What is with all the L.L. initials in the "Superman" universe?
#1
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What is with all the L.L. initials in the "Superman" universe?
1. Lex Luthor
2. Lionel Luthor
3. Lois Lane
4. Lucy Lane ("Supergirl" (1984))
5. Lana Lang
6. Lewis Lang ("Smallville: Episode 1: October 2001")
7. Linda Lee (Kara or Supergirl's alias in the 1984 "Supergirl" movie)
I mean that is just plain odd or there is rationale behind it all. It's just been on my mind for weeks since I watch "Smallville" and with the appearance of Lois, just triggered this name game. Does anyone know and can discuss?
2. Lionel Luthor
3. Lois Lane
4. Lucy Lane ("Supergirl" (1984))
5. Lana Lang
6. Lewis Lang ("Smallville: Episode 1: October 2001")
7. Linda Lee (Kara or Supergirl's alias in the 1984 "Supergirl" movie)
I mean that is just plain odd or there is rationale behind it all. It's just been on my mind for weeks since I watch "Smallville" and with the appearance of Lois, just triggered this name game. Does anyone know and can discuss?
Last edited by OldBoy; 11-17-04 at 03:44 PM.
#5
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Here's a post from alt.comics.superman which seems to be be pretty informative:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...elusplanet.net
From: Phillip Atcliffe ([email protected])
Subject: Re: names
Newsgroups: alt.comics.superman
Date: 2001-11-03 01:22:31 PST
>> does anyone know if there's any significance in the double L initials?
(Lois Lane, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor)?
> Far as I know, it started out as a coincidence and became a running joke.
> But I could be wrong.
Not much. That's pretty much what happened. Lois was first, of course;
Luthor wasn't even "Lex" to begin with, IIRC, he was Alexei, later shortened
to Lex, or just Luthor. Lana was invented in 1948 or thereabouts for the
Superboy tales; why she was also an LL, I don't know, but she was a Lois
figure for the young Clark (unrequited attraction, sometimes sidekick, tried
to expose identity) so that might have been deliberate.
And that more or less started the bandwagon. From then on, the Weisinger
(sp?) titles referred to the "importance of LL" in Supes' life on a regular
basis. There was Lori Lemaris, Lyla Lerrol (later Ler-Rol, and I suspect
that that change was the origin of the female "surname" custom on
Krypton) -- even Lara Lor-Van! Plus a host of one-shot characters who were
given an LL name to keep the "tradition" going.
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...elusplanet.net
From: Phillip Atcliffe ([email protected])
Subject: Re: names
Newsgroups: alt.comics.superman
Date: 2001-11-03 01:22:31 PST
>> does anyone know if there's any significance in the double L initials?
(Lois Lane, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor)?
> Far as I know, it started out as a coincidence and became a running joke.
> But I could be wrong.
Not much. That's pretty much what happened. Lois was first, of course;
Luthor wasn't even "Lex" to begin with, IIRC, he was Alexei, later shortened
to Lex, or just Luthor. Lana was invented in 1948 or thereabouts for the
Superboy tales; why she was also an LL, I don't know, but she was a Lois
figure for the young Clark (unrequited attraction, sometimes sidekick, tried
to expose identity) so that might have been deliberate.
And that more or less started the bandwagon. From then on, the Weisinger
(sp?) titles referred to the "importance of LL" in Supes' life on a regular
basis. There was Lori Lemaris, Lyla Lerrol (later Ler-Rol, and I suspect
that that change was the origin of the female "surname" custom on
Krypton) -- even Lara Lor-Van! Plus a host of one-shot characters who were
given an LL name to keep the "tradition" going.
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Originally posted by Michael Corvin
what I have always wondered (reference to the movie) why Jor-El has the 'S' logo on his shirt. Kal-el doesn't become 'Super' until he hits earth.
Anyone?
what I have always wondered (reference to the movie) why Jor-El has the 'S' logo on his shirt. Kal-el doesn't become 'Super' until he hits earth.
Anyone?
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Originally posted by Kal-El
I forgot where I watched or read it but it was supposedly the "Family Emblem/Logo/Seal" that just happened to be in the shape of an "S".
