Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen. The fledgling journalist and friend of Superman who is the junior colleague of Clark Kent and Lois Lane on the Metropolis Daily Planet. First introduced in the chronicles in November-December 1941 only as Jimmy, an "office boy" at the Daily Planet with a heartfelt longing to become "a real reporter" like his idol, Clark Kent (S No.13/2), Jimmy is first referred to by his full name, Jimmy Olsen, in March-April 1942 (S No. 15/1) and continues to be referred to as the Daily Planet's office boy for a number of years (Act No. 71, Apr 1944: "Valentine Villainy!"; and others) until he is finally accorded the status of "cub reporter" in January 1954 (S No.86/2: "Jimmy Olsen...Editor!"). Although Jimmy's real name is James Olsen (Act No.203, Apr 1955: "The International Daily Planet!"; and others), he is almost always referred to as Jimmy.
In the early texts in which he appears, Jimmy Olsen is portrayed as a youngster about ten years of age (WF No. 6, Sum 1942: "Man of Steel versus Man of Metal!"; and others), but by April 1944 the chroniclers have begun to portray him as a boy of about twelve or thirteen (Act No. 71: "Valentine Villainy!"). More recent texts depict him as an adolescent somewhere in his late teens.
In the course of his first two decades in the chronicles, Jimmy's hair is variously portrayed as blond (S No.13/2, Nov/Dec 1941; and others), honey blond (S No.13/2, Nov/Dec 1941), red (S No.15/1, Mar/Apr 1942; and many others), light red (Act No. 188, Jan 1954: "The Spectral Superman!"; and others), and brown (S No.40/3, May/Jun 1946: "There Is No Superman!"; and others). Since mid-1958, however, it, has been consistently rendered a bright red. Jimmy's freckles have been a standard feature of his appearance since 1942 (WF No.6, Sum 1942: "Man of Steel yersus Man of Metal!"; and many others).
Even during his apprentice years as an office boy, Jimmy Olsen is consumed by a burning ambition to become a real reporter. In November-December 1941 he gets his first byline, when he writes up an account of Superman's capture of the ruthless extortionist known as "The Archer" (S No. 13/2).
"You're an observant lad!" remarks Clark Kent admiringly after Jimmy has given him an important news tip in Summer 1942. "I hope to be a top-notch reporter like you some day!" beams Jimmy. "Any time you need help, feel free to call on me!" (WF No.6: "Man of Steel versus Man of Metal!").
Despite his eagerness, however, and his irrepressible ambition, Jimmy Olsen remains the Daily Planet's office boy for twelve full years (Act No. 71, Apr 1944: "Valentine Villainy!"; and others), although Lois Lane does refer to him, in one early text, as "Jimmy Olsen, office boy, who sometimes pinch-hits as cub reporter, and may some day be big stuff!" (WF No.13, Spr '44: "The Freedom of the Press!").
From January 1954 onward, Jimmy Olsen is regularly referred to as a "cub reporter" (S No. 86/2: "Jimmy Olsen ...Editor!"), a designation that continues to be applied to him through at least the mid-1960s (S No. 180/1, Oct 1965: "Clark Kent's Great Superman Hunt!"; and many others), although, more and more in recent years, the texts have tended to refer to him simply as a "reporter" (Act No.311, Apr 1964: "Superman, King of Earth!"; and many others), elevating his status to one at least approaching that of Lois Lane and Clark Kent. "Throughout the world," notes Superman No. 181/1, "Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane are known for their courage and ingenuity in getting scoops" (Nov 1965: pts. I-II—"The Super-Scoops of Morna Vine!"; "The Secret of the New Supergirl!"). Perhaps Action Comics No. 238 describes his latter-day status best when it refers to him as the "star cub reporter of the Daily Planet" (Mar 1958: "The Super-Gorilla from Krypton").
Indeed, despite his youth, Jimmy Olsen has acquired experience and responsibility far surpassing that of most cub reporters. When Metropolis celebrates Boy's Day in January 1954, for example, Jimmy takes over the Daily Planet's managing editor's desk for twenty-four hours, performing his duties with remarkable professionalism. "That boy will be a good newspaperman someday!" remarks Clark Kent proudly (S No. 86/2: "Jimmy Olsen ...Editor!"). A year later, when the Daily Planet launches its new international editions, Jimmy Olsen is appointed editor of the Daily Planet's London edition (Act No.203, Apr '55: "The International Daily Planet!").
In the texts, Jimmy Olsen is described as "observant" (WF No. 6, Sum 1942: "Man of Steel versus Man of Metal!"), "irrepressible" (Act No. 71, Apr 1944: "Valentine Villainy!"; and others), "conceited" (Act No.269, Oct 1960: "The Truth Mirror!"), "impulsive,"
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