Jimmy Olsen is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Olsen is most often portrayed as a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane and Clark Kent, and has a good working relationship with his boss Perry White. Olsen looks up to his coworkers as role models and parent figures. From 1954 to 1982, Olsen appeared in 222 issues of the comic series Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen and Superman Family, in addition to the main Superman titles.
An unnamed "office boy" with a bow tie appeared in the story "Superman's Phony Manager," published in Action Comics No. 6 (November 1938); it was retroactively considered to be Jimmy Olsen's first appearance.[1][2][3] The character was introduced as Jimmy Olsen by producer Bob Maxwell[4] on The Adventures of Superman radio show on April 15, 1940.[5] After eight early unnamed appearances in comics,[6] Olsen first appeared as a named character in a story by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster titled "Superman versus The Archer" in Superman No. 13 (November–December 1941).[7][8] He occasionally appeared as an office boy in Action Comics, Superman, and World's Finest Comics throughout the next decade, and he made a notable appearance as the manager of a community baseball team in the 1946 radio serial Clan of the Fiery Cross. The first long story featuring the character, "King Jimmy Olsen," ran in the daily Superman newspaper strips from July 20-October 28, 1944.
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen
Following Jack Larson's portrayal on The Adventures of Superman TV series, Olsen was promoted from office boy to "cub reporter" beginning in Superman #86.[9] Later in 1954, Olsen received his own series, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen.[10] The first issue introduced the Signal Watch, a high-frequency supersonic device that allowed Jimmy to contact Superman in case of emergency. Lucy Lane debuted as Jimmy's off-again, on-again love interest in issue #36. Jimmy and Lucy were occasionally married in "imaginary stories" such as "The Wedding of Jimmy Olsen" (issue #38) and The Amazing Story of Superman Red and Superman Blue!
The Mort Weisinger era
Early adventures saw Olsen in a variety of slapstick adventures and strange transformations, such as Jimmy transforming into the giant "Turtle Boy" in issue #53. The stories in the title often featured particularly outlandish situations,[11][12] ranging from Jimmy being hurled back in time to Krypton before its destruction in issue #36 to dealing frequently with gorillas of all sorts. During this period, Jimmy Olsen lived a glamorous life as "Superman's Pal" and even had his own (in-story) fan club.[13][14] Beginning in 1958, Olsen gained the ability to temporarily transform into the superhero Elastic Lad by drinking a serum, becoming an honorary member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. When traveling to the Bottle City of Kandor, Superman and Jimmy donned the secret identities of Nightwing and Flamebird, respectively. He was promoted by editor Perry White to the status of "full-fledged reporter" in issue #124 (October 1969).
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen was a best seller throughout the 1960s; at its peak it was the #4 best-selling comic book with an estimated 520,000 copies sold each month.[15] Reprints from the magazine were also featured in 80-Page Giant #2 and 13 (1964–65).
Jack Kirby's Fourth World storyline began in Jimmy Olsen comics in 1970, with issue #134.[16] Kirby began by introducing a secret "D.N.A. Project" to create Mutated Humans for Good, adding "the Hairies" (a group of technology-equipped hippies), superbeings from other planets (proto-New Gods), Intergang, Darkseid, and the WGBS media executive Morgan Edge. Kirby also used the series as a vehicle to reintroduce Golden Age characters that he previously created at DC Comics, such as the Guardian and the Newsboy Legion.[17] Before the end of his run, Kirby wrote stories involving vampires,[18][19] the Loch Ness Monster,[20] Victor Volcanum, a fire-eating archcriminal,[21] as well as a two-part story that featured the comedian Don Rickles. Kirby left the series following issue #148.
