Lucy Lane (New Earth)

Lucy Lane is Lois Lane's younger sister. Jealous and bitter at her older sister's independence Lucy tries several careers before selecting to follow their fathers military career where she gained some success attaining the rank of Major in covert intelligence.

Created by

John Byrne

First appearance

Man of Steel #5
(December, 1986)

1 HistoryEdit
- 1.1 Superwoman
- 1.2 War of the Supermen
2 Powers and AbilitiesEdit
- 2.1 Powers
- 2.2 Weaknesses
3 ParaphernaliaEdit
- 3.1 Equipment
4 NotesEdit
5 TriviaEdit
6 Related
7 LinksEdit
- 7.1 Discover and Discuss
- 7.2 Footnotes

HistoryEdit

Lucy, like her big sister Lois, grew up an army brat under their father, Sam Lane. Lois was always more of a daredevil and a troublemaker, however. Owing to her being the younger child, Lucy was sometimes more spoiled by her strict father (or at least, he was more inclined to get over her failings).

When she was grown up, Lucy became a flight attendant until a mysterious ailment left her blind. Depressed with her life, Lucy attempted suicide by jumping off a roof in Metropolis, only to be rescued by the first Bizarro. This Bizarro had a chalky white substance that coated his body and coming into contact with it somehow restored Lucy's sight. The Bizarro allowed itself to be destroyed, but in giving Lucy her sight back she got a new appreciation for life.^[1]

She later began dating Jimmy Olsen. The two remained together for approximately two years, but parted ways shortly after Superman's first arrival in Metropolis. ^[2]

Once she was kidnapped by the villain Sleez and another time she was seriously injured by Deathstroke.^[3]

Lucy later resumed her relationship with Jimmy Olsen, but they eventually broke up after Jimmy quit the Daily Planet to work for WGBS.

While she was still dating Jimmy, Lucy met another Daily Planet reporter, Ron Troupe. Ron was instantly attracted to Lucy, much to his embarrassment (although luckily for him, Jimmy was too thick to pick up on it). After Lucy and Jimmy's breakup, Lucy asked Ron out on a date. ^[4] Ron later had to call upon Superman to help rescue Lucy from an escaped ape-like creature that had broken out of S.T.A.R. Labs. When Jimmy, on scene filming the rescue makes light of the event (as though it was just good television), Lucy punched him out.^[5]

When Lois and Clark finally decided to get married, Lucy was responsible for throwing her sister both the bachelorette party and the bridal shower. Lucy has good intentions, but Lois was a little perturbed when the theme for the bridal shower ended up being "happy homemaker." Lucy was Lois's Maid of Honor (and ironically enough, Jimmy was the Best Man).^[6]

After dating Ron for some time, Lucy ended up getting pregnant. She only told Ron after she visited an abortion clinic, getting information about all her alternatives. ^[7] Ron was opposed to the abortion, and begged Lucy not to rush into anything. Lucy asked Ron not to tell anyone about the pregnancy until she settled on what she was going to do. Ron, nevertheless, ended up telling Jimmy after Ron was fired (along with nearly everyone else) as Lex Luthor bought out the Daily Planet and shut it down.^[8] Jimmy then blurted out the news to Lois, who was relieved that Jimmy was not the father.^[9] Lucy and Ron decided to keep the baby and planned on getting married. His parents took the news very well -- hers did not. Sam nearly throttled Ron and Elinore insisted that Lucy give up the baby for adoption. ^[10]

After months of delays and pressure from her family, Lucy Lane and Ron Troupe were finally married in a small ceremony during Lucy's ninth month of pregnancy (Lois and Lucy crashed Ron's bachelor party, hiding in the giant cake). Lois was with Lucy when she gave birth a few weeks later. ^[11]

Superwoman

Lucy Lane left Superman's immediate circle of friends for many years. During this time, she did not respond well to her father's death in the Imperiex war. Trying to honor his memory, she joined the military. She appears to have left Ron Troupe (or possibly history was altered by the Infinite Crisis). Bitter and angrier than in her former appearances, she still blames Lois for General Sam Lane's death during the war against Imperiex. Essentially, she thinks Lois broke his heart by putting her love for Superman before her duties as a daughter.

Lucy references her former appearances, even mentioning her "dating boys in Lois' circle" as failed attempts to live her life through her more successful sister, but she eventually chooses to sacrifice her life and live the military career her father intended for Lois, driving an even deeper wedge between the two sisters.

