SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN 025 (1957)
By Otto Binder & Curt Swan
You might think that this is a horribly miscolored Superboy story, but… no, this is actually a Jimmy Olsen story.
In a shocking example of continuity, the story not only remembers that Professor Potter exists… but it also makes a direct reference to what happened in an earlier story !!!
And the professor gets an idea: what if we sent Jimmy Olsen into space?
He wants to do it to give him super-powers. Not my first choice, but hey, whatever gets rid of Jimmy, right?
Not only the professor can send Jimmy into space basically on a whim, but he also has a convenient universal translator!
HOW is this guy considered “just a wacky scientist” when he has invented a universal translator and a FASTER THAN LIGHT SHIP!?!?
Once on planet Dorth, Jimmy discovers that the lower gravity does indeed grant him powers that will make him “Superboy the second”.
But that’s a stupid name, so he settles with “Super Youth” because that’s much, much worse.
And yes, he can fly because the gravity is lower.
In the only clever bit in the story, Jimmy gets arrested because he doesn’t have the identification tag required by Dorth law.
But don’t worry. With his new powers, he can break the law much more easily than on Earth.
Conveniently, Jimmy also gains an adoptive parent…
…and a secret identity.
It looks like they’re setting up a Lana Lang equivalent for Super Youth…
…but she doesn’t give a crap about him.
Okay, that was actually pretty funny.
Jimmy’s adoptive father is exploiting Super Youth to get rich, but there’s a bit of a problem: gold and diamonds are completely worthless on Dorth.
What is valuable on Dorth? SALT.
But just when Jimmy is about to deliver tons of salt to his father, he discovers that he’s actually Dorth’s most wanted criminal.
Which leads to his father trying to kill him with… Kryptonite.
So Earth isn’t the only planet where you can find Kryptonite anywhere.
Just how big was Krypton to leave so many pieces behind!?!?
As you might expect, Kryptonite does absolutely nothing to Super Youth.
This means that Super Youth finally gets some recognition: he could become this world’s beloved champion after all.
Or he could go back to Earth to continue living as the idiot reporter in the eternal shadow of an alien god.
So… yeah. Jimmy was Superboy for a couple of days. How was it, Jimmy?
That’s because you suck, Jimmy.
Historical significance: 0/10
Once again, mercifully forgotten by time. You might expect Dorth to make at least another appearance… the idea of a world where humans are as powerful as Superman has potential… but no, it’s completely thrown away.
Silver Age-ness: 10/10
Humans can fly and have super-breath with lower gravity!
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
The number of convenient contrivances to turn many aspects of Jimmy Olsen’s situation into Superboy parallels is way too ridiculous to be taken seriously.
Stupid Jimmy Olsen moment
Never going back to Dorth. I can understand if he prefers to live on Earth, but talk about a missed opportunity!
Kryptonite, baby
Even on Dorth it’s absurdly easy to get your hands on it.
Superpower count: 14
Adding super-strength and super-breath to the list. Amusingly, Jimmy already had ALL the other super-powers used in this story in previous issues!