The Superman Family
With issue #164 (April–May 1974) the series was renamed The Superman Family.[22] An anthology title that incorporated the recently cancelled series Supergirl and Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane, Superman Family initially featured one new story about Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, or Supergirl, with the featured character in each issue narrating reprints of the other characters' stories. By the second series, Jimmy Olsen became an investigative reporter for WGBS-TV nicknamed "Mr. Action," featuring in urban crime stories that less frequently involved Superman. Olsen appeared in new stories in The Superman Family #164, 167, 170, 173, 176, 179, and 182–222. A number of Superman writers including Leo Dorfman and Cary Bates contributed scripts for the stories, and they were most often pencilled by Kurt Schaffenberger. The series ended with issue #222 (September 1982). Afterwards, Jimmy Olsen continued to appear in issues of Superman, Action Comics, World's Finest Comics, and DC Comics Presents,[23] where a 29th-century descendant of Olsen became Superwoman.
Post-Crisis
Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, Jimmy's prior history as a character was erased. Despite recent modernization efforts on Superman and his supporting characters, Jimmy Olsen has not been significantly changed in the Modern Age. He is still a cub reporter working for The Daily Planet, and is still friends with Superman. His look was made over as he stopped wearing bowties, and started wearing casual clothing (though this trend started in the 1970s comics). An interesting alteration to the relationship was that Jimmy designed the signal watch himself, leading to his first meeting with Superman.[24] Superman briefly considered confiscating the watch, but decided to trust Jimmy to use it responsibly.
While Jimmy's transformations no longer occur as regularly as they did in the Silver Age, Jimmy once became a type of "Elastic Lad" on contact with the Eradicator; this transformation, however, was extremely painful for Jimmy and has not appeared since.[25] He also took the identity of "Turtle Boy" in a series of pizzacommercials, made when he was temporarily laid off from the Planet.
In the 1990s, Jimmy quit the Planet in a dispute over a story and went to Metropolis broadcaster Galaxy Broadcasting, where he worked as an on-air investigative reporter. This change matured Jimmy somewhat, but he became more ambitious, as well as more brash and arrogant. He still stayed on good terms with both Clark and Lois to the point where Jimmy was best man at their wedding. This period ended when he believed (wrongly) that he had discovered Superman's secret identity and said he would announce it live on air. He reconsidered his actions, but lost his job for wasting the time slot. He was again rehired by the Planet.
Jimmy later came under the angry hand of the Alpha Centurion, an alternate universe dictator with a deep-seated hatred for Superman and eyes for Lois Lane. It was Jimmy who first uncovered his secret plot to control the world's finances through his company Aelius Industries, Inc.
Superman: Metropolis
Olsen is a central character in the 12-part miniseries Superman: Metropolis (beginning June 2003). Written by Chuck Austen and illustrated by Danijel Zezelj, the series focuses on the futuristic technology unleashed in Metropolis by Brainiac in a previous storyline and how it affects the everyday lives of Metropolis citizens.
Jimmy takes a position as a regular star reporter for The Daily Planet, replacing the recently demoted Clark Kent. This caused a strain at the Planet.
Jimmy's story in the 2007–08 weekly series Countdown to Final Crisis begins with an investigation into the death of Duela Dent.[26] Tying into the Death of the New Gods storyline, Jimmy starts to develop many superpowers, which he first discovers when he is attacked by Killer Croc while gathering information on Duela's death.[27][28] As the story progresses he tries to uncover the origin of these powers and starts to discover their potential limitlessness in stories which mimic the Silver Age Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen adventures. Briefly operating as the superhero Mr. Action,[29] Jimmy is unable to command the respect of established superheroes in the Justice League and Teen Titans. He gives up on this particular avenue.[30] One of these powers allows Jimmy to realize the identities of some superheroes, such as Robin and Superman, who requests that he take care of Krypto.
