Dorothy Woolfolk

In the 1949 story “Superman Returns to Krypton” (Superman #61), he learns that he is vulnerable when exposed to green kryptonite. Kryptonite had been introduced previously in the Superman radio serial. Still, it wasn’t until DC Comics editor Dorothy Woolfolk got involved that it became famous for its adverse effects on the Man of Steel. She famously stated that she felt “Superman’s invulnerability was boring.” What better way to address this than to introduce a substance from his own world that incapacitated him?

Before this, Woolfolk spent time editing comics at All-American Publications, Timely, and EC Comics. After spending some time away from comics, she returned to edit for DC in the early 1970s. One of the titles she was responsible for was Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane. The series was created in 1958 to shine a light on Lois as a character outside of Superman’s shadow. It wasn’t until Woolfolk took over as editor that the character’s personal interests began to move away from coaxing Superman into marriage and more into the issues happening in the world around her. As Lois puts it herself in issue #121 (1972), “It’s time I started taking a good look at this muddled world around me … and tried to help people in trouble!”

Lois subsequently quotes the Daily Plane, essentially telling Perry to shove it, and moves into freelance work. To further declare her independence, she breaks up with Superman. Under Woolfolk’s watchful eye, it was time for Lois to take charge of her own life. 

The title eventually ended in 1974

Dorothy A. Woolfolk  (October 1, 1913 – November 27, 2000)