What's Metropolis Without Lois Lane?

The towering statue of Superman already captures much of the attention in his adoptive southern Illinois hometown of Metropolis. Soon, a bronze likeness of the reporter who idolized him may land there, too.

A Metropolis Area Chamber of Commerce panel is studying whether to commission an artist's creation of a statue of Lois Lane, the the fictional Daily Planet reporter who worked with Clark Kent and marveled at Superman, somehow never recognizing they were the same guy.

The City Council supports the city perhaps ponying up as much as $40,000 if the Illinois Bureau of Tourism puts up a similar amount in a grant the Ohio River city is seeking.

The chamber hopes to cover the city's share by selling commemorative bricks.

DC Comics declared Metropolis "Hometown of Superman" on January 21, 1972.  The Illinois Legislature passed a similar resolution five months later.