Jimmy is eventually tracked down by the New God Forager,[31] with whom he begins a romantic relationship.[32][33] Forager informs him that Jimmy has become a soulcatcher for the spirits of dying New Gods.[34] The Monitor known as Solomon later tells him that his new powers are the consequence of Darkseid using Jimmy as a host for powers he wishes to use to recreate the universe in his image, knowing that "Superman's pal" is one of the world's most well-protected citizens.[35] Later, as the events of Countdown begin to come to their close, Jimmy becomes a more confidently powerful character and is reunited with the series' other cast members on a mission to stop Karate Kid's disease from becoming a pandemic of apocalyptic proportions.[36] Unfortunately, they fail, and the Morticoccus virus devastates an alternate Earth.[37][38] Upon return to their Earth, Jimmy is captured by Mary Marvel, who had been manipulated towards evil by Darkseid.[39] When Superman comes to save Jimmy, Darkseid takes control of the powers within him, causing Jimmy to radiate Kryptonite radiation, until Ray Palmer manages to rewire Darkseid's control from inside of Jimmy. Jimmy then transforms into a giant turtle-like creature, and prepares to take on Darkseid himself.[40] Darkseid overcomes Jimmy, and prepares to kill him. Ray Palmer then comes out of Jimmy with the New God soul battery, and destroys it, returning Jimmy to normal.[41][42]
During Superman's fight with Atlas, Jimmy witnesses a mysterious figure hovering over the fight. After some encouraging words from Clark Kent, he decides to take two weeks off to investigate.
He tracks down a figure connected with the past of Jonathan Drew and is told the story of how Jonathan became Codename: Assassin. His informant is quickly executed by Codename: Assassin, who then tries to kill Jimmy. Jimmy is able to avoid being killed and is apparently shielded from Codename: Assassin's telepathy due to his own many physical transformations over the years.
Jimmy goes to Project Cadmus and speaks to Dubbilex, who tells him the story about the death of the original Guardian at the hands of Codename: Assassin and how cloning is such an imperfect science that the only viable clone alive went into hiding in the desert. Dubbilex then dies from injuries sustained in an earlier conflict with Codename: Assassin. Jimmy heads south to the town of Warpath, AZ, managing to avoid conflict with Codename: Assassin on the way.
Upon arriving in Warpath, Jimmy interviews the sheriff, Greg Saunders, who evades his questions. Jimmy follows him after dark and sees Saunders working with the last Guardian clone. He then confronts the clone at his home and the two speak.
With his two weeks up, Jimmy returns to Metropolis horrified from learning that a faction within the U.S. military is actively plotting to kill Superman.
Willing to do anything to uncover the conspiracy behind Project 7734, Jimmy uses an anonymous chat server and gets in contact with Erik/Amazing Woman from Infinity Inc., who claims to have information useful to Jimmy. Despite being actively pursued by Codename: Assassin, who goes so far as to place bugs in his house, Jimmy goes to the appointment, only to find Erik's house burned to the ground.
Jimmy pulls Erik out who, with his dying breath, shifts to his more reliable and powerful Erika form. Erik gives him Natasha Irons' number. Natasha then contacts Jimmy, telling him about the plans of General Sam Lane, his outworldly fortress and his capture, and use of a Planet Breaker weapon of Captain Atom, now codenamed Project Breach (due to his similarity to Tim Zanetti's fate).
Finally ready to uncover the truth, Jimmy is openly confronted by Codename: Assassin, who until that point had merely followed him closely. Jimmy uses his signal watch to call Mon-El. Jimmy is shot twice in the chest by Codename: Assassin and sinks into the ocean.[43] Despite surviving his assassination attempt, Jimmy decides to fake his death, having his documents planted on a heavily disfigured corpse. With no one knowing about his survival, Jimmy moves into the old Pemberton Camera Factory, sharing the results of his now-unhindered investigations with Perry and Mon-El.[44]
Action Comics backup and Jimmy Olsen
DC Comics has reported in solicits[when?] that Nick Spencer and R. B. Silva will be producing a monthly 10-page backup feature in Action Comics chronicling the adventures of Jimmy Olsen in Metropolis. Reported story topics include an alien civilization choosing Metropolis as the base of a major cultural celebration, and the introduction of Chloe Sullivan (from the Smallville television series) to the DCU proper. In the latest arc, he goes on a charity date with a girl named Maggie, only to discover that she somehow has ties to Mr. Mxyzptlk, and that she wants to marry him.[citation needed]
The last three chapters of the story are told in the self-titled one-shot Jimmy Olsen.
