REVIEW: Jimmy Olsen #8

Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #8 is here and delivers the kooky, off the wall mayhem that readers of this series have come to expect.

The main cover created by interior artist Steve Lieber depicts a giant-sized Jimmy Olsen causing havoc as he stands atop the buildings that make up this fair city. Now, on face value this cover is totally bonkers but to regular readers of this series it slots right into place. I simply adore this cover. It’s certainly eye catching and more than a little eccentric but at the end of the day, it totally captures the essence of this series.

The variant cover is created by Ben Oliver and is totally stunning. Quintessential Jimmy in the foreground and a gorilla engulfing the backdrop all while butterflies dance throughout the piece. Straight off the bat, Ben Oliver’s artwork is so distinctive. The detail and realism that has gone into this piece is staggering. On closer inspection, you can notice that the design on the butterfly’s wings are in fact Superman’s emblem. This is such a clever and unique cover, certainly one of my favourites to date.

Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #8 opens up with a homage to perhaps one of Superman’s most famous story-lines. Reign Of The Supermen, in typical Jimmy Olsen fashion of course which means plenty of whimsy and a whole heap of fun. In the wake of Jimmy’s supposed death, four doppelgangers all resembling Jimmy appear on the scene and cause an instant impact in more ways than one.

This segment of the issue is so much fun. I love how this series is able to take from DC Comics’ glorious past and apply it to Jimmy’s colourful universe. This is perhaps my favourite part of the issue. As we progress, this issue like previous efforts is carved up into segments that feature a plethora of familiar faces such as The Porcadillo and Janie Olsen.

The majority of these sections are very much on point and continue to further explore Jimmy’s newly acquired status quo alongside the colourful characters that inhabit this corner of The DC Universe. There are one or two slightly weaker segments featured in this issue, but the quality of Matt Fraction’s writing more than makes them palatable.

This issue reignites an intriguing thread that was first chronicled within the pages of ‘The Leviathan Rises Special’ published back in 2019. Jix makes her return and crash lands head first into the lap of an unsuspecting Jimmy. This sequence of events played out perfectly. These pages are full of heart and laughter alongside that typical Jimmy hijinx.

Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #8 is another fantastic entry in the series. This issue cements the fact that there is no other series like this on the shelves today. This is a marvelous example of the eclectic mix that is on offer to comic readers each week. Matt Fraction is not only crafting an intriguing story-line but is cultivating an entire pocket within The DC Universe that is totally unique and unlike anything else on offer.

Matt Fraction’s writing is so rich and full of character. I find that every page is totally engaging, packed full of intriguing characters and story-lines that develop in such a unique manner. The text that Matt Fraction uses to introduce every new section is full of witty dialogue that sets the scene beautifully.

Artist Steve Lieber really is consistent as he has managed to draw every issue of the series to date. Steve Lieber does such a wonderful job of conveying how our beloved characters feel as their facial expressions really do tell the story. Not only does the artist homage ‘The Reign of the Supermen’ story-arc, but he also subtly recreates the cover to Action Comics #1 in a roundabout way of course.

This is a one of a kind series that I consistently anticipate and enjoy. I for one cannot wait to see what adventures Jimmy gets caught up in next.   

Haven’t picked up your issue yet? You can pick up the standard cover be Steve Lieber here (UK), or here (US). Or if you prefer the variant cover by Ben Oliver, you can pick that up here.