LANIE

Real Name: Lanie (surname unrevealed)

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Agent of the Monocle, college student

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Monocle (Michael Berman)

Enemies: Human Torch (Johnny Storm)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Beautiful," "Blue-Eyes"

Base of Operations: Security College, Lainesville, New York, USA

First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#204 (March, 1979)

Powers/Abilities: Lanie has no superhuman powers but she was quite skilled at manipulation.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'9")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 145 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue (see comments)
Hair: Black

History:
(Fantastic Four I#205 (fb) - BTS) - An agent of the villainous Monocle, who knew of the Human Torch's feelings that he was the weakest member of the Fantastic Four, Lanie was sent to Empire State University to draw the attention of the Human Torch. Tasked with befriending then insulting the hero's intelligence, Lanie waited until the Human Torch flew overhead.

(Fantastic Four I#204) - When the Human Torch, seeking something more in life, touched down on the campus of Empire State University, he was met by a group of bystanders including Lanie, who asked if he was the real Human Torch. Attempting to impress the girl, the Human Torch invited Lanie to accompany him so he could show her why all the girls thought he was "hot stuff." Unimpressed by the Torch's bad pickup lines, Lanie nonetheless accompanied him to a nearby building, where Johnny found an old pinball machine and became excited, announcing that he was the block pinball champ during his public school days. Somewhat let down that superheroes played pinball rather than studied, Lanie remarked to the Torch that it must be inspiring to travel to other worlds but when the Torch replied that he never much paid attention, Lanie accused the Torch of being nuts for not caring that he had been places no other had been. Annoyed that the Torch had opportunities of a lifetime only to blow them, Lanie called the Human Torch dull and suggested he go visit the kiddie park up the block, as it seemed more his style. She then stormed off, leaving the Torch to wonder what he'd said wrong. Later, Lanie was tasked by the Monocle to deliver a letter that would lure the Human Torch to Security College, headed up by Dean Joseph Wayne. She did as instructed and the Monocle commended her on a job well done, remarking that their test of the Human Torch's powers had went well.

(Fantastic Four I#205) - Lanie remained by the Monocle's side as they watched the Human Torch in new dorm at Security College using security cameras. Asking how the Monocle knew the Human Torch would ultimately decided to come to Security College, Lanie was told of the Monocle's knowledge that the Torch had long thought himself the weakest Fantastic Four member and how the Monocle merely took advantage of the Torch's insecurities brought on by Lanie's insulting of the hero's intelligence. The Monocle then turned his hypnotic monocle on Lanie, forcing her to forget any and all connections to both the Human Torch and himself and return to her college courses. Almost as if in a trance state, Lanie walked away when the Monocle ordered her to leave.

Comments: Created by Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard and Joe Sinnott.

    Lanie's eye color appeared to change from panel to panel. When she first shows up, her eyes appear to be a light brown color but then three panels later, the Human Torch refers to her as "Blue-Eyes." In the next page, a closeup of Lanie's face shows her eyes to be green.

    It's not exactly clear why the Monocle hypnotically erased Lanie's knowledge of the Human Torch and himself. I mean, I guess he was covering his tracks so no one would suspect his involvement with Security College. It seems to me that Lanie's working for the Monocle in the first place might have been due to the Monocle hypnotizing her but the Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four I#12 clearly states that Lanie was working for the Monocle. She wasn't just an unwilling victim but actually working for him.

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Lanie should be distinguished from:

Dean Joseph Wayne

Dean Joseph Wayne was the dean of Security College, a front used by the Monocle while under the employee of the scientific Enclave. When the Human Torch was lured to Security College during a period in which he was interested in furthering his education, he saved some bystanders from the falling rubble of a building secretly blasted by the Monocle and Dean Wayne rushed up to thank the Torch. Introducing himself, Dean Wayne assured the Torch that an investigation into the building explosion would be immediately conducted and he offered to give the Torch a proper tour of the college. Despite the Human Torch's misgivings, Dean Wayne promised the Human Torch would get an education he would never forget.

--Fantastic Four I#204
images: (without ads)
Fantastic Four I#204, p11, pan6 (Lanie, main image)
Fantastic Four I#204, p12, pan3 (Lanie, headshot)
Fantastic Four I#205, p8, pan3 (Lanie walking away in trance)
Fantastic Four I#204, p16, pan5 (Dean Joseph Wayne)

Appearances:
Fantastic Four I#204 (March, 1979) - Marv Wolfman (writer, editor), Keith Pollard, Joe Sinnott (art)
Fantastic Four I#205 (April, 1979) - Marv Wolfman (writer, editor), Keith Pollard, Joe Sinnott (art)

First posted: 09/30/2022
Last updated: 09/30/2022

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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