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (vol. 2)
Beginning with a cover date of September 2019, DC Comics published a 12-part comedic miniseries that restored some elements of the 1954 series to the main DC Comics timeline.[45] Jimmy was once again shown as Turtle Boy and Elastic Lad, and his antics, glamorous lifestyle as Superman's pal, and strange transformations were depicted as a source of streaming-media ad revenue that was keeping the Daily Planet afloat. The series explored Jimmy's siblings Janie and Julian, his family's historic relations with Lex Luthor's family, a plot involving the attempted murder and faked death of Olsen, and a marriage in Gorilla City that Jimmy subsequently forgot to annul. The series poked fun at DC Comics' own history, including a sequence in which Jimmy angered Batman by suggesting a phone-in campaign to decide whether Robin lived or died.[46] By the end of the series, Jimmy received a new Signal Watch and became the publisher of the Daily Planet.
The series was written by Matt Fraction, drawn by Steve Lieber, colored by Nathan Fairbairn, and lettered by Clayton Cowles. A collected edition titled Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen? was published in September 2020, and it received an "honorable mention" in Publishers Weekly's year-end critics poll.[47]
Powers, abilities, and equipment
Jimmy possesses a watch which emits a high-pitched signal only Superman can hear. In a 2010 story, he claimed it stopped working some time in the past, never worked particularly well in the first place, and contacted Superman through Morse code now, anyway, but still wore it for show.[48]
Mostly during the Silver Age of Comic Books, Jimmy would find himself temporarily transformed, for better or worse, or undergo a disguise for various purposes. The variety of transformations Jimmy received during the Silver Age is often homaged or parodied in later comics and adaptations featuring the character – for instance, in JLA: The Nail, Jimmy cites three of these transformations as his motivations behind backing Luthor's bill to outlaw metahumans and in Countdown, Jimmy is used as a spirit container for the deceased New Gods, causing him to exhibit strange powers, albeit uncontrollably, with other stories simply making passing references.
Speed Demon – In 1956, a month before the debut of Barry Allen as the new Flash, Jimmy drank a potion produced by a Professor Claude and briefly gained super-speed.[49]
Radioactive – After being exposed to a radioactive substance, Jimmy began to irradiate everything in his presence.[50]
Super-Brain – Jimmy briefly evolved into a "man of the future" with superhuman mental powers.[51]
Monstrous beard growth — The machinations of the sinister Beard Band cause Jimmy to grow an immense beard.[52]
Gorilla – When Jimmy switched minds with a gorilla, he went about his reporting duties as a gorilla in Jimmy's clothes.[53]
Alien-form – Aliens transformed Jimmy into a telepathic Jovian for a week.[57] Fortunately, this turned out to be a Jovian week, which is much shorter than an Earth week, about 70 hours.
Fire-Breather – An accident involving an experiment gives Jimmy fire-breath.[58]
Human Octopus – After eating an extraterrestrial fruit, Jimmy grew four extra arms. According to Superman, this was actually a hallucination, but Jimmy suspected that Superman said this to teach him a lesson since Jimmy had foolishly ignored advice from the Man of Steel that would have saved him a lot of trouble.[59]
Genie – Jimmy found a genie's lamp and was tricked into replacing its villainous occupant.[60]
Morbidly Obese – Jimmy tried to get fat in an attempt to stop a jewel smuggling and to impress a circus fat lady.[70]
Giant Turtle Man – One of Jimmy's most frequently cited transformations was that of his turning into a giant turtle man.[71]
Human Porcupine – After rejecting the romantic advances of an imp from the Fifth Dimension.[72]
Flamebird – This is the name he took as a costumed superhero, with Superman disguised as Nightwing, in the shrunken Kryptonian city of Kandor.[73] These names were inspired by two native Kryptonian birds, the nightwing and the flamebird, but the relationship between Nightwing and Flamebird intentionally paralleled the crime-fighting team Batman (a night-winged creature) and Robin (a flame-colored bird).