Originally, unbeknown to her, General Lane was still alive, and working with the government on projects designed to deal with Kryptonians on Earth. Lucy and her father worked together on a project that has resulted in Lucy Lane gathering superhuman powers and abilities (Supergirl Vol 4 #40)

Lucy managed to infiltrate New Krypton under the guise of a Kryptonian that would be known as Superwoman. The exact reason Lane as Superwoman acting as liason between the surviving Kryptonians and Earth have not been revealed. Lucy wore a super suit that was revealed to be a magical creation of Mirabai of the Forlorn. The suit duplicated the abilities of a Kryptonian but protected her from Kyptonite poisoning. When Supergirl figured out that Lucy was Superwoman and that she was behind several murders the two fought. In the middle of the battle, a furious Supergirl damaged the suit, unwittingly destroying the magic containment field around Lucy that gave her superpowers. The field exploded and Lucy was presumed dead.

War of the Supermen

After her supposed demise Lucy Lane is seen to have been resurrected and is an amalgam of "all" the alien races whose powers were in the Superwoman suit. Lucy kills the physician with an electric blast and says she is ready for duty.^[12] Lucy abducts her sister and brings her to their father to watch the events as they unfold. She is later defeated by Supergirl and taken into custody for her crimes.

Powers and AbilitiesEdit

Powers

Kryptonian Power Set: The following represents the potential superhuman abilities available to the average Kryptonian while operating within a yellow sun environment such as Earth even if demonstration of such abilities has not been explicitly shown in a canonical resource. Variations of these powers may apply depending upon the wielder in question.

Kryptonian Powers

Kryptonian Physiology

A Kryptonian's cellular structure is more dense, resilient and biologically more effective than human tissue. Kryptonians do not seem to possess superhuman strength levels despite their enhanced cellular ability without constant exposure to yellow solar energy. Without such charging, their strength is equitible to that of an average Earth human who engages in regular physical activity. As aliens, they possess several organs whose functions are not yet disclosed or understood but are believed to be part of and perhaps even the source of his biomatrix force field and reclamation aura. A Kryptonian's body also stores energy actively within their bio-cellular matrix as an energy pattern that is linked to their body's electromagnetic field. This energy powers most of a Kryptonian's electromagnetic capabilities such as flight and heat vision. It also supplements their physical strength.

Solar Energy Absorption

Under optimal conditions, this is the main source of a Kryptonian's super powers and are contingent upon exposure to solar radiation from a yellow sun star system.

Superhuman Strength

A Kryptonian develops enhanced physical strength after absorbing a sufficient amount of yellow solar radiation. While the exact magnitude of a Kryptonian's strength level is unknown, it is generally accepted that they are sufficiently strong enough to lift 100,000 tons or more. The specific range is unknown as a Kryptonian's strength, like their other powers, may fluctuate over time. A Kryptonian's strength is more an act of conscious will on energy fields than actual physical strength. It is through this act of conscious will that enables a Kryptonain to perform physical feats that are beyond merely applying applicable force (such as moving a mountain top without said rock crumbling under its own mass). At full power, a Kryptonian's normal strength levels are well into the multi-megaton range.

Invulnerability

A Kryptonian's body is nigh-invulnerable to extreme energy forces. In addition, their immune systems protects them from toxins and diseases. The most common explanations for their invulnerability is that they have a super-dense molecular structure and/or a supercharged bioelectric "aura" which acts as an invisible "force field" around their bodies within a few millimeters from their skin, and presumably within their bodies as well.^{[citation needed]} The proximity of this field to their skin means that loose clothes, for example, may be burned off of of them, while cloth that is close to their body is protected by the "aura;" This phenomenon is sometimes cited as a Kryptonian's reason for wearing a skin-tight bodysuit. It is this understanding which allows them to be able to carry and move objects that would collapse under their own mass, overcoming gravity or inertia tearing them apart around their human-sized hands.

Superhuman Stamina

A Kryptonian has the ability to maintain continuous strenuous physical action for an undetermined period of time. Theoretically, Kryptonians have unlimited stamina as their enhanced nourishment is produced from the solar energy their cells process; however their base physical structures do need to process food stuffs as well as have the psychological need to eat and drink just as Earth humans do, despite the fact that their superhuman powers receives the majority of that power from a yellow sun. A Kryptonian does require sleep on occasion so they can dream. They can also hold their breath for an undetermined period of time.

