Russell Freedman

Tru & Nelle - G. Neri

Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps - Kelly Williams Brown

Graduates in Wonderland: The International Misadventures of Two (Almost) Adults - Jessica Pan & Rachel Kapelke-Dale

Play On (Lewis Creek) - Michelle Smith

Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet’s Ace Reporter - Tim Hanley

Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories - Stephanie Parkins (Editor)

Game On (Lewis Creek) - Michelle Smith

Once Upon a Wine (Black Dog Bay) - Beth Kendrick

The Crown’s Game - Evelyn Skye

A School for Unusual Girls (Stranje House) - Kathleen Baldwin

Fresh Romance Vol. 1 - various

Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass) - Sarah J. Maas

Exile for Dreamers (Stranje House) - Kathleen Baldwin

F is for France: A Curious Cabinet of French Wonders - Piu Marie Eatwell

Rad Women Worldwide: Artist and Athletes, Pirates and Punks, and Other Revolutionaries Who Shaped History - Kate Schatz

A Little More Love (Harvest Cove) - Kendra Leigh Castle

Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists - J.K. Rowling

Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide - J.K. Rowling

Short Stories from Hogwarts or Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies - J.K. Rowling

The Curated Closet: A Simple System for Discovering Your Personal Style and Building Your Dream Wardrobe - Anuschka Rees

Frosted - Wendy Sparrow

American Afterlife: Encounters in the Customs of Mourning - Kate Sweeney

The Secret Horses of Briar Hill - Megan Shepherd

Infinity (The Infinity Division) - Jus Accardo

Two Naomis - Olugbemisola Ruday-Perkovich & Audrey Vernick

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs

The Infinity Year of Avalon James - Dana Middleton

Rangers vs. Islanders: Denis Potvin, Mark Messier, and Everything Else You Wanted to Know about New York’s Greatest Hockey Rivalry - Stan Fischler

The Boy is Back - Meg Cabot

Finding Wonder - Three Girls Who Changed Science - Jeannine Atkins

Mayday - Karen Harrington

One Snowy Night (Heartbreaker Bay) - Jill Shalvis

The Poet’s Dog - Patricia MacLachlan

Maybe a Fox - Kathi Appelt

Wolf Hollow - Lauren Wolk

Pax - Sara Pennypacker

Been Here All Along - Sandy Hall

Bonus Mention: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, which was published in 2016, but I just finished yesterday. Amazing book.

#books #tumblarians #self #2016

[laufire]

ch. 8 of "investigating lois lane" talks about the period of months following superman's death and it's making me want to entertain a story where superman stayed dead, just the same way I often think about that re: batman in the late 00s era.

#me: people saying it'd objectively better if jason remained dead it's such a tired take #also me: #(and i'm right. btw. superman and batman are a whole other thing) #(and jason's death was never about him) #(and yeah obviously it could never happen in mainstream comics that's fine) #(but elseworld writers AND fic writers should get a little more irreverent about it. just saying) #anyway yeah i need to read all of that for her #talking to the void #my thoughts #dc thoughts #dc #dc comics #investigating lois lane #investigating lois lane: the turbulent history of the daily planet's ace reporter #lois lane #superman #clark kent #bruce wayne #batman

[laufire]

Lois’s constant adversary throughout the decades was Superman. When Superman wasn���t around, she got to be the hero and she excelled at it, from “Lois Lane, Girl Reporter” to “The Death of Superman”. On her own, Lois is a fascinating character who fulfills the typical superhero narrative of fighting evil and catching bad guys, without the need for superpowers. Yet even in her self-titled series, almost every story revolved around Superman. While he was good for a front page scoop here and there, he was also a regular source of tears and frustration for Lois. He stole her stories, he embarrassed her, and he monopolized her time. In short, Superman is the worst thing to ever happen to Lois Lane. At the same time, he’s also the reason she exists. Lois was created to be a supporting character for the Man of Steel, and almost every comic book and adaptation that she’s appeared in bears his name in some capacity. There would be no Lois Lane without Superman. The same is true for most female characters in superhero comic books: they are primarily adjuncts to the stories of male heroes. This imbalance is not unique to superheroes. Throughout soci- ety, both in the real world and in entertainment, men’s narratives are dominant. They are disproportionately represented at all major levels, and their stories monopolize the public discourse. This doesn’t mean that women’s stories aren’t there, but they are more rare and have to be sought out. Even then, one often must dig through a lot of bad to find the good.

"Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of The Daily Planet's Ace Reporter" by Tim Hanley.

#talking to the void #quotes #books #bookblr #dc #dc comics #lois lane #superman #investigating lois lane #investigating lois lane: the turbulent history of the daily planet's ace reporter #tim hanley #female characters #the writing tm

[laufire]

"investigating lois lane", so far

chapters 1 & 2: here's a detailed examination of the writing for the characters at the early stages, with a focus into the evolution of her professional career and the stregth of her character.

chapters 1 (a) and 2 (a): and here (with a lot of tact) are the sordid tales of love, betrayal and death about the writers, illustrators, and actors involved in the making of superman and lois lane.

#every line of this post is a compliment btw. #it's a really engaging book. i almost don't want to put it down but i plan to pace myself #talking to the void #my thoughts #books #bookblr #tim hanley #investigating lois lane #investigating lois lane: the turbulent history of the daily planet's ace reporter #lois lane #george reeves' story's heartbreaking man

[laufire]

I was tagged by @aninkwellofnectar (ty! <3)

3 ships you like: just to name ones living rent free in my head rn: Beth x Addy x Colette, triangle of all time (Dare Me); Cass x Barbara (DCU); Michael/Nikita (CW's Nikita).

First ship ever: Cole/Phoebe in Charmed was probably my first shipping experience lmao.

Last song you heard: Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve played last.

Favourite childhood book: The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman <- yeah I'm just living that there lol.

Currently reading: "Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet's Ace Reporter", a non-fiction book about the history of the character. Yeeah, I'm now reading non-fiction about detective comics comics, too... but I'm only a few chapters in and it's such an interesting historical perspective (even if the section about corporal punishment made me see fucking red).

I'm also still following a couple of newsletters, like Letters from Watson (Sherlock Holmes long novels) or Divine Comedy (which ends this month), rereading Camilla Andrew's "We Will Devour the Night" via her ko-fi (ditto), and of course, slowly reading a bunch of actual comics (Batgirl 2000, Green Arrow 2001, Outsiders 2003, RHATO v2/rebirth!Jason, or War Games, among others).

Currently watching: Superman: The Animated Series/the DCAU in order, plus the stacked100 rewatch. And I took a detour and rewatched some key scenes from Nikita, as one does.

Currently consuming: I made tuna pastries for dinner today.

Current craving: nothing after I got my tuna pastries.

I'm tagging (no pressure!) @thecruellestmonth @mockerd3light @staliaofatreides @bombshellsandbluebells @bellamygate @faintingheroine and whoever feels up for it!

#tag game #talking to the void #my thoughts #dc

[laufire]

Joan Alexander debuted in June 1940 as the third voice for Lois [in The Adventures of Superman radio show]. [...] Alexander had to fight to keep her job, but she was clever. When the show’s director, Robert Maxwell, fired her early in her run, Alexander bought a wig to disguise herself and showed up at the audition for her replacement. The producers unknowingly rehired her, and she remained a fixture on the show for the next decade.

– Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet's Ace Reporter, Tim Hanley.

#incredible #books #bookblr #lois lane #tim hanley #dc #dc comics #joan alexander #quotes #laugh tag

[laufire]

I finally got around starting "Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet's Ace Reporter", by Tim Hanley (I've wanted to read his non-fiction DC books for years). just the first chapter for now. I didn't expect to walk from it craving a period piece set in the original setting (late 30s-early 40s) where a female journalist crawls up from her sob sister newspaper position to get her prized cover, full of ambition and grit and resolve in the face of an appallingly hostile workplace... but he'll if that's not what I want to write now

#in original or fic form. irrelevant. i just want that setting #also the chapter included a section on the real life love triangle drama with the creators and their proto lois model and. omfg #i vaguely remember hearing something about it (and ofc about the illustrator's foray into fetiche art) but. damn. #talking to the void #my thoughts #dc #dc thoughts #writing woes #lois lane #tim hanley #it's been a supes day actually. i rewatched stas pilot #so so great. krypton's last days always get to me