Comic book series
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen is an American comic book series published by DC Comics from September–October 1954 until March 1974, spanning a total of 163 issues. Featuring the adventures of Superman supporting character Jimmy Olsen, it contains stories often of a humorous nature.
Publication 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, which debuted with a September–October 1954 cover date. Curt Swan was the main artist on the series for its first decade.
In 1958, a second title was introduced, "Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane", which revolves around another supporting character in a similar fashion.
Lucy Lane was introduced in issue #36 (April 1959) and became an on-again, off-again romantic interest of Jimmy Olsen. In an "Imaginary Story" seen in issue #57, he marries Supergirl (Kara Zor-El/Linda Lee Danvers) after she loses both her powers and memories of being Supergirl, only for her to recover her powers and memories after their marriage; once she lets him know that she is Supergirl, he is perfectly happy with it. She was also the anonymous "Miss X" whom Jimmy kissed in issue #44 to break the spell that turned him into a werewolf.
When Jack Kirby began working at DC in 1970, he insisted on taking on this title since it was the lowest-selling in the publishing line and without assigned talent at the time, so he would not cost someone their job. Kirby's first issue was #133 (August 1970), and made a very clear break between the old style and the new.
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. The faces of the Superman and Jimmy Olsen figures drawn by Kirby were redrawn by Al Plastino or Murphy Anderson. Comedian Don Rickles guest starred in a two-part story by Kirby in issues #139 and #141. Kirby left the series with issue #148 (April 1972).
Lucy Lane was believed to have died in "Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane" #120 (March 1972) but was later revived in a story in "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen" #160 (October 1973). Nick Cardy was the cover artist for "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen" for issues #154-163.
"Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen", "Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane" and the short-lived "Supergirl" title (launched in 1972) ended in 1974 by merging into the new omnibus title "The Superman Family". The new series continued the numbering from "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen". "Superman Family" itself was canceled in 1982.
A "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen" special one-shot was published in December 2008, following on from the "Atlas" storyline, and leading into "".
Jimmy's transformations.
Many of the issues include Jimmy undergoing some form of transformation. These include:
Proposed TV series.
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 would be used 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.
References.
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