You have to love the 50s. It's easy to mock the era now, but there's an attraction to it. People believed in things then. Admittedly, the things they believed were kind of silly, but there were rules for society. They were pretty invisible to the culture, but they stand out fifty years later. Even an innocuous eight page story from the era can be filled with all sorts of assumptions.

Our tale begins with Lana Lang calling Lois and asking for her help.



What the heck is Lana thinking here? If I wrote a novel that got rejected, I might ask a friend to read it over or hire an agent and see what suggestions they have for different publishers. What I wouldn't do is find out who an ex of mine was currently dating and look him up to get his advice. If she wanted the perspective of a "professional writer," because, you know, being a reporter is the same job as writing a novel, why not ask Clark. Remember Clark Kent? He's the person you were close friends with in Smallville. Why trust a friend, I suppose, when you can get the advice of someone who thinks of you as a rival?

Of course, Lois's reaction is also weird. To be a rival for Superman's affection, it would help to live in the same town as him and occasionally interact with him. She's not really much of a threat to Lois, is she? The best part though is Lois's assumption that Lana would be trying to get advice on getting Superman to propose. Lana's actions are weird enough as it is, but Lois expected even more bizarre behavior. If I wanted to figure out a way to get someone to marry me, I don't think I'd track down their current significant other for advice. Then again, Lois, maybe you better figure out a plan to get the proposal yourself before thinking of yourself as some sort of expert.

Anyway, Lois likes the book enough to give the most obvious advice possible ("Try some other publisher.") and then it's off to Africa. Lois Lane has one of the wackiest beats ever in the history of newspapers. She covers local scandals. She interviews scientists who have invented something bizarre. She reports on Superman's every action. Oh yeah, occasionally she also gets sent to Africa on the Planet's nickel. Unfortunately, they didn't seem to have much luck in choosing airlines:



"The plane's motor starts missing?" Missing what? There's some slang that didn't survive the decades. Notice how the plane only has one parachute; the pilot goes down with the ship.

That's just as well, because Lois lands in a tree. She falls out of it and lands on her head. This being the 50s, she loses her memory. She doesn't get some garden variety amnesia either.



She doesn't just forget her name, she forgets basic facts of life such as the fact that a leopard could easily kill her. Apparently, leopards on Earth One are misunderstood creatures who only want to be friends with people, so Lois is safe.

The peacefulness of the leopard isn't the biggest mystery on this page though. What I want to know is how Lois went from having a skin being dropped on the grass to having a professional looking dress. My only guess is that she carries a sewing kit with her at all times. She might be stranded in the middle of a jungle populated with stereotypes, but she still has to look fashionable.

Meanwhile, back in Metropolis, the rest of the Daily Planet staff has completely forgotten that they sent a reporter to Africa.



I guess if the pilot never got out of his coma, Lois would still be there leading a leopard tribe. Superman though quickly restores her memory. He offers to return her home - everyone seems to have forgotten about her story that cost the Daily Planet so much money - but she refuses. Here's where the story gets interesting.



This looks like a job for SuperPaternalisticMan! Lois didn't ask for you to be around. There's an entire planet out there with crime and disasters and all sorts of stuff, but you're going to spend your time making keeping an eye on your girlfriend because you don't trust her decisions.

What makes things worse is that over the next two pages, Superman is proven right. Lois keeps trying to do things to help out her leopard tribe, but they would all die without Superman's stealth influence. Finally he decided that he's had enough.



Let's get this straight. Lois makes a decision. Superman decides that it's too dangerous for her so he'll help her against her will and knowledge. He gets tired of doing that, so she'll have to leave. So what have we learned in this story?

Someone who has ever had interest in your boyfriend at any time in her life can only be viewed as a rival.

The most important question for any woman is how to get the man they love to propose to her.

Even if you're in a jungle living among leopards, it's important to look good.

Women can't take responsibility for their own actions. They need to count on a man to take care of them at all times. If the man doesn't like the risks she is taking, he can order her to change her behavior at any time.

You'd think that would be enough unhealthiness for one little story. Unfortunately, all of that is nothing compared to the last panel. Lois reveals that her entire reason for staying was to prove that Lana's story - remember that, back on page 1? - could be realistic. Superman beams:



It turns out that Superman never really believed that his girlfriend was all that great of a person until she lived in the jungle for weeks to help out someone she didn't even know. Even worse than that, Lois didn't do this out of the goodness of her heart. Rather she faked the whole thing to try to make Superman like her more. Trust sure isn't the basis of this relationship.

Of course, seeing how the second story in the issue is all about Lois trying to trick Superman into revealing he's Clark Kent,



and the third story has Lois using a perfume that she thinks will magically make Superman be hers,



perhaps this shouldn't be surprising.

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