JIMMY OLSEN 85 (1965)
by Jerry Siegel & John Forte
It’s been a while since we’ve had the chance to add a superpower. It’s kind of surprising that shapeshifting hasn’t shown up yet.
But the real surprise is that it’s specifically the power to shapeshift your head.
Since the art is by John Forte, it’s kind of appropriate to begin with the Legion of Super-Heroes.
It’s just a cameo, though, because this is how Jimmy gets his latest power: with a serum given to him by Chameleon Boy.
Who doesn’t get HIS powers from a serum, so this is coming out of nowhere (as usual).
Once he’s back to the 20th century, it turns out that the Anti-Superman Gang has put a bounty on his head, so he drinks the serum to save himself… AND HE FAILS AT THAT.
So… yeah. Jimmy Olsen is going to fight crime by shapeshifting his head.
That pun *groan*
He’s more versatile with his power than Chameleon Boy.
(this is a criminal disguised as a cop, by the way, not an actual policeman)
It wouldn’t be a John Forte story without some kind of body horror!
You can’t convince me that this wasn’t made on drugs.
But even I have to agree that this is actually kind of clever.
The criminals flee and the story ends rather abruptly.
Historical significance: 0/10
A serum that gives you shapeshifting powers should’ve really come up again in the Legion stories.
Silver Age-ness: 6/10
All things considered, relatively tame for the period.
Stupid Jimmy Olsen moment
Jimmy Olsen, ladies and gentlemen: TOO STUPID TO DRINK.
Superpowers count: 33
It’s been a while since we’ve had the chance to add a superpower! But now we have shapeshifting. Specifically, HEAD shapeshifting.