So, for you youngsters, we need a bit of history here. In 1969, the 12th most popular movie in the United States was a Swedish adult film. I can't say I have ever seen this movie, which mixed full-frontal explicit sex with burning social issues. The movie even had Dr. Martin Luther King in it. Why bring up old porn from a bygone era you ask? The move was called "I am Curious (Yellow)" and it was maybe the last film you would ever think would inspire a comic book story, even if it is just the title. It is an interesting beginning for editor E. Nelson Bridwell who takes over his first non-reprint book from the fired Mort Weisinger.
Our lead story is "I Am Curious (Black)" by Robert Kanigher, Werner Roth and Vince Colletta. Lois Lane is assigned to write a story for the Daily Planet concerning life in Little Africa, the black section of Metropolis. When she arrives, she is met by disinterest, suspicion and outright hatred from everyone she speaks to. Lois asks Superman for help. He takes her to the Fortress of Solitude and uses a device designed by Kryptonian Dahr-Nel to change Lois from a white woman into a black one. Superman tells Lois that the transformation will only last for 24 hours.
Lois returns to Metropolis. While in the white section of town, she is treated as an outcast. When she reaches Little Africa a second time, Lois learns about life in the slums from the residents there. When neighborhood activist Dave Stevens is shot while trying to confront some drug dealers, Lois donates blood to save his life.
While waiting to see the outcome, she confronts Superman and asks if he would marry her given her current skin color. He replies that he is the complete outcast on Earth, not even human. Lois replies that while that is true he is lucky that his skin color is the correct one to be accepted on Earth. Lois then reverts to her normal appearance earlier than expected. Stevens awakens and wants to thank the sister who helped save his life and is surprised to see that Lois is actually white. However, he now accepts Lois despite their difference in skin color. This infamous tale has been reprinted in Superman in the Seventies TPB and Lois Lane: A Celebration of 75 Years HC.
Next is a two-page filler "Martha G. Kimball" a Wonder Women of History story by Julius Schwartz and John Giunta which is reprinted from Wonder Woman #53 (1952),
This issue ends with the Rose and the Thorn in "Where Do You Plant a Thorn?" by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito. The 100 place a contract on the Thorn. To bait her, they place a gold coffin in the chapel window. Despite the trap, the Thorn thwarts the hitmen and helps apprehend them.
The chapel owner Vince, who is secretly part of the 100, contacts florist Mr. Orchid. They put together another hit squad to target detective Danny Stone. Their plan fails when the Thorn surprises the gang and saves Danny's life.
Edited by E. Nelson Bridwell.
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