This blog's reader, who also happens to be a collector of vintage comics, came across this little gem that many of you may enjoy as lady-to-maid fans. It's from a 1964 issue of the Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane and, as you can see from the cover, has Lois Lane assume the role of Cinderella. She's then forced to experience life as a humiliated house servant (but does get to go the ball too!).This being an 1960s DC comics the downgrade themes are obviously very light and reminded me slightly of British girl comics from the same period that featured numerous stories of lady/maid swaps (all ending happily, of course).
In this particular comic book, Superman agrees to tell Lois his real identity only if she completed a challenge: they will travel to three time periods and in each one Superman will disguise as someone. If Lois Lane guesses who he is, he will reveal his identity to her. In one of the time periods Lois finds herself as Cinderella. Superman tears up her clothes and puts her with a step mother who punishes her for having run away. Needless to say, her step sisters appear shortly to tease her. Like in the original fairytale, she eventually goes to the ball but at midnight her gown turns into rags (see scans below).
Thanks, I love Superman!
ReplyDeleteAtleast you posted something..
ReplyDeleteI think Superman is pushing his luck, he is hardly the greatest catch, Mr Haute couture he is not, what with him wearing his underpants outside of his clothes, and then not even giving the dear lady his real name, that is not the actions of a gentleman.:)
ReplyDeleteI wonder how such a publication would be received by the public today compared to 1964 when it was originally published?
Thank you Camille for this little bit of social history, entwined with a downgrade theme.
I do feel need to say to Chak, that the comment you made "At least you posted something" is inappropriate, Camille and the other fine contributors/authors on lady2maid deserve nothing but praise, i am sure Camille does not need me to stand up for her, however as fan of this site i do feel a strong 'esprit de corps' towards lady2maid and its contributors.
Betsy: You could not be more wrong. Lois does know Superman's real name: She knows Clark Kent - which is his real name. (she just doesn't know that Superman and Clark Kent are the same person). Superman doesn't reveal his identity for two reasons: Firstly, he is protecting her. If she were to know his identity, and it became known that she knew, she could become the target of his enemies wanting to find out themselves. Secondly, Superman wants Lois to fall in love with him as Clark Kent, the human being that he is, not as Superman.
DeleteAlso, Superman's uniform is an imitation of the kind of costume worn by circus strong-men in the early twentieth century. His costume is merely old fashioned, (not surprising since Superman comics were first published over 80 years ago!), not lewd or provocative.
To be honest,Clark Kent is an alias,a misrepresentation of his real self.
DeleteFalling in love with Clark is being conned.
Yeah i wrote that comment because how much i love this site and camille's work. This site used to have two three stories going parallel day by day not long ago with a addition of a newsletter and now it's like she given up this site 😞😞😞😞 i hope it's not the case as i very much love her work and this site
ReplyDeleteThe things they put Lois Lane through back then, and the way her character was written, seem pretty misogynistic today. I the "they meant well, but it turned out weird and awkward" department, the time Lois had Superman turn her into an African-American probably wins the prize. I can't remember if they ever made Lois an actual maid though.
ReplyDelete