Flight

A Kryptonian is able to manipulate graviton particles, in an unknown and apparently unconscious manner, to defy the forces of gravity. Under one Earth gravity, a Kryptonian is capable of speeds of multi Mach speeds in Earth's atmosphere. Their control of their flight is very precise and they can perform aerobatic feats such as hovering, flying backwards and even lifting great weights while flying.

Superhuman Speed

A Kryptonian is capable of enhanced reflex action and the ability to move at incredible speeds by sheer force of will. A Kryptonian can match most other speedsters in their ability to perform super-fast movements, reactions, and processes. They can use this power to disarm opponents without heightened reflexes, catch bullets or shrapnel or cross vast distances in seconds.

Super-Breath

Super-Breath is the ability to create hurricane force winds by blowing, and to chill their breath in order to freeze a target (this latter ability has also been called "freeze breath" and "arctic breath"). A Kryptonian can also breathe in large amounts of air, an ability used when dealing with and disposing things like clouds of poison gas.

Super-Hearing

Super-Hearing is the ability to hear any sound at any volume or pitch. With practice, a Kryptonian can develop enough control to block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific source/frequency. As such, they can identify a person by their heartbeat, or pick out a single voice in an entire city.

Heat Vision

The ability to fire beams of intense heat at a target by looking at it with the conscious act of activating this power. Visually, the power is typically depicted as two beams of red light firing from the eyes. These beams can be made invisible, allowing a Kryptonian to work undetected. The maximum temperature of their heat vision is said to be around that of a nuclear detonation. The area of effect can be consciously determined by the Kryptonian in question, down to the microscopic level.

Enhanced Vision

A Kryptonian also possess a superior sensory arrangement of microscopic, telescopic, infrared and ultraviolet visual capabilities. They are able to see the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Part of this mechanism is physical, part of it is believed to be psionic in nature. Abilities include:

Electro-magnetic Spectrum Vision: Can see well into most of the EM Spectrum. He can see and identify radio/television and any and all broadcast/transmitted frequencies, allowing him to avoid detection through radar or satellite monitoring methods. A Kryptonian can see the aura that every living thing generates.

Telescopic Vision: Telescopic Vision is the ability to see something at a great distance, without violating the laws of physics. The total telescopic ability is unprecedented, but limited to some extent. In function, it is similar to the zoom lens on a camera.

X-Ray Vision: The ability to see through any volume of matter except lead. A Kryptonian can see things behind a wall as if the wall were not there, or can "peel back" layer after layer of matter in their mind. A Kryptonian is able to focus their vision past layers of matter, literally seeing "through" them -- possibly perceiving x-rays, cosmic rays or other forms of energy invisible to normal human vision which pass through Earth's atmosphere (and solid objects) after emission from stars. Since it is passive, this ability would not generate harmful radiation in the same manner as a focused projection of hard X-rays.

Microscopic Vision: The ability to see extremely small objects and images down to the atomic level (normal optical microscopes can only see objects down to the size of chromosomes).

Infrared Vision: Allows a Kryptonian better visual accuity in total darkness.

Weaknesses

Damaging the containment field of the powersuit is fatal to the wearer. Since her death and rebirth, she possesses all the weaknesses of the alien races whos abilities were contained within the suit.

ParaphernaliaEdit

Equipment

Powersuit: Originally possessing no inherent powers, her powersuit altered her DNA (via a containment field) to replicate those of a Kryptonian and as such potentially made her capable of all the same feats they possess under the yellow sun. The abilities she demonstrated were: Vast superhuman strength, speed and durability, invulnerability, flight (normal and interstellar), freeze breath and heat vision. The powersuit also protects her from the harmful affects of Kryptonite and grants her the ability to steal the life of someone nearby to resurrect herself. Any other non-Kryptonian abilities the suit may possess have yet to be revealed.

NotesEdit

Lucy is an officer in the US Army with the rank of Major and serves her father as one of his officers.

TriviaEdit

Comic book time is obviously more compressed than real time. Lucy Lane found out she was pregnant in mid 1998 but did not give birth until February 2001. It is unclear if Lucy still has her own children in the reformated New Earth history.