Bizarro Jimmy – Although Jimmy has a counterpart on Bizarro World, he was briefly turned into a Bizarro himself.[74]
Hippie – Investigating a colony of hippies at "Guru Kama's Dream Pad", Jimmy grew a beard and participated in a mock "hate-in".[75] On the cover of this story's issue, Jimmy is wielding a sign that says "Superman is a freak-out!"
Viking – Jimmy put on Viking armor and mistakenly thought he had been transported 1,000 years backward in time.[76]
Steelman – after a volcanic eruption hurls Jimmy and an experimental inter-dimensional travel device into an alternate universe, Jimmy develops his own superpowers as a result of the transit to the (unnamed) "Earth-X" but is vulnerable to fragments of Mount Tipton from his own universe ("Tiptonite"). He adopts a fusion Superman/Batman outfit and launches his own superhero career as Steelman, facing a Joker-masked Clark Kent, secretly the leader of the LUTHAR League before his return to his own universe of origin.
Ultra Olsen – Jimmy gained from Professor Lang and his father 2 halves of to the Magic Medallion of the Mayans that, when fused back together, granted him "the Powers of the Mayan Gods". While he wore it, he possessed super strength, invulnerability, anti-gravity power, and lightning vision. It was revealed the amulet had a limited charge and required recharge from absorbed kinetic energy. Jimmy destroyed the amulet with his lightning vision after the second time he used it.[77][78]
Red Headed Beatle - is an old version of Jimmy from 1,000BC.
Taxi Jimmy - is a taxi driver.
Astro Jimmy - An astronaut version of Jimmy Olsen.
Old Olsen - is an old gramps vision of Jimmy.
Mummy Jimmy - Jimmy Olsen was turned into a mummy.
Jock Olsen - is a high school Jimmy Olsen.
Double Olsen is a captive double of Jimmy but Jimmy wanted to kill him with the doubles weakness kriptonite .
Detective Olsen - is a detective Jimmy wanted to solve a case.
Batman Olsen - is Jimmy wearing Batman's suit.
Imp Jimmy - Jimmy finally found a way to take Mr. Mxyzptlk's powers. Even if he said his name backwards he still had his powers; he turned Mr. Mxyzptlk into a tiger.
Other versions
JLA: The Nail
An alternate universe variant of Jimmy Olsen from Earth-898 appears in JLA: The Nail. This version is an assistant to Lex Luthor who was genetically modified to gain Kryptonian superpowers. However, this eventually causes his body to destabilize and die.[79]
An alternate universe variant of Jimmy Olsen from Earth-395 appears in Superman: Kal. This version is Jamie Ollson, an alchemist and teacher to Merlin.
Superman: Emperor Joker
An alternate universe variant of Jimmy Olsen who serves the Joker appears in the Emperor Joker storyline.
An alternate timeline variant of Jimmy Olsen appears in Flashpoint. This version is a secret agent working for Cyborg before being killed in action and replaced by Lois Lane.[85]
Earth 2
An alternate universe variant of Jimmy Olsen from Earth-2 appears in Earth 2. This version is a hacktivist who later fuses with a Mother Box, becoming a New God with intangibility and technology-manipulating abilities.[86][87]
Jimmy Olsen appears in Adventures of Superman, portrayed by Jack Larson. On TV, he lived at 360 Appletree Lane Apartment #3 in Metropolis. This version of the character was largely popular, leading DC Comics to create the series Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, a regular title with him as the protagonist.[88] Decades later in 1996, Larson portrayed an unnaturally aged Jimmy Olsen in an episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.[89]
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Jimmy Olsen appears in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, portrayed by Michael Landes in the first season and Justin Whalin for the rest of the series' run.[90] The reason cited behind the change is that Landes looked too much like Dean Cain as well as to emphasize Jimmy's youth.[91] Landes played Olsen as a cocksure, sarcastic Generation X character, who often seemed like he was very sure of himself although usually, the opposite was true. Whalin gave a portrayal closer to previous incarnations of the character, playing Jimmy as a lovably naive rookie. When Whalin took over the role, more emphasis was placed on Jimmy's love-life and he would frequently seek out Lois, Clark and Perry's advice on these matters. Whalin's Olsen was described as being a computer whiz and these talents often came in useful to Lois and Clark/Superman, particularly in the episode 'Virtually Destroyed' where Jimmy's computing abilities come in handy as Lois and Superman battle a villain inside of a virtual reality simulator. Jimmy's home life and background is described in some detail throughout the course of the show. Although we never see her, some references are made to Jimmy's mother who is described as being overweight and having allergies. Jimmy's father Jack Olsen is a James Bond-like secret agent for the fictional National Intelligence Agency (N.I.A.) and the episode 'The Dad who Came in from the Cold' is entirely devoted to this character.
