Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen
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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, featuring the adventures of Superman supporting character Jimmy Olsen.
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)
- Giant Turtle Boy in #53 (1961)
- A human porcupine, in #65 (1962)
- Hippie in #118 (1969)
When Jack Kirby began to work to DC in 1970s, 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.*Evanier, Mark. "Afterword." Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus: Volume 1, New York: DC Comics, 2007.* 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 the Guardian.
The title was replaced by Superman Family with issue #164, continuing the numbering from Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen.
A Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen Special one-shot was published in Dec. 2008, following on from the "Atlas" storyline, and leading into Superman: New Krypton.
Collected editions
- Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby, Volume 1
- Jimmy Olsen: Adventures by Jack Kirby, Volume 2
- Superman: The Amazing Transformations of Jimmy Olsen,
- Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus, Vol. 1
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 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 proposed project died unmade.