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In the media landscape of the modern world, it is very easy to become disillusioned with news reporting and journalists. Plenty of high profile journalism sources have lost their bite and it can feel like they have stopped holding those in power accountable for their actions. Greg Rucka has clearly been affected by this change in the news media, which has bled into the pages of Lois Lane. Lois is a journalist that has not lost her bite, and will speak the truth to power no matter the consequences, and Rucka’s take on the character is both true to her history and incredibly impactful in the modern world.
This issue is structured as a day in the life of Lois Lane. It’s a day that’s more fraught with danger than on average, but it’s one that’s fairly common in the life she currently leads. She’s flooded with the media trying to make a scandal about photographs of her kissing Superman, she spends time with her husband, and she investigates leads on the stories she’s currently writing. Plotwise the issue is fairly decompressed, but Rucka packs it with detail about the world that Lois lives in and about Lois herself.
The way Rucka writes Lois in the face of the attention and scandal around her speaks volumes to who Lois is as a character. The media circus doesn’t faze her in the slightest. She pays absolutely no mind to whatever anyone says about her, tuning it out the same way Superman does. While she admits that it bothers her in private, she is far stronger than whatever anyone can throw at her, and refuses to let them win. Rucka does an excellent job portraying Lois’s strength and resolve through hardship, without any physical threats.
Lois’s interactions with everyone in the book continue to display that same strength and confidence that is integral to her portrayal. She’s kind and loving with her husband, playful with her coworkers, and friendly with her hotel room keeper. Even with a politician that she’s trying to get to agree to schedule a meeting, she’s playful yet firm. She’s never rude or mean to anyone, and she never gets bothered. Rucka’s portrayal of Lois is that of an incredibly strong woman who refuses to let anyone else have power over her, and it’s a delight to read.
Mike Perkins’ art continues to portray the world of Metropolis from the streets. In Superman stories, Metropolis seems clean and perfect, as viewed from a man who can fly. Perkins makes it very clear that while Metropolis might be a good city comparatively, it’s still a city, and still has an amount of dirt and grime everywhere that wouldn’t be visible from above. The windows are stained and streaky, clothes are wrinkled and creased, and there’s just enough shadow to make the setting feel real. It’s ugly at times, but it’s ugly in the way that the real world is ugly, which makes the grounded tone of the writing land even better.
This issue is yet another triumph for both Rucka and Perkins. Lois Lane feels like the journalist that the modern world needs, and it is incredibly gratifying to see someone actively trying to use her platform to speak up. This is an excellent follow up to the stellar debut issue, as both Rucka and Perkins are putting out some of their best work yet.
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