Smallville
Jimmy Olsen appears in Smallville, portrayed by Aaron Ashmore. This version prefers to be called James, is in a relationship with series-original character Chloe Sullivan, and is ultimately killed by the titular villain in the eighth season finale "Doomsday". Chloe entrusts his camera to his younger brother (portrayed by Ryan Harder).[92] In the ending scene of the series finale set seven years in the future, the adult version of the younger Olsen (also portrayed by Ashmore) appears working with Lois and Clark at the Daily Planet.[93]
Jimmy Olsen appears in TV series set in the Arrowverse, portrayed by Mehcad Brooks.[94] Introduced in Supergirl, this version is African-American and a former Daily Planet photographer who joins CatCo as an art director in the pilot episode.[95] Additionally, he is aware of Superman and Supergirl's secret identities and lost his father to criminals when he was a child, leading him to become the vigilante Guardian.[96] Later in the series, Olsen becomes head of CatCo in National City after Cat Grant moves to Metropolis, and quits after Andrea Rojas buys the company and forces him to report on stories based on profitability as opposed to truth. Although his contract forbids him from working at another newspaper after quitting, he finds a loophole by becoming the editor of his hometown paper, The Calvintown Gazette, as the contract doesn't stop him owning another paper.[97]
Superman & Lois
Jimmy Olsen appears in the Superman & Lois episode "A Regular Guy", portrayed by Douglas Smith.[98] This version is the brother of Janet Olsen and headed up the Daily Planet's baseball game. His friendship with Clark is semi-strained when he suspected that Clark Kent is Superman which would also explain why he showed up late to the different baseball games. By the present day after Clark revealed in an interview with Janet that he's Superman, Jimmy visits Smallville at Janet's suggestion and catches up with Clark at the diner Victoria May's.
Introduced in Superman: The Animated Series, this version is a copy boy and reporter at the Daily Planet who idolizes Clark Kent and Lois Lane. In his most notable appearance in the episode "Superman's Pal", Olsen is put in danger after his friendship with Superman is exposed, helps him defeat Metallo, and is given a signal watch afterwards for protection.
Olsen makes minor appearances in the Justice League episodes "Only a Dream" and "Hereafter".
Olsen makes non-speaking cameo appearances in Justice League Unlimited. Additionally, an unnamed mutant turtle inspired by his Giant Turtle Boy form appears in the episode "Chaos at the Earth's Core".[100]
Jimmy Olsen appears in The Batman two-part episode "The Batman/Superman Story", voiced by Jack DeSena.[99]
Jimmy Olsen appears in Justice League Action, voiced by Max Mittelman.[99] This version runs his own website, "Jimmy Live", and sometimes puts himself in danger in search of views.
Jimmy Olsen appears in My Adventures with Superman, voiced by Ishmael Sahid.[101][99] This version is an African-American Daily Planet intern and Clark Kent's roommate who is aware of his secret identity as Superman. In addition, he also has a social media page called "Flamebird".
