Jimmy Olsen

Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen is Superman's best pal, and his courage and bravery in the face of danger make him a hero in his own right.

Everyone needs a best friend, even a Superman. Perhaps the greatest bromance in the DC Universe is the one between photographer and former cub reporter Jimmy Olsen and the Man of Steel, and it goes way back to the earliest days of the Golden Age of comics. As much as Lois Lane is the love of Clark Kent’s life, and Daily Planet editor Perry White is a surrogate father figure, Jimmy Olsen is the kid brother Superman never had.

Despite his outwardly youthful appearance, often shown wearing a bow tie and sporting freckles, James Olsen is a career journalist and photographer at the Daily Planet, and has been since his late teens, when he was an intern for Perry White. In most versions of his history, Olsen was present when Superman made his public debut and has been friends with both the Man of Steel and his alter ego Clark Kent ever since.

Despite just being an ordinary guy, Jimmy Olsen is braver than most, and is always willing to put himself in real danger in order to get that elusive photo or get the scoop that’ll land him the story of the century. Almost always forthright and true, James Olsen always has his BFF Superman’s back, even if it’s Superman who winds up needing to watch Jimmy’s back most of the time.


For more on Jimmy Olsen's history, visit his page on DCUniverse.com.

Character Facts

Powers:

fearless, unwavering loyalty, unyielding drive to discover the truth, keen photographic eye

First Appearance:

SUPERMAN #13 (1941)

Base of Operations:

Metropolis

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