Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #6 // Review
With issue #6, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen hits its midway point and continues its streak as the funniest title DC is publishing right now. DC is particularly wise to allow the creative team the freedom to keep Jimmy and his antics divorced from any ongoing continuity or crossover events (you’ll notice this issue that Alfred is mysteriously still alive, despite the events of Batman), allowing the story to stand on its own, unencumbered.
This issue touches base on many of the byzantine subplots that have been the joy of this series, bouncing through time and space with the promise that, by the end of the run, there will be one linear story told out of order. One vignette gives us Jimmy’s night in jail on a false murder rap. Another looks in on Jix, the interdimensional jewel thief Jimmy married in the Superman: Leviathan Rising one-shot. Another shows us the fate of the sniper who shot Jimmy’s decoy corpse a while back. Yet, another introduces us to Detective Jim Corrigan (no, not that one), who is investigating all of the weirdness surrounding Jimmy in Metropolis. Superman and Lois Lane help Jimmy’s friend Dr. Mantel, and Jimmy’s prank war with Batman ends in a surprising fashion.
Matt Fraction must be a genius to keep all of these disparate plots in the air all at once, particularly in such a non-linear story. Even more impressive is that he makes it all extremely funny, with amazing running gags and quirky characters and narration.
The art by Steve Lieber is a match for Fraction’s madness. Lieber maintains a clear, bold style throughout, whether he’s depicting the Metropolis Police Department conducting an investigation, Dex-Starr vomiting napalm all over a hapless Gotham thug, or aliens seeking revenge on Jimmy Olsen’s estranged wife. Colorist Nathan Fairbairn smartly keeps effects to a minimum, allowing the coloring to be simple and clear and support the clean, graphic lines of Lieber’s art. Clayton Cowles’ lettering is strong as well, handling the ridiculous sound effects and captions with aplomb.
Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #6 is a stunning issue of comics, one of a so-far tremendous run. The only downside of hitting the midpoint is the knowledge that there are only six issues left in this tremendous series.
