Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen
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| Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen | |
|---|---|
 The cover of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1. Art by Curt Swan. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Schedule | Bi-monthly and later Monthly |
| Format | Ongoing while in publication |
| Publication date | Sept-Oct 1954 - March 1974 |
| Number of issues | 163 |
| Main character(s) | Jimmy Olsen |
| Creative team | |
| Writer(s) | Otto Binder Leo Dorfman Jack Kirby |
| Penciller(s) | Curt Swan Jack Kirby |
| Inker(s) | Vince Colletta |
| Collected editions | |
| Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby, Volume 1 | ISBN 1563899841 |
| Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby, Volume 2 | ISBN 1401202594 |
| The Amazing Transformation of Jimmy Olsen | ISBN 1401213693 |
| Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus, Vol. 1 | ISBN 1401213448 |
Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from October 1954 until March 1974, spanning a total of 163 issues.[1] Featuring the adventures of Superman supporting character Jimmy Olsen, it contains stories often of humorous nature.
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[edit] Background and history
The 1952 television series Adventures of Superman co-starred actor Jack Larson, who appeared regularly as Jimmy Olsen. Largely because of the popularity of Larson and his portrayal of the character, National Comics Publications (DC Comics) decided to create a regular title featuring Jimmy as the leading character.[2]
Many of the issues include Jimmy undergoing a transformation of some form. Some of these include:
- Speed Demon in #15 (1956)
- Elastic Lad in #37 (1959)
- Wolf-Man in #44 (1960)
- Woman - Jimmy would occasionally go undercover dressed as a woman in #44 (1960), #67 (1963), #84 (1965), and #159 (1973).[3]
- Giant Turtle Boy in #53 (1961)
- A human porcupine, in #65 (1962)
- Hippie in #118 (1969)
When Jack Kirby began working at DC in 1970, he insisted on this title since it was the lowest selling in the publishing line and without assigned talent at the time so he wouldn't cost someone their job.[4][5] During his run, Kirby introduced many memorable characters, notably the Fourth World's New Gods, Darkseid, Project Cadmus and Transilvane. He also reintroduced the Newsboy Legion and the Guardian.
A few years after its debut, a second title was introduced, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane, which revolves around another supporting character in a similar fashion. Both titles ended in 1974 by merging into Superman Family. The new series would continue the numbering from Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen.[6]
A Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen Special one-shot was published in December 2008, following on from the "Atlas" storyline, and leading into Superman: New Krypton.
[edit] Proposed TV series
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In 1959, the producers of the action/adventure series Adventures of Superman were hit by a snag as to how revive the now-canceled series after series star George Reeves had died that summer from a gunshot wound. Jack Larson, who played Jimmy in the series, was approached with the idea of continuing the franchise as a spin-off for two new seasons of 26 episodes each to begin airing in 1960. Titled Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, it would focus on a more serious angle of Olsen's rising career as a reporter and journalist with Larson reprising his role. In place of Reeves, stock footage of Superman flying and a look-alike stunt double to play the Man of Steel. Disgusted at the thought of the producers trying to cash in and make money over the death of Reeves, Larson rejected the proposal, and the project went unmade.
[edit] Collected editions
- Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby, Volume 1, ISBN 1563899841
- Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby, Volume 2, ISBN 1401202594
- Superman: The Amazing Transformations of Jimmy Olsen, ISBN 1401213693
- Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus, Volume 1, ISBN 1401213448 includes Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #133-139.
- Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus, Volume 2, ISBN 140121357X includes Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #141-145.
- Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus, Volume 3, ISBN 1401214851 includes Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #146-148
- Showcase Presents: Superman Family, Volume 1, ISBN 1401207871
- Showcase Presents: Superman Family, Volume 2, ISBN 1401216560
- Showcase Presents: Superman Family, Volume 3, ISBN 1401221881
- Countdown Special: Jimmy Olsen #1: Reprints Jimmy Olsen #136 and #147-148.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Irvine, Alex; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1950s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. "Jimmy Olsen got his own adventures in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1. A comic remarkable for its inventiveness and longevity, it ran for 163 issues."
- ^ Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman (2006)
- ^ Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #44 (April 1960) reprinted in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #95 (Sept. 1966); Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #67 (March 1963); Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #84 (April 1965); and Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #159 (Aug. 1973) at the Grand Comics Database
- ^ Evanier, Mark. "Afterword." Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus: Volume 1, New York: DC Comics, 2007.
- ^ McAvennie, Michael "1970s" in Dolan, p. 141: "Since no ongoing creative team had been slated to Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen, "King of Comics" Jack Kirby made the title his DC launch point, and the writer/artist's indelible energy and ideas permeated every panel and word balloon of the comic."
- ^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 159 "DC's 100-page Super Spectaculars were proving popular, so DC said goodbye to Supergirl, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane, and housed the characters together in Superman Family. Continuing the numbering from where Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen ended, the series featured classic reprints with new tales in the lead spot."
[edit] External links
- Transgender Graphics and Fiction Archive An overview of Jimmy Olsen's adventures disguised as a woman.
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