Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Fanfic Related The Rewritten Adventures of Superman

This probably belongs in the 'orphaned fics' thread, but I felt it was too big. For one thing, I realize now that there's no way any one person could attempt it....I think.

See, a while back, I had this ambitious idea to do a complete rewrite of LaCtNAoS, changing one thing in the premise and then writing each episode as it would have unfolded under these new circumstances.

I couldn't even get through the pilot.

This definitely requires team effort, and I don't just mean a Beta or two.

Here's what I was attempting:

Imagine that Lois and Clark had met as teenagers. (Easy enough, right?)
By the time the pilot begins, Lois and Clark have been married for ten years and have a ten-year-old son.

Naturally, this changes everything. First of all, Lois would not have "just met" the "hack from Nowheresville", so the whole dynamic of the show changes. Since having a kid would likely affect their education and employment histories, they'd likely also be in a different standing at the Planet.

Also, Lois would likely not have had that fling with Claude, Clark would have another reason for resisting Cat...

Even more importantly, consider the suddenly different tone of Chip Off the Old Clark. Having a checkered past before you get engaged is one thing. Consider instead that this man married young, has been chained to a wife and child for ten years, suddenly gets a double identity and the freedom to go where he pleases...and that's about when this woman claims Superman knocked her up.

Or, Sex, Lies, and Videotape. Would Lois and Superman be worse than toejam for having an affair when there's a *child* in the marriage? Or would the crowds have mercy on a girl who married too young and obviously regrets it?

New Krypton, the Wedding Argh, Soulmates...all changed. Nightfall, TOGOM....

*sigh*

And I can't do it.

Thoughts?

ETA: Okay, people, for the sake of organization, here are some links (and anybody who wants to start a new poll or thread, btw, be my guest. ).

Also, does anybody want to be in charge of stuff like compiling the show's official bible, or keeping track of and analyazing the polls?

Poll - Basic Stuff

Poll - Back Story

Thread - Back Story

I tried something like that as a group effort here ... but it doesn't seem to have gone anywhere.

I also tried a series rewrite (of sorts) with Steel Shadows. But that was a lot shorter than I expected and not quite what you're talking about.

That's as far as I got before my mind went

That's not one change! That's...that's...I don't know what that is but it is not one change!!!

Love the idea, though.

It would almost have to be a team effort. Like Season 5 and 6.

I'd read it and pitch hit ideas when needed.

We could also fix some of the really bad episodes at the same time like The Ides of Metropolis...

James.

what about a more simple change (although it would still have major implications on the story line), such as Lois knowing she loved Clark from the moment she set eyes on him, while he has to learn and admit it to himself? Basically, a role reversal when it comes to their early relationship status.

desiree

I would love to read togom written during their marriage and with a child that would make things even more interesting! I'll help.

Mona

You really are one big TOGOM fan, Mona!

Lol, Coolgirl! I am but I'm also not. I think the episode itself has to be one of the top most far fetched concepts by ABC. I do enjoy reading (and writing )much better fan fic interpretations of it. It just as we all know and love has so many possibilities! :p

Mona

That and the rest!

What about New Krypton, Virtual Reality, Noah's new world, Mxy-something, Time Travel, Aging machine, body transfer, becoming small, alt-universe... etc. etc. etc... all far-fetched!

Coming back from the dead is but natural in the LnC world!

I don't want to say that the other doesn't have possibilities, but as a whole series rewrite... whew!

This sounds interesting as a rewrite for the first two seasons. Not sure it would work as well for the other two...
Carol

That's harmless fun.

But Clark traveled the world between college and the Planet. And he moved on when he has helped too much. On the other hand, we know what happened with Lana in the Alt-U. Lois isn't the one to make him deny his powers. So how does this work? In all the other Alt-Beginnings that have him raising a child and no Lois, he isn't Superman. But in the Pilot, Lois comes up with the change of clothes. So, will he already be Superman? Or will he have to deny his powers for the sake of family? Will even he *tell* her? Now, that could backfire, him not telling her for ten years. Of course, there is the floating-in-your-sleep bit. And Season 1: what about the whole Luthor-Setup. Is he still going after Lois with all the fallout for the Planet? *)

To be frank, I can't really see the story fast forwarding over their early stages of their career. But I'm more then willing to read the proof that this could work after all

Either they both work at some minor news paper, perhaps even different ones, due to their family and Lois doesn't get into investigative predicaments. Then how do they get the stories and the Planet once S1 starts.

