Written By: Nick Spencer
Artist: RB Silva with Amilcar Pinna
Inker: Dym & Rob Lean with Pinna
Colorist: Dave McCaig
Cover Artist: Amanda Conner
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Editor: Will Moss
My Awe-Inspiring Opinion
Who would have ever thought that Jimmy Olsen would go from being one of the biggest geeks in comic book history…to STILL being one of the biggest geeks in comic book history…but seem cool at the same time?
The Pickle Olsen Gets Himself in…
The Jimmy Olsen One-Shot comes to us at a time when Superman is taking is his afternoon stroll across America…which obviously means everything evil and demented will be thrown at Metropolis, leaving only Jimmy Olsen to clean up the mess. But not before his girlfriend, Chloe dumps him for playing the hot new video game release of Superman: The Video Game! (Queue epic music please!)
What follows is a series of catastrophic events which stick Jimmy in the line of fire that put both himself, the city of Metropolis, and the world in danger! But these Earth shattering and angst driven catastrophes are more than just random occurrences with no meaning. While not on purpose, everything Jimmy encounters all lead to an important truth about himself and the one he cares about the most.
And When All Is Said And Done…
Jimmy Olsen has grown so much within the comedic realm of comic books, but here in his own One-Shot we see a new development occur in his character. The humor remains strong and predominant, but Jimmy (after all these years) truly is becoming a character with a lot of depth.
In a way, Spencer sends us on a journey of Olsen’s strongest and most intense fantasies in a series of tales; becoming a genie with all sorts of power, saving the world from an alien invasion, outsmarting an alien race of party-animals, overcoming his own desire to be like his idol Superman, and constantly battling his seedy arch nemesis, Catcher Block!….er, I mean Sebastien Mallory! But at the center of all this was his real-life conscious, Chloe. Certainly his brains and cunning help him to overcome the trials and tribulations, but his true test lie with his friend and former lover.
It was a delight to see Jimmy grow in this degree. Sure, he acted like a typical guy, trying to prove himself by pumping his three chests hairs out for the world (and Sebastien Mallory) to see, but we see by the books end that none of it really mattered if Chloe wasn’t apart of his life. And it is in this end we see, while the two never officially get back together, real love at work.
But let’s skip all the sentimental, lovey duvey crap ok! Let’s instead take another look at the incredibly awesome scene of Jimmy Olsen in the Superman costume, shouting his battle cry…
Click To Enlarge
Triumphant? Yes, I know it is. The humor in this book is nothing short perfection. Jimmy’s clever ways of fixing these sticky situations in the absence of an all-powerful Superman is a comedic opportunity Nick Spencer capitalized on and didn’t disappoint. With incredible writing like this, why can’t DC give the young photographer back his own title? It would quickly rise in popularity in the same degree that Power Girl did.
Speaking of which, isn’t that cover by Amanda Conner simply amazing? In fact, the entire book was an artistic masterpiece with RB Silva and Dym helming the pencil and Crayola. What a taxing process it must be to pump out 69 pages of art, never wavering on the quality and purpose behind each panel. The facial expressions and body language of each character complimented Spencer’s writing perfectly. Although, I wonder why Chloe continually gave me the jolting “horse eye.” (just thumb through the pages and stop to look at Chloe’s face…you’ll see what I mean.)
My Majestically Climactic Conclusion
I completely agree with the comment made by AOL’s Comics Alliance plastered at the top of the cover, this is one of the top 10 comics of the year. (2011, not 2010…geez!) It was serious enough to feel enticing, but funny enough to keep me smiling. You’ll even get a Superman history lesson in the process!
10 out of 10 stars
Plus 1 incentive point
