Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen? (Jimmy Olsen (2019-))

Matt Fraction is one of the smartest writers in modern comics but sometimes his work falls foul of being too clever for its own good. Not this time around: he and artist Steve Lieber have produced a wonderfully enjoyable take on Jimmy Olsen that's entirely true to the spirit and daftness of the Silver Age series - and it was very daft indeed - while being entirely modern at the same time. And all that without any of the relentless grimness and gore that have plagued DC Comics for most of this century.To cut what could be a long story to spoiler-free shortness, the maxi-series collected in this book sees Jimmy Olsen going on the run and, in doing so, trying to solve the mystery of his own murder (he's not dead - that's not a spoiler - but everyone thinks he is, for reasons that become crystal clear when you read the book, and that's not a spoiler either). He's unable, for once, to call on any help from Superman, and has to fall back on his own somewhat wayward resources.Readers as old as this reviewer may remember that in Jimmy's own series in the 1960s - a time when Superman-related titles sold so well that even a book about his pal outsold most Marvel mags - was characterised by some of the nuttiest plots ever to hit the four-colour page. Jimmy's impetuous decisions, weird transformations (perhaps most memorably into a giant turtle-creature), and cross-dressing were the order of the day. Fraction, to his immense credit, gives us Jimmy's impetuous decisions (most notably: removing the wheel from the Batmobile), a transformation into a giant turtle and some weirdly alluring cross-dressing, and so much more besides. What's particularly impressive is that he manages to do this in the context of a plot which is not only coherent and resolved with immensely satisfying logic, but also seems entirely plausible within the context of the wider DCU (though don't ask where, if at all, it fits in whatever passes for DCU continuity these days). The narrative structure is complex, non-linear, and reliant on flashbacks, but it's all surprisingly easy to follow.Fraction is ably assisted by artist Steve Lieber, whose elegant, uncluttered ligne clair style is entirely suited to the book. His visual storytelling is remarkably clear - and astonishingly so by the standards of many modern comics artists, who seem unable to complete an issue without some imagery the reader can't quite make out - and he has a gift for facial expression that is reminiscent of Curt Swan, who drew the Silver Age series. In sequences which flash back to Jimmy's childhood, he uses a style which exquisitely melds Charles Schulz and Bill Watterson, and it's absolutely pitch-perfect. And when action's required, he's good at that too. The charm of Lieber's work is off the scale.I was going to say that this is probably the best Superman-related title since Morrison and Quitely's All-Star Superman from the mid-noughties. Then I realised that in terms of sheer charm, coherent plotting, lack of pretence and art that - skillful as Quitely undoubtedly is - doesn't make you feel slightly queasy, it knocks All-Star Superman into the heart of the sun. It may be the best Superman-related title since Alan Moore's Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow, and there's no higher praise than that.

It starts like a silly little book about Superman's weird, funny, good hearted friend and on the surface it stays that way but in actuality it ends up being quite the complex story. Really, the quality of this book cannot be overstated. Apparently it didn't sell amazingly back in floppy format but now there is no reason not to read one of the best books published in a while.

Fun non linear story telling I really enjoyed it, a homage to the madness of the silver age!

“Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen - Who Killed Jimmy Olsen?” collects the 12 issues series of that name, along with “Superman: Leviathan Rising Special” #1, which opens the proceedings.Firstly, everything I wanted to say about this book has been said by the two other reviewers – this is one of the best comic-book collections that I have read in a very long time. There have been really good graphic collections, but this is in a class of its own.This story takes the current Jimmy Olsen, as seen in Mr Bendis’s current Superman series, and reconnects him with his long and chequered past; all of it. Whatever you can remember from your childhood, if you are old enough to remember Jimmy having his own comic-book, you will find referenced here, and in a way that makes it fit right in. The Turtle Boy Jimmy appears on page 5 of issue #1 (the first issue here is the Leviathan issue, which is an integral part of the plot).Recent continuity gave Jimmy a wealthy family, or at least mentioned them. Here you will find their backstory, beginning on page 1 of issue #1, and which then runs through the book to the very end. You will also find Jimmy Olsen the Pulitzer-award-winning photographer as well as the Jimmy Olsen Fan Club (and a set of Legion costumes among their memorabilia), as well as a mention of the city of Kandor (though they can’t yet crowbar in the Nightwing and Flamebird business into the continuity, but there was a wistful look when talking about Kandor…).One of the other reviewers waxes lyrical about the ’cartoon’ flashbacks to Jimmy’s childhood, but fails to actually mention that it is based on “Sugar and Spike”, the comic that was a contemporary of Jimmy’s own.I have to say that the villain of the piece was pretty obvious, despite all the actual evidence to the contrary – first impressions DO count, though I did suspect Lois of being an impostor at one point.The Batman/Alfred relationship is taken to new heights, and Metamorpho performs above and beyond the call of duty, and Dextar the (former Red Lantern) Cat joins the Olsen menagerie.The main takeaway here for me is that while Superman often declares his grounding as a human is thanks to his adopted parents and Lois, it is obvious that Jimmy is just as important an element, even if overlooked nowadays.“That’s what friends are for, right?”, as Jimmy says to Superman in the final panel.