Or they would both have to be at the Planet from the get go with Clark being her partner once the Kerth-stories start to come in. He certainly couldn't sit on the sidelines while his wife has to get out from under the JoD by her self. Which brings us back to the Becoming-Superman-Issue.

Michael

*) But what if Lois really were to be galactically stupid and not blinded by love? She doesn't know. And she doesn't recognize him for two years. But he still comes up with lame excuses. And since her body would still know her husband, she would be drawn to Superman, perhaps being torn apart by guilt and lust and anger at Clark for lame excuses. Which would allow for his lame excuses to go somewhat unchallenged. Well, as much as they did in on the Show. It would also explain why Luthor thinks he can push his way in.

And Pheromone? They would never get to the bottom of this. At least not during the first 48 hours when Clark was doing all the research.

Michael *who managed to hit the quote-button instead of the edit one.*

I don't see it working if you have them marry young. Not only would none of the things you mention happened but LEX LUTHOR would never happen. Lois wouldn't never go after him the way she did in the Pilot episode. She would never date him. There would be no need for Clark to be jealous of him etc.

I agree that to do this you would have to pick a smaller change. Like Lois realizing she liked Clark say when they go to Smallville. That way she is already involved with Luthor. She has treated Clark badly, Cat has tried to put on the moves and can continue to do so, etc.

and that this woman, married young has been chained to a husband and a child for ten years

The story could be called 'The Young and the Restless' maybe -but put kid up for adoption, otherwise story gets boring. (see Tank's rants and a few others, as well)

{kid could be adopted by Lex Luthor and Ariana Carlin, maybe? or Tim and Amber Lake, named Luke, thus giving Clark the chance to 20 years on use that very famous line... plus provide the rationale for him to don the black spandex plus black cape)]

Unless of course the kid can sing and dance and is a bit of a smartass. (a la Stewie) That last detail would make it a cross-over, though, which may or may not be a good thing. (see opinions in Eva's crossover poll)

Come to think of it, isn't Stewie's mom named Lois? ?

c.

In effect you wouldn't be rewriting the series episodes, but merely writing new fics loosely based on some of the incidents in those episodes.

Many of the 'interaction' points in the early episodes was dependant on Lois' perception of who Clark was and how her opinion of him changes. It is also dependant on her not knowing about the Superman part of him. This would have already been settled in the early days of their marriage. There is no way that Clark would keep this secret from Lois if they were married, especially if they had a kid.

Seasons 3 and 4 might be easier since you have them as a couple and the 'conditions' of the plotlines would be more easily alined with who they are now.

Having said that, if anyone wants to try their hand at rewriting any of the episodes given this or a slightly modified version (like no kid!)of this pre-history, I'm sure that there would be many gentle readers willing to give those fics a try.

The scope of redoing the whole 4 years of episodes is pretty daunting, but by leaving this particular universe open to all comers, who knows, maybe after a few years all the episodes will be covered... or not.

Tank (who figures that since Lois and Clark will have gotten together earlier that Lois will have had the good sense to cut her hair earlier too )

How about this.

Lois and Clark have been married for ten years. No kid as they are genetically incompatible.

She knows he has powers, and has been assisting him to secretly help others, but not in the Flashy Red and Blue. Maybe an all black outfit...

They want a normal life and so are trying really hard to stay out of the lime light.

Continued

Clark human interest stories for the Chicago Herald and Lois works for the Chicago Tribune. Friendly rivalry and all that, but Lois' dream job is to work for the Daily Planet.

Finally, she is offered the job, but there is no opening for Clark.

That is when the Messenger crisis happens, LnC decide that it is time for a change. There is no way that Clark can 'secretly' save the day and they create Superman. Clark gets the exclusive and gets the job at the Daily planet.

