Comments on: John Seavey's Storytelling Engines: Superman Family

By: FunkyGreenJerusalem

FunkyGreenJerusalem — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 03:30:52 +0000

I like that he used to cross dress reguarly.

By: The Mutt

The Mutt — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 01:49:40 +0000

When I was a little kid, I wanted anything with Superman in it, so I read a lot of Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane. I outgrew them real fast. I despise the "signal watch" with the heat of a thousand suns.

Jimmy Olsen must die? Wouldn't bother me a bit.

By: John Seavey

John Seavey — Thu, 31 May 2007 22:27:45 +0000

That was my impression too, until I read the actual stories in 'Showcase Presents: Superman Family'. What I found out was that it was nothing like that. Jimmy frequently gets himself out of trouble, sometimes gets Superman out of trouble (no bonus points for guessing that Kryptonite is involved), and when he does use the signal watch, it's usually in situations where other people would probably be wishing they could call Superman too. In fact, he's got a real strong sense of responsibility about being "Superman's Pal", something that comes across in a lot of stories. He knows that Superman trusts him, and he's careful to be worthy of that trust--one story highlights the fact that unlike Lois Lane, he never tries to find out Superman's secret identity, because he knows that as Superman's friend, he's the target for people who want that information, and what he doesn't know, he can't be forced to tell. All I have to say is, read the comics, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

By: Scavenger

Scavenger — Thu, 31 May 2007 18:47:14 +0000

As a counter, my impression of Jimmy Olsen is pretty much my impression of the Lois Lane from the era. Goes out, gets in trouble, and has Superman come and saves him. He doesn't do anything himself, he just blunders in, and relies on his pal to get him out.

He's one part wimp, and one part wimp with big strong older brother ("See this watch...you touch me and my buddy's gonna come and whup you!"

The post crisis one seems better at times, but the Silver Age fetish just pushes him back to being where he was before.

By: Mike P

Mike P — Thu, 31 May 2007 13:52:26 +0000

I agree with Mike Loughlin -- Jimmy was designed to appeal to kids. He *still* appeals to my 5-1/2 year old -- we have read a lot of Silver Age comics, and Jimmy is one of his favorites. Of course, that may be because I do a goofy, perpetually-breaking voice when I read Jimmy's lines... who knows.

I think Jimmy could work today if they would play up an angle of his character from those Silver Age stories that doesn't (to my knowledge -- which is limited) show up much: Jimmy as the "master of disguise." I think that All-Star Superman made use of this recently, if memory serves -- but it might make a pretty good "story-telling engine" for an ongoing series today, if Jimmy had the attitude and "coolness" of his TAS incarnation, with the disguises of his Silver Age years. Sort of like "Alias," only with a boy and more all-ages friendly. "Jimmy Olsen Adventures," if you will.

By: Bill Reed

Bill Reed — Thu, 31 May 2007 01:58:43 +0000

I love Jimmy Olsen, and I'd be tempted to break my superheroic No Killing Rule for a chance to write a new Jimmy Olsen ongoing.

By: Marc

Marc — Thu, 31 May 2007 00:53:01 +0000

With the bowtie and goofy jacket, Jimmy Olsen doesn't look so much like a nerd as he does Tucker Carlson, which is infinitely worse.

Tucker Carlson, Superman's Pal is the sort of thing that gives me nightmares.

By: Parker

Parker — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:37:36 +0000

I'm pro-Olsen, especially the Weisenger era. And especially that he had a creepy fan club that monitored his activities and meddled in his personal life as with Lana.

By: Beta Ray Steve

Beta Ray Steve — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:07:05 +0000

I thought the Jimmy vs. Bizarro in ASS was classic. All this time it had been taken for granted, "Jimmy is Superman's pal", but we were never shown why.

By: Adam Jones

Adam Jones — Wed, 30 May 2007 13:32:12 +0000

Now Jimmy Olsen on Smallville...

That's LAME.

Jimmy with a mullet on Superman: TAS?

AWESOME.

By: Mike Loughlin

Mike Loughlin — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:56:57 +0000

Jimmy Olsen comics were written for kids, in an era when most or all super-hero comics were written for kids, and kids bought comics. There was the wish-fulfillment piece, and a consistent fun factor. Hence, its success. Adult super-hero fans (minus those who have blogs) seem to have disdain for the "childish" aspects of super-hero comics, and buy super-hero death comics by the truckload. (a small truckload, like in one of those pick-ups with the back seats)

By: Ye Olde Iowa

Ye Olde Iowa — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:44:35 +0000

I'm a huge fan of Jimmy Olsen. As a "sidekick" he works incredibly well with the rest of Superman's supporting cast and makes a very strong foil to Clark and Lois. His goofy transformation stories were the epitome of Silver Age oddity, making them a fun spectacle all their own. Recent revamps such as Grant Morrison's Jimmy in All-Star Superman or Aaron Ashmore as Jimmy on Smallville show that the core of the character is versitile enough to be adapted to a modern context (although, admittedly, Ashmore's Jimmy is a bit too edgy, though the "Noir" episode was perfect as we see Jimmy's fantasy life). Personally I'm really pleased to see Jimmy as a crucial character in Countdown, especially since it is fairly clear that they will be using the classic Jimmy Olsen story structure on his portion of the book.

By: Knox

Knox — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:40:02 +0000

For some reason I never liked the idea of Olsen being "good in a fight." I guess because the bowtie and plaid jacket just scream "NERD!" but it always pulls me out of the story whenever we see him sock a bankrobber in the jaw.

By: Rohan Williams

Rohan Williams — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:37:37 +0000

Who doesn't like Jimmy Olsen?

By: Dan K

Dan K — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:12:40 +0000

"Nobody seems to like Jimmy Olsen anymore."

I thought everybody loved Jimmy Olsen thesedays. I know I do. I've been waiting for this to come out for months:

http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Transformation-Superman-Graphic-Novels/dp/1401213693/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2034863-4195963?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180527091&sr=8-1

By: J To The AAP

J To The AAP — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:09:12 +0000

Jimmy Olsen could still work very well as a modern comic I think. He could be a sort of Matty Roth for the DC universe, trade the war and cynicism for superhero and Daily Planet stuff and you're there.

The ASS is issue starring Jimmy Olsen opposite 'dark Superman' was great too, then again, ASS=Greatness.