Jimmy Olsen Adventures, Vol. 2

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (1954) #142-148, 150

by Jack Kirby

One of the most influential writers and illustrators in the history of comic books, Jack Kirby co-created such legendary heroes as the X-Men, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, the Fantastic Four, and the Silver Surfer. In this breathtaking volume by "the King of Comics," Jimmy Olsen's highly popular adventures from the early 1970s are beautifully reprinted. Showcasing his creative genius, Kirby used these monumental stories of Superman and Jimmy Olsen to introduce his Fourth World mythological epic. These groundbreaking tales forever revolutionized the art of storytelling across all genres.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Comix

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2004

About the author

Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg) was one of the most influential, recognizable, and prolific artists in American comic books, and the co-creator of such enduring characters and popular culture icons as the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Hulk, Captain America, and hundreds of others stretching back to the earliest days of the medium. He was also a comic book writer and editor. His most common nickname is "The King."

Reviews

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

More problems for Superman as Jimmy steps in way over his head in these adventures. Recommended

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I do think the Jimmy Olsen chapters of Kirby's Fourth World saga are the weakest, they are still very good. The weakness comes from the forced way that Superman is shoehorned into each issue. The would have been stronger had Kirby not had to include Superman in every story, but that was a requirement of the type of book it was. Oh well.

[Rick Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

The continuing adventures of Jimmy Olsen, the Newsboys Legion and a poorly drawn Superman return for a medley of nonsensical adventures that amount to almost nothing. Despite being a part of Kirby's "Fourth World", nothing meaningful really crystallizes out of Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen. Kirby famously took this job to make DC's lowest selling book a hit, but I can't say I would have kept this on my pull list for long if I had been a reader at the time of serialization. Sure, Kirby's layouts are probably ahead of the other comics of the time, but I ultimately found most of the issues a chore to read. Had this been a more Jimmy Olsen centric comic with less Superman involved, I think this could have been a lot better. Overall, I'd skip this on future re-reads of the "Fourth World", but as a Kirby fan I still found enough things intriguing about this series to power through these two volumes.

[Nicolas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof. The Newsboys Legion is invited to stay in the 1940s.

I really want to like this series, but there is just too much going on. I think if you ditch the Newsboy Legion (and frankly Superman can go as well) and just focus on Jimmy Olsen getting thrown into the deep end with Darkseid, then you might actually have something worth reading.

Also, why you would ever re-pencil a Jack Kirby book is beyond me.

Also, Don Rickles? What?

For more on this, might I suggest Comic Book Coffee Break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umujo...

[Matt Sautman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The companion volume of Jack Kirby's Jimmy Olsen and another entry into the 4th World, this entry is somewhat lackluster in comparison to the earlier issues. With the exception of the D.N.Aliens, the return of Simian and Mokkari, and a brief jaunt to Supertown, New Genesis, this feels less connected to the 4th World and more a part of a series of vignettes produced at semi-random. As I continue the 4th World, I find the ideas behind the series do not match always up with the execution. There are worse graphic novel collections than this, but there are better ones as well.

[Patrick Nichol · Rating 1 out of 5]

More of the best of Jack Kirby's fabled Fourth World series starring Jimmy Olsen and the Newsboy Legion.

Rock On!