Haven't worked out the details of Lex and the like, but the kid could be solved when the NKers show up.

tbc

More later as I need take our girls to a basketball game for cheerleading.

James

Or what if Lois simply just knows his secret? I thought of something else last night-perhaps something "new" on our favorite and infamous togom topic-what if all of Metropolis knows it was Clark who was shot, just like the storyline on tv.

However, instead of Clark being ressurected or superman admitting to being in the casino in disguise,it somehow came out that the Man of Steel had (I have no idea how) protected his close friend and that was what prevented Clark from dying. Wouldn't all of Metropolis seek this magical protection?

I am just typing as I think here and lol if the above sounds as ridiculous :p as those clones or time travel etc feel free to tell me. I am just trying to futher my reputation as a togom rewrite enthusiast.

Mona

No she wouldn't. But if you think about it, in S1, *he* was pursuing *her*. At first, she just wanted an interview. I figure Lex would have no qualms about being a would-be home-wrecker, and possibly the same goes for Cat. Or even Claude, if the stepped-on butterfly means he's still at the Planet.

As for Superman: when I first startd cooking this idea, (and bear in mind I got stuck in the first 'episode' ), I saw them as having kept Clark low-key, until the new job* prompted Lois' remark about a change of clothes.

*I was thinking that, having taken longer to get through school, Lois would be new to the Planet. This is why I got stuck; I couldn't get her hired *and* into the action in an order that made sense.

Miranda could be a problem. But then, problems can be solved. Doesn't Clark wonder *why* Lois sent their ten-year-old to the movie theater with a hundred dollars and no adult? Or, something else. You decide.

I see the kid as central to this version, mostly because it is a concept I'm a sucker for. Also, the shotgun wedding could be a plot-point, as in SLaV and CotOC, like I mentioned. But of course, if you are inspired to do something similar with a different concept, then of course, by all means, do what you will.

The point is that Lois and Clark's dynamic is different, but all external circumstances are the same.

Example:

1. Pilot - Luthor and Baines are still sabotaging the messenger. Lois and/or Clark may be new to the planet, but they know each other.

2. Smart Kids - "Honey, meet your new sister."

3. PML - Luthor falls in 'love' with Lois Lane Kent. The Earth trembles.

4. ToGoM - Clark has been shot in a room full of people. Lois must play the grieving widow, and explain to their 11-year-old why Daddy can't come home.

We could take it one season at a time, I suppose--hash out the details of each episode, and so on.
Hrm?

Just wanted to add an inkling... Given Lois' issues with men, what if Lois found out about Clark's powers after they'd been together for a while and then they couldn't work out their differences, causing a split. They could still share parenting duties up to the point of the pilot, but they don't get back together.

Swapping time taking care of their son, Clark could still travel the world a bit, doing freelance, while Lois gets on at the Planet along the same timeline as in the show. Tougher as a single parent, but if anyone can do it, it's Lois.

This way, Lois is still pretty much a free agent when she catches Lex's eye. It could also explain her animosity towards Clark when he first shows up at the Planet and a different reason for her not to want him as her partner.

BJ

The thing is, if the story where to proceed along the lines of them getting married before they turn twenty and having a kid, then Lois would not have that many issues. There would be no Paul, no Claude. Just her father's lifestyle. But she would have Clark as a counter point. And with him not being Superman, he wouldn't run off that often, if at all. And he would just hide a part of himself, not pretend to be someone else. After all, if he can't tell his wife, the mother of their child, he would have to deny it all even to himself. Nope, no divorce just because of that. Lot's of issues and guilt on both sides. But no divorce.

And Luthor the home wrecker. No, I don't think so. That would make for really bad press if it where to come out. And that wouldn't do if he wants to be man of the year.

Michael

Michael said:

All true. However, we all know what a lunkhead that Clark can be. What if he left Lois of his own accord, thinking that she and their baby would be better off without a freak like him around? Lois would just add Clark to her list of 'federal disasters'.

I'm not saying that it makes much rational sense, but there is Contact as a precedent.

BJ