Lois Lane No. 106: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane number 106 was published by DC Comics in November of 1970. The cover features art by Curt Swan and Murphy Anderson that depicts the white Lois Lane stepping into Superman’s Plastimold machine and stepping out as a black woman. The 36 page issue sold for 15 cents and features the Lois Lane story “I am Curious (Black)!” and the Rose and Thorn story “Where Do You Plant a Thorn?” The issue explored race relations in Metropolis as Lois transform into a black woman to write a story about “Little Africa.” Her new skin color changes society’s perception of her, and she realizes the struggle of everyday life as a minority.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1970-11
• author: Kanigher, Robert
• artist: Roth, Werner
• artist: Colletta, Vince
• publisher: National Periodical Publications, Inc.
• maker: National Periodical Publications, Inc.
• maker: Action Comics
• Object Name: comic book
• Physical Description: paper (overall material)
• Physical Description: ink (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 10 in x 6 1/2 in; 25.4 cm x 16.51 cm
• place made: United States: New York, New York City
• Subject: Superman
• Subject: Comics
• Subject: African American
• ID Number: 1988.3095.23
• catalog number: 1988.3095.23
• nonaccession number: 1988.3095
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.