Writing for the Nashua, N.H., Telegraph, Jen O’Callaghan and Sandy Bucknam debate one of the most important issues of our times: Which superhero girlfriend is cooler — Lois Lane or Mary Jane Watson?
Aside from that teeny, tiny flaw of not being able to place the bespectacled Clark Kent as her Man of Steel, Lois embodies so much of what I aspire to – a strong, independent woman with talent, intelligence, wit and ambition.
From what I’ve gathered from the “Spider-Man” films and a cursory search of the Internet, M.J. is a moderately successful actress and highly successful fashion model. She puts up a front as a party girl and famously told Parker on their first face-to-face meeting in “Amazing Spider-Man” No. 42, “Face it, tiger. . . . you just hit the jackpot!”
Oh, she’s modest, too? I guess Parker really did hit the jackpot.
It’s a tough call if we’re talking about All-Star Superman Lois versus Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane MJ. But if it’s “regular universe” Lois versus “regular universe” MJ … I don’t care.
April 30th, 2007 at 7:24 am
Mary Jane, easily. Take away their husbands and Mary Jane would still be successful, if not more so, while Lois would be in a grave.
April 30th, 2007 at 9:00 am
In any universe, MJ > Lois.
April 30th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Erica Durance > Kirsten Dunst
April 30th, 2007 at 11:28 am
But, who would win in a fight between the two?
(also, mary jane is by far the coolest. lois lane is old and busted, mary jane is the new hotness, to borrow a phrase.)
April 30th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
lois lane. i’ve read enough sueprman titles to know lois is a fighter.
April 30th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Lois Lane pwns all.
April 30th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Lois Lane by far.
May 1st, 2007 at 9:54 pm
As originally designed, Lois Lane, easily. She was patterned after the tough “girl reporters” of the thirties and forties (for a perfect example, watch Rosalind Russell as Hildy Johnson in “His Girl Friday,” public domain DVDs of which can be found at dollar stores). The Golden Age Lois takes no bull from anyone and pursues the story, regardless of risk.
In the Silver Age, when women’s roles became more suburban and restricted (”become a housewife and mother; leave work to the male breadwinner!”), Lois mutated into a more man-crazy (or, should we say, Superman-crazy) character, one whose goal was seemingly more to become the wife of the Man of Steel rather than her work. It wasn’t until recent decades that Lois reverted to her more feminist, classic self.
Mary Jane beats the Silver Age Lois, but against the others, it’s no contest — Ms. Lane wins.
May 1st, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Hey, I don’t know, what about….both Mary Jane Watson and Lois Lane?
As much as I love reading praise for my long-standing beloved MJ *and* Lois Lane, whom I am becoming very fond of the more DC comics I read, it really irks me that I have to see criticism of one mixed in with praise for the other. Of course, picking apart characters is what we do in fandom and there’s always a place for that kind of deconstruction. But to do it in order to leave one female character left standing? That bothers me.
But I’m probably reading this the wrong way and should just go off and imagine a well-written team-up of MJ and Lois that involves both of the resilient women using their professionalism, strength, and sense of humor for great justice!
July 9th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Gotta agree with Vincent modern Lois and original Lois win by a landslide. As far as the silver age goes though…well we all have a few bad years now and again.