I forgot where I watched or read it but it was supposedly the "Family Emblem/Logo/Seal" that just happened to be in the shape of an "S".
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Originally posted by Kal-El
I forgot where I watched or read it but it was supposedly the "Family Emblem/Logo/Seal" that just happened to be in the shape of an "S".
I forgot where I watched or read it but it was supposedly the "Family Emblem/Logo/Seal" that just happened to be in the shape of an "S".
#14
DVD Talk Gold Edition
If I remember correctly, I think even Superman thinks to himself about all the women in his life are LL's when Supergirl chose Linda Lee as her alter ego in the issue she was introduced.
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Originally posted by Kal-El
I forgot where I watched or read it but it was supposedly the "Family Emblem/Logo/Seal" that just happened to be in the shape of an "S".
I forgot where I watched or read it but it was supposedly the "Family Emblem/Logo/Seal" that just happened to be in the shape of an "S".
Back on topic so as not to piss off scott....
Who knows why all the "LL's" in the Superman universe. Perhaps it's an in joke?
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Originally posted by scott1598
please stick to original topic and not post another within, really not right...
please stick to original topic and not post another within, really not right...
Please stop posting worthless threads..... Or figure that the forum doesn't need so much clutter with various silly superman question threads. If it can be answered in this thread, more power to it.
In all seriousness. the LL's a running gag really, as explained in the earlier post. They do poke fun of it plenty of times in the comics.
Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were just nutty.
Also, Superman: Birthright explained the S to some degee. Since that is the new "canon" orgin for the man of steel, I'm sticking to it.
At first Clark thought it was a family crest of some sort, but if it was more to the kyrptonians. They have it on banners in going to war. as he put it "Wars were fought over it. Entire cities were built on it. Over the course of time, it became a promise. A sign of people fighting to make a better world. A symbol of hope.
Sooooooooo... when he got back from his travels Clark got the banner that he was sent off with and made the outfit of it.
Last edited by Jackskeleton; 11-18-04 at 03:15 AM.
#18
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally posted by Jackskeleton
Or figure that the forum doesn't need so much clutter with various silly superman question threads. If it can be answered in this thread, more power to it.
Or figure that the forum doesn't need so much clutter with various silly superman question threads. If it can be answered in this thread, more power to it.
#20
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Stan Lee said he used to do it because he thought the names were easier to remember and just sounded good.
Peter Parker
Bruce Banner
Reed Richards
Matt Murdock
Stephen Strange
Dum Dum Dugan!
Scott Summers
Warren Worthington
Betty Brant
Robbie Robertson
J. Jonah Jameson
Otto Octavious
Sue Storm
I'm sure there are more but my tired brain can't think of them now.
Peter Parker
Bruce Banner
Reed Richards
Matt Murdock
Stephen Strange
Dum Dum Dugan!
Scott Summers
Warren Worthington
Betty Brant
Robbie Robertson
J. Jonah Jameson
Otto Octavious
Sue Storm
I'm sure there are more but my tired brain can't think of them now.
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Originally posted by PixyJunket
What about Peter Pepper?
What about Peter Pepper?
#24
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Originally posted by Jackskeleton
Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were just nutty.
Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster were just nutty.
and Matt Murdock IS DareDevil!
and Reed Richards and Sue Storm of the Fantastic Four go up against Dr. Doom

#25
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally posted by Giantrobo
In the movie the "S" was on the blankets and materils sent with him in the vehicle. Marth Kent used that material to make his costume using the "S" on his chest and cape in other Superman stories but I don't know if she did in the Superman movie.
Back on topic so as not to piss off scott....
Who knows why all the "LL's" in the Superman universe. Perhaps it's an in joke?
In the movie the "S" was on the blankets and materils sent with him in the vehicle. Marth Kent used that material to make his costume using the "S" on his chest and cape in other Superman stories but I don't know if she did in the Superman movie.
Back on topic so as not to piss off scott....
Who knows why all the "LL's" in the Superman universe. Perhaps it's an in joke?