In my memory, there was a time when
Superman married Lois Lane – actually, one of the many times that
happened during the Silver Age of Comics, where “Imaginary Tales” of their marriage became practically a bimonthly staple.
“Imaginary Tales” were the Silver-Age DC equivalent of their
later “Elseworlds” semi-imprint, whose tag-line – “[H]eroes
are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and
places – some that have existed, or might have existed, and others
that can't, couldn't or shouldn't exist” – would serve here just
as well. The particular story that stood out the most for me was the
cover image of Superman and a raven-haired little girl, clad also in
blue and red, mourning before a tombstone for Lois Lane; Lois
being blinded and Superman crafting an engagement ring out of a nut
when he proposed to her on the spot; a raven-haired teenaged girl
continuing the super-heroic legacy of her father. I would think of
these vivid images from time to time over the years. I'm not going
to try to self-psychoanalyze as to why.
A few
months ago, when I was putting together a back-issue order with an
on-line vendor and was coming up a few dollars shy of the $50 order
threshold to qualify for free shipping, something brought those
images freshly to mind and moved me to explore the wonderful Time Machine at
the website, Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics,
which allows you to view the comics that were on the stands during
any given month. Knowing only the general time frame, most likely
the late 1960s-early 1970s, I stepped my way through the months until
I hit paydirt in the DC Comics cover-dated April 1969. There was that well-remembered cover. A copy of the issue
could be had from my vendor in decent condition for a decent price,
just enough to push me over the $50, and I placed my order.
