CREDITS: Written by David Michelinie; art by Neil Vokes and Ron Boyd.
REVIEW: Though it's played pretty sweetly, the story of a lonely guy who, in a moment of weakness, makes a compliant Lois Lane become his girlfriend, doesn't play very well in this consent-conscious era. When Lois is awakened from the hypnotic suggestion at the end of the story, she naturally feels humiliated and betrayed, but Ben Sullivan never had a chance, and though not creepy, he does come off as pathetic.
This is all the work of the Commander, a new villain with a terrible design, something like Apokolips' bellboy, and a powerful hypnotic power. He uses it interestingly at least, and provides a fair threat (though not so much that he can take control of Superman) in the background of the actual story. Sullivan is certainly a good guy, liked at work and helpful in his community, but he can't really handle Lois. She's too active, too curious, too bold. Even with a magical hold over her, he's still tongue-tied and exhausted by her. And I wish they'd have explored that more and made him break up with Lois because of some "be careful what you wish for" sentiment. Instead, Superman/Clark intimidates him into doing the right thing, which feels pretty self-serving coming from him.
The morality of this story just feels wrong, and the premise makes that unavoidable, perhaps, but there was still a way to make it say something about Lois instead of using her like a sex (or date) object.
REREADABILITY: Medium - Kind of sweet, but wrong-headed.
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