Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!


If you saw James Gunn’s Superman this summer, then there’s a chance you fell in love with Jimmy Olsen. In fact, you might be wondering what the junior reporter will be up to next, and what kind of crazy adventures he got up to in the comics. It’s possible you’ve heard about the stories where he’s turned into a giant turtle or married a gorilla, but those were just precursors to the truly intense stuff. All of that happened before Jack Kirby came along.

Jack Kirby’s run on Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen is not only some of the best work done on the character, but it’s also some of the most consequential in DC’s history. The storyline originally ran in Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #133-139 and #141-148. It’s also collected as a trade paperback called Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen by Jack Kirby.
 

THE PREMISE:

Jimmy Olsen is in over his head. The Daily Planet has been purchased by Morgan Edge, the media mogul who owns Galaxy Broadcasting System. Edge sends Olsen to investigate a strange commune outside of Metropolis, but the young reporter doesn’t realize the true nature of the assignment. Before long, Olsen discovers scientific marvels he never dreamed of and finds himself thrown in the middle of a war between two worlds. It’s a bold new chapter for Superman’s pal, and nothing will ever be the same again. 
 

LET’S TALK TALENT:

Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen by Jack Kirby was written, penciled and edited by the man himself—Jack Kirby. We can’t overstate just how important Kirby is to the comics medium. He was more than a penciler, he was a storyteller, and many of the characters and concepts he helped create have made their way into movies, TV shows, animation, video games and countless other comics. After co-creating many marvelous superheroes for another company, Kirby returned to DC (where he had worked in the Golden Age) in 1970 for the next phase of his career.

Not wanting anyone to be fired, Kirby told DC Comics editorial director Carmine Infantino to put him on a title that didn’t have a permanent creative team. Despite the popular urban myth, Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen was not DC’s lowest selling title, but Kirby did challenge DC to give him a low-profile title so he could boost sales. Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen contains some of Kirby’s most creative work, giving the artist an opportunity to shine as a storyteller and worldbuilder. Kirby’s artwork shines throughout the run and gifted the DC Universe some of its most imaginative creatures, worlds and action sequences.

Vince Colletta inked Kirby’s pencils, bringing a streamlined and efficient finish to the dynamic artwork. Colletta's inking style added a unique polish to Kirby's originals, making the bold images pop with more energy and excitement. Al Plastino and Murphy Anderson also provided (at the time) uncredited touch-up work, keeping characters like Superman in DC’s signature house style.
 

A FEW REASONS TO READ:

  • You’ll be surprised to learn how many DC Universe characters and concepts began during Kirby’s Jimmy Olsen run. The storyline contains the first appearances of Morgan Edge, Bruno Mannheim, Dubbilex, Dabney Donovan, Intergang, WBGS, Project Cadmus (at the time called the DNA Project) and Darkseid. That’s right, Darkseid, the destructive new god behind the Absolute universe and DC K.O. debuted in a Jimmy Olsen comic book.
  • In addition to creating new characters, Jack Kirby also used this run to revitalize Guardian and the Newsboy Legion. Kirby had co-created the characters with comic book legend Joe Simon back in the Golden Age, and their inclusion in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen rescued them from obscurity, helping them become regular players in the modern DC Universe.
  • Jack Kirby’s Jimmy Olsen was published from 1970-1972, so there are some out-there Bronze Age concepts here. We get a multi-part story featuring real-life comedian Don Rickles (for the younger readers, he’s Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story), Jimmy Olsen turning into a violent caveman, an artificial miniature planet populated by classic movie monsters, and an army of miniature paratrooper clones. It’s wild!
  • After James Gunn’s Superman, there’s been a lot of talk about Jimmy Olsen and his future in the DC Universe. If Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen leaves you wanting more of the character, this run will scratch that itch and more.
  • If you know Jack Kirby, then you know that nobody draws scientific gizmos or monsters quite like him, and this run has plenty of both. The monsters are colorful and imaginative, and no two machines are illustrated the same way. Reading through this book, it’s easy to see how Kirby earned his reputation as the King.
     

WHY IT’S WORTH YOUR TIME:

If you’re a DC Universe fan, then Jack Kirby’s Jimmy Olsen is essential reading. The DNA of Kirby’s run can be found in most things DC is involved with today, whether it’s comics, movies, television or video games. Did you like the Bruno Mannheim storyline in Superman & Lois? Thank Jack Kirby and Jimmy Olsen. Did you enjoy seeing Darkseid in Zack Snyder’s Justice League? That’s Kirby and Olsen again. Were you entertained by the Project Cadmus stuff in Young Justice? You get the idea.

It’s not hyperbolic to say that Jack Kirby’s issues of Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen form one of the most consequential runs DC has ever published. Without it, the modern DC Universe would be unrecognizable. Plus, it’s an entertaining read full of nonstop action, fun and science fiction craziness. The artwork is stunning, the storylines are imaginative and the entire reading experience is unlike any other. Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen by Jack Kirby is an unpredictable roller coaster, and the perfect choice for your next Weekend Escape.


Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen by Jack Kirby is available in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers as a softcover graphic novel. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.