“I better cover up this shirt fast. It’s a bulls eye on this planet.”
Superman Adventures #28
DC Comics (February, 1999)
“Jimmy Olsen Versus Darkseid”
WRITER: Mark Millar
PENCILER: Mike Manley
INKER: Terry Austin
COLORIST: Marie Severin
SEPARATIONS: Zylonol
LETTERER: Lois Buhalis
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Frank Berrios
EDITOR: Mike McAvennie
Tricked by Desaad again, Kalibak uses a brain-swapping device to steal Superman’s body but thanks to a surprise assist from Jimmy it’s the young photographer who ends up swapping bodies with the superhero. Kalibak takes Superman-In-Jimmy’s-Body to Apokolips leaving Jimmy-In-Superman’s-Body to deal with being in Superman’s body. Not learning his lesson (both for listening to Desaad or going against Darkseid’s wishes), Kalibak returns to beat Jimmy, figuring he hasn’t learned how to be Superman. Instead Jimmy outsmarts him and takes the Boom Tube to Apokolips, rescuing Superman and Darkseid sending the heroes away because he’s not yet ready to violate the treaty with New Genesis. Clark ends up scooping Lois thanks to bribing Jimmy with fast food.
What they got right: The treaty may come off as a cop-out, but they have to keep the status quo of the show somehow until the show is ready for the big fight. The idea of Jimmy having to get used to Superman’s powers was done well. There may have been potential for a longer story but there wasn’t room.
What they got wrong: How does Desaad keep getting away with tricking Kalibak like this? Is Darkseid really that naive?
Recommendation: A fun little Jimmy Olsen story, possibly inspired by all the stories Jack Kirby wrote in which Jimmy keeps getting pulled into the New Gods’ lives. Worth checking out.
BW Media Spotlight 