Warning: Spoilers for Superman & Lois season 3, episode 2
The cancer twist in Superman & Lois season 3 allowed the series to flip a famous moment from DC Comics. Following up on the premiere’s ominous tease regarding Lois’ medical situation, The CW series has confirmed the predicament facing the Kent family. Lois has been diagnosed with inflammatory stage 3 breast cancer.
Superman & Lois season 3, episode 2, titled “Uncontrollable Forces,” saw Lois cope with this devastating new reality. After spending the majority of the episode processing her diagnosis, Lois finally shared the news with her family, setting up a difficult road for the main characters to walk as the series moves forward. As it turns out, villains like Chad L. Coleman’s Bruno Mannheim and Michael Cudlitz’s Lex Luthor may not even be their biggest worry, nor will any other DC Comics villain hiding in the show. By all indications, it’s the threat of Lois’ cancer that will haunt them the most in Superman & Lois season 3.
Superman & Lois’ All-Star Superman Easter Egg Explained
The story Superman & Lois is weaving with Lois has already featured a surprising, yet poignant reference to a fan-favorite Superman comic. When Lois was trying to convince Judge Tara Reagan not to jump off the building, she said, “You’re much stronger than you think you are.” This moment paid homage to All-Star Superman, where Superman used this exact line on Felicity Regan, a teenager who was about to make the same choice. Cementing this connection is the fact that All-Star Superman’s Clark was reeling from the revelation that he was slowly dying of solar radiation, not unlike how Lois was coping with her cancer diagnosis in the show’s version of the scene.
What ultimately makes this All-Star Superman Easter egg so appropriate for Superman & Lois season 3 is the emotional significance behind the line. In both instances, they were spoken to give courage to the people they were trying to help, but also reflected their own personal struggles. In All-Star Superman, Clark was urging Regan not to give up, while also trying to find the strength within himself to carry on. This also speaks to Lois’ situation in the episode, as her speech about the need to keep fighting related to her just as much as did the judge.
Is Superman & Lois Setting Up Lois Lane’s Death?
Due to the clear parallels between Superman & Lois season 3 and All-Star Superman, it’s worth wondering what this link means for Lois Lane’s future. After all, the comic did lead to Superman’s death. While her arc certainly allows for aspects of the comic story to be incorporated into her cancer battle, Superman & Lois’ take on it can have a different ending. One thing that sets these stories apart is that Lois Lane’s death wasn’t promised by the show. It sets up an extremely challenging journey for her in the episodes to come, but never went as far as to say that the cancer will kill her. In spite of the episode’s somber tone, there’s still room for hope.