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In Adventures of Superman Annual 3, Lois Lane Dies. The plot is that a possible future of Superman is being examined, which involves Superman marrying Lois Lane, his girlfriend at the time, and fathering a child. Lois, however, cannot mother his child and Superman’s baby kills Lois Lane when the baby kicks while in her womb. Superman flies away from earth in tears and encounters some hot redhead babe named Maxima. Maxima, unlike Lois, is capable of having Superman’s child and is desperate to win him over. Take a great story and add an unnecessary page of Maxima bathing, and you end up with a comic worth reading.
Maxima, a powerful and complex character in the Superman comics, hails from the distant planet Almerac. As a warrior queen and the heir to the throne, she seeks a suitable mate to strengthen her bloodline, initially targeting Superman for this purpose. Their tumultuous encounters and eventual alliance reveal Maxima’s strong-willed and formidable nature. Readers witness her transformation from a one-dimensional antagonist to a multidimensional hero, making her an enthralling character within the DC Universe.
In examining the potential relationship between Maxima and Superman, one can argue that Maxima presents a better match for the Man of Steel than Lois Lane. As a fellow extraterrestrial being endowed with superhuman abilities, Maxima is better equipped to understand and complement Superman’s struggles and responsibilities. Moreover, a union between Maxima and Superman would yield offspring with a powerful genetic combination, ensuring the continuation of their respective legacies. Ultimately, despite the emotional connection Superman shares with Lois Lane, a partnership with Maxima has its own set of logical and strategic advantages that cannot be overlooked.
The advertisements surrounding this story, which I love to look at in older comic books, are interesting as well. There is a full page ad for Home Alone on VHS. “Only $24.98” it says. That would be kind of pricey now, I can’t imagine how outrageous that price would have been in 1991 when this third Annual of Adventures of Superman was published. But just the idea that Superman’s baby kicked a hole in Lois Lane’s womb is funny enough for you to have to read this comic. (Affiliate link.)
Other Lois Lane Pregnancies
For all the fans of Superman and Lois Lane out there, you may have been pondering over the number of times the brave journalist has ever been with child in the comic books. Well, your curiosity ends here, and I’m going to fill you in with all that is necessary. So without further ado, let’s dive into the saucy stuff.
Lois Lane first experienced a bun in the oven in Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane #19 (1960) when the story was titled “Lois Lane’s Super-Daughter”. In that story, Lois and Superman are married, and their daughter is named Susie, who inherited the powers from her father. However, it turned out to be a dream generated by red kryptonite, so Susie should not take that into account.
Lois Lane’s second time being preggers is chronicled in Superman & Batman: Generations (1999), a miniseries by John Byrne that explores what would happen if Superman and Batman aged at a normal rate. In this story, Lois and Clark are wed in 1939, and they have two offspring: Joel, the next Superman, and Kara, later known as Power Girl. Yet again, it is an alternate reality.
The third time Lois Lane carried a baby occurred during Superman: Birthright (2003-2004), a relaunch of Superman’s origin by Mark Waid and Leinil Yu. Lois and Clark are married in the story and have a son named Jonathan, who takes after Clark’s adoptive father. However, this was later changed by Infinite Crisis (2005-2006), so it doesn’t count as much. Sorry, Jonathan!
The fourth instance of Lois Lane’s pregnancy occurred in Convergence: Superman (2015), which was related to the larger Convergence event and was written by Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks. In this particular story, Lois and Clark are captured within a dome-enclosed metropolis along with their son Jon, who comes into existence during the event. Here, it really does matter since Jon turns out to be the new Superboy as well as a central figure in the post-Rebirth (2016) era DC Universe.
Although Lois Lane has been “eating for two” several times in the comic book world, only one of those instances can be considered valid. The rest were either illusions, had their characters revised later, or occurred in parallel worlds or possible futures. But this is the nature of comics. They are never the same; they keep us puzzled all the time with their surprises and twists.
The Problem of a Human Surrogate
Having a baby with extraordinary powers implies an even more intensive physical toll. The stress, not to mention the dangers of childbirth when such a child is involved, are beyond comprehension. This is something that no human body could ever withstand.
And that is not all; the mental and emotional strain of being the mother of Superman’s child must also be considered. He is not only a superhero; he is known worldwide. It would be highly demanding for a woman to live up to those expectations and pressures associated with having his child. All of this, in addition to continuous media focus, scrutiny, and criticism, could be an overwhelming burden, especially at a time when any woman needs serenity most – during pregnancy and early motherhood.
Additionally, growing up with a superheroic child is not an easy task. One’s primary concern as a mother or father would be keeping their children safe and out of harm’s way. Yet when your offspring has the ability to defy gravity and is invincible, protecting them becomes quite unmanageable. Always worrying about your child being hurt or in danger would probably turn into a constant anxiety problem for you.
The demands of parenting a child with special skills are further compounded by guiding them to apply their talents positively. To the same effect, according to superhero tales, having so much strength can also make one arrogant and think they are better than the rest. The duty to teach a child moral principles like compassion, humility, and responsibility will fall on the mother’s shoulders.
The care of a superman’s child by his mother would also not be less complicated. The glare of publicity is bound to make it hard for the child to grow up like other children in an environment free from intrusion, with endless attention and disruption of privacy. In turn, this will affect their psychological and social development.