Additionally, a gender-flipped alternate universe of the character named Jalana Olsen appears in the episode "Kiss Kiss Fall In Portal", voiced by Kimberly Brooks.
Film
Christopher Reeve/Brandon Routh series
In the four motion pictures starring Christopher Reeve, beginning with Superman, Jimmy Olsen was portrayed by Marc McClure. McClure reprised his role as Jimmy Olsen in the 1984 spin-off film Supergirl, making McClure the only actor and Olsen the only character to appear in all five Superman films of the 1978–1987 era. McClure also appears as the character in the toy commercial for the Super Powers Collection.[102]
Jimmy Olsen appears in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, portrayed by Michael Cassidy.[104] This version is a CIA operative, but poses as a photographer during Lois Lane's journey to Africa. During an interview, he is exposed as an agent and killed after terrorists find a tracking device in his camera.[105]
Jimmy Olsen appears in Superman: Red Son, voiced by Phil Morris.[99] He is Luthor's faithful aide and Vice President before Luthor resigns and appoints him President of the USA.
Jimmy Olsen appears as a NPC in Lego DC Super-Villains and can be found in the character creator, voiced again by Max Mittelman.
Miscellaneous
The DC Universe Online incarnation of Jimmy Olsen appears in the prequel comic DC Universe Online: Legends, where he is transformed into a reptilian metahuman after being exposed to Brainiac's Exobytes.[113][114][115]
The DC Animated Universe incarnation of Jimmy Olsen appears in the one-shot Superman Beyond. In the future, he purchases the Daily Planet after Perry White's death.[116]
Jimmy Olsen appears in the comic book prequel to Injustice: Gods Among Us, where the Joker kills him while he is on a stakeout with Lois Lane.[117]
Cultural references
Jimmy Olsen appears in the Spin Doctors' 1991 song "Jimmy Olsen's Blues".[118]
^Wallace, Daniel (2010). "1930s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 21. ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9. Action Comics No. 6 (November 1938) The Man of Steels's future pal Jimmy Olsen made his first appearance within this issue of Action Comics, although he was identified only as an "inquisitive office-boy.
^Superman No. 86/2: "Jimmy Olsen ...Editor!" January 1954.
^Irvine, Alex "1950s" in Dolan, p. 73: "Jimmy Olsen got his own adventures in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen No. 1. A comic remarkable for its inventiveness and longevity, it ran for 163 issues."
^McAvennie, Michael "1970s" in Dolan, p. 141 "Since no ongoing creative team had been slated to Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen, "King of Comics" Jack Kirby made the title his DC launch point, and the writer/artist's indelible energy and ideas permeated every panel and word balloon of the comic."
^Kirby, Jack (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Colletta, Vince (i). "Genocide Spray" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 143 (November 1971).
^Kirby, Jack (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Colletta, Vince (i). "A Big Thing in a Deep Scottish Lake" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 144 (December 1971).
^Kirby, Jack (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Royer, Mike (i). "A Superman in Super-Town" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 147 (March 1972).
^McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 159 "DC's 100-page Super Spectaculars were proving popular, so DC said goodbye to Supergirl, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane, and housed the characters together in Superman Family. Continuing the numbering from where Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen ended, the series featured classic reprints with new tales in the lead spot."
^Dini, Paul; Palmiotti, Jimmy; Gray, Justin; Giffen, Keith (w), Kolins, Scott (p), Kolins, Scott (i). "Halfway to Hell!" Countdown to Final Crisis, no. 26 (December 2007 [October 31, 2007]).
^Dini, Paul; Giffen, Keith; Bedard, Tony (w), Saiz, Jesus (p), Ramos, Rodney (i). "Season's Beatings" Countdown to Final Crisis, no. 19 (February 2008 [December 19, 2007]).
^Dini, Paul; Giffen, Keith; Bedard, Tony (w), Woods, Pete; Derenick, Tom (p), Woods, Pete; Faucher, Wayne (i). What Price Paradise? Countdown to Final Crisis, no. 16 (March 2008 [January 9, 2008]).
