Lana Lang

<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Superman Character
Lana Lang
Silver Age Lana schemes to prove Clark Kent is Superboy.
Publisher	DC Comics
Gender	Female
Species	Human
Creator(s)	Bill Finger & John Sikela
First Appearance	Superboy #10 (September-October, 1950)
Profession
Affiliations	Legion of Super-Heroes
Special Features	Clark Kent's boyhood sweetheart

Lana Lang is a fictional comic book character in DC Comics' Superman comics series. Lana was created by Bill Finger & John Sikela. Lana is often identified as Superman's first love.

In Superman's small town Smallville, Kansas upbringing, Lana is the personification of the girl next door, young Clark Kent's best friend and Superboy's love interest. She was created and developed in the 1950s, because Superboy, in his own comic book series, needed a girl to rescue, and he would not meet Lois Lane until he reached adulthood and moved to Metropolis. She soon became apart of the Superboy legend, and became an important character throughout the Silver Age of Comics, and continues in the Superman comic universe today.

1 Lana in the 1950s and the Silver Age of Comics
2 Lana in the Modern Age of Comics
3 Portrayals
4 Trivia

Lana in the 1950s and the Silver Age of Comics

Lana Lang was known as the girl down the street, a friend to Clark, with a crush on Superboy. As time went on, she began to suspect that Clark was Superboy, and would often try to trick Clark into revealing his Superboy identity. Superboy always outwitted her, leaving Lana uncertain about her suspicions.

Her father was archaeologist Professor Lang, whose ancient artifacts often became the jumping off point for Superboy adventures.

Lana as Insect Queen

Later, the Silver Age Lana would find an alien who would give her a ring that would allow her to take on the characteristics of various insects. Using this ring, Lana would occasionally take on the identity of Insect Queen, and assist Superboy in his superhero work. In her Insect Queen identity, Lana would become an honorary member of the time traveling group of teen heroes, the Legion of Super-Heroes of the 30th century. Since her powers were the product of her ring (Legionnaire's super-powers could not be technology based), she could not become a full status member.

Lana grows up to become Lois' rival.

In Lois Lane's comic book, Lana was introduced to the Superman universe as an adult, and would become Lois Lane's rival for Superman's affections. The Man of Steel played the part of the confirmed bachelor, not wanting to hurt either girl's feelings, and was careful never to state which girl he preferred.

The adult Lana would have a successful career as a TV reporter, taking her rivalry with Lois, the quintessential print reporter, to the next level.

Lana in the Modern Age of Comics

In 1986, when John Byrne restarted the Superman story, Clark's life as Superboy was erased from continuity, but Lana continued as the "girl next door" in young Clark's life in Smallville. The Modern Age adult Lana is a much sadder and complex character. When Clark came into the full use of his powers as a young man, he revealed them to his close friend Lana, and basically left the next day on the journey which would lead him to becoming a reporter in Metropolis and the world's greatest superhero. Lana, completely in love with Clark, was heartbroken. When Superman appeared in Metropolis some time later, she recognized him as her friend Clark immediately. When she eventually contacted him, she had to confront the fact that Clark (already halfway in love with Lois) just didn't return her feelings. Lana would eventually marry Pete Ross, another former Smallville resident, and would name their son Clark. Lana could never quite get over Clark, a fact that would lead to the failure of her marriage.

An evil insect-like alien would become partly human based on Lana's DNA, creating a new Insect Queen, this time an alien monster.

Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang

The hit live action TV show Smallville, based loosely on the Superman legend, has brought the character to prominence with Kristin Kreuk playing Lana Lang. Lana is the definitive female lead of the series, and the undisputed love interest of young Clark Kent.