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Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen
The cover of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1. Art by Curt Swan.
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
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, 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 working at DC in the 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.^[1] 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 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 December 2008, following on from the "Atlas" storyline, and leading into Superman: New Krypton.

[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
• Showcase Presents: Superman Family, Volume 1, ISBN 1401207871
• Showcase Presents: Superman Family, Volume 2, ISBN 1401216560
• Showcase Presents: Superman Family, Volume 3, ISBN 1401221881

[edit] 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.

[edit] See also

• Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane

[edit] References

1. ^ Evanier, Mark. "Afterword." Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus: Volume 1, New York: DC Comics, 2007.