^Dini, Paul; Palmiotti, Jimmy; Gray, Justin; Giffen, Keith (w), Magno, Carlos (p), Ramos, Rodney (i). "Homeward Bound" Countdown to Final Crisis, no. 8 (May 2008 [March 5, 2008]).
^Dini, Paul; Giffen, Keith; Beechen, Adam (w), Norton, Mike (p), Palmiotti, Jimmy (i). "Outbreak" Countdown to Final Crisis, no. 6 (May 2008 [March 19, 2008]).
^Dini, Paul; Giffen, Keith; Beechen, Adam (w), Derenick, Tom (p), Faucher, Wayne (i). "Gone Tomorrow" Countdown to Final Crisis, no. 7 (May 2008 [March 12, 2008]).
^Dini, Paul; Giffen, Keith; Beechen, Adam (w), Starlin, Jim (p), Ramos, Rodney (i). "End Times" Countdown to Final Crisis, no. 5 (May 2008 [March 26, 2008]).
^Schwartz, Alvin (w), Swan, Curt (p), Burnley, Ray (i). "The Jimmy Olsen from Jupiter" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 32 (October 1958).
^Binder, Otto (w), Swan, Curt (p), Burnley, Ray (i). "The Human Flame-Thrower!" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 33 (December 1958).
^Bernstein, Robert (w), Swan, Curt (p), Forte, John (i). "The Human Octopus!" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 41 (December 1959).
^Bernstein, Robert (w), Swan, Curt (p), Giunta, John (i). "Jimmy the Genie!" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 42 (January 1960).
^Binder, Otto (w), Swan, Curt (p), Kaye, Stan (i). "The Wolf-Man of Metropolis!" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 44 (April 1960).
^Bernstein, Robert (w), Swan, Curt (p), Kaye, Stan (i). "Miss Jimmy Olsen!" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 44 (April 1960).
^Dorfman, Leo (w), Swan, Curt (p), Klein, George (i). "Leslie Lowe, Girl Reporter!" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 67 (March 1963).
^Binder, Otto (w), Papp, George (p), Papp, George (i). "Jimmy Olsen's Female Fan!" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 84 (April 1965).
^Dorfman, Leo (w), Schaffenberger, Kurt (p), Schaffenberger, Kurt (i). "The Day They Unmasked Mr. Action" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 159 (August 1973).
^Swan, Curt (p)Forte, John (i)"The Fat Boy of Metropolis!" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 49 (December 1960).
^Siegel, Jerry (w), Swan, Curt (p), Forte, John (i). "The Giant Turtle Man" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 53 (June 1961).
^Siegel, Jerry (w), Swan, Curt (p), Klein, George (i). "The Human Porcupine" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 65 (December 1962).
^Hamilton, Edmond (w), Swan, Curt (p), Klein, George (i). "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor!" Superman, no. 158 (January 1963).
^Siegel, Jerry (w), Forte, John (p), Klein, George (i). "Jimmy Olsen, the Bizarro Boy!" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 80 (October 1964).
^Binder, Otto (w), Costanza, Pete (p), Costanza, Pete (i). "Hippie Olsen's Hate-In!" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 118 (March 1969).
^Dorfman, Leo (w), Schaffenberger, Kurt (p), Colletta, Vince (i). "Olsen the Red, Last of the Vikings" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 154 (November 1972).
^(Unknown) (w), (Unknown) (p), (unknown) (i). "Superman vs Ultra Olsen" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 129 (June 1970).
^Dorfman, Leo (w), Schaffenberger, Kurt (p), (unknown) (i). "The Jaws of the Jaguar" Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, no. 158 (June 1973).
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv"Jimmy Olsen Voices (Superman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved January 3, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
^Taylor, Tom (w), Raapack, Jheremy; Gimenez, Alex; Miller, Mike S. (p), Raapack, Jheremy; Deering, Marc; Miller, Mike S. (i). "Part One" Injustice: Gods Among Us, no. 1 (March 2013).