JIMMY OLSEN 129 (1970)
by E. Nelson Bridwell & Murphy Anderson
It’s been a while since we had a chance to update the list of Jimmy’s super-powers.
You can tell that we are in the 70s because there is SOME continuity with the previous issues.
Jimmy’s father is here to tell that Kukulkan was not a god but actually a regular dude with an amulet that gave him super-powers.
An amulet that was split in two because Kukulkan’s sons were jerks.
I don’t know enough about pre-Colombian civilizations to pinpoint WHY this is bulls#it, but I’m 99% positive this is absolutely bulls#it.
Superman re-forges the amulet and… *yawn*… come on, Jimmy’s had the power of flight like fifty times, give me something new!
Lightning eyes, uhm? Well he had electricity powers in Jimmy Olsen #99, but it’s different enough to warrant an addition to the list.
He also has super-strength and invulnerability, but he’s had Superman’s powers at least four times by now. If nothing else his costume isn’t as terrible as it could be!
Jimmy’s heroic deeds mostly consist of him helping demolishing buildings. Which makes sense, since Jimmy was a walking disaster before getting superpowers.
Also: his lightning vision gives him a force-field (WTF!?), which he already had that in Jimmy Olsen #60. See, this is why I keep a list!
Buuuut this time it’s an ELECTRIC force field, so I’m counting it.
And then he IMMEDIATELY gets his father kidnapped.
His solution is to go on a crime spree to get the ransom money (!!!), including stealing charity money kept in a giant barrel. (WTF!?)
*insert joke about Superman going limp here*
And that’s how Jimmy gets away with his crime!
Or not.
Jimmy gets off with only a broken rib (???), and Superman rescues his father because Jimmy hid the signal-watch inside the loot.
“But wait”, you might be asking, “What about Superman being unable to hit Jimmy? Is that a new power?”
And the answer is… no, Superman just faked going limp.
“But wait”, you might ask again, “How did Jimmy break his ribs if he’s super-strong and invulnerable?”
And the answer is… it’s actually a pretty random new power?
How do you call that? I’m going with “gravity absorption” for the list.
“But wait”, you might be asking, “Why did Jimmy go through all the trouble of doing multiple crimes and faking fighting with Superman when he could’ve easily stolen ONE thing and track the criminals with the signal watch?”
Beats me, I’m just glad the story is over.
Historical significance: 0/10
You better believe the medallion never shows up again.
Silver Age-ness: 8/10
Random super-powers? Check. Rushed finale? Check. Not even remotely historically accurate? Check. The only thing is missing is the medallion being made of Kryptonite or something.
Does it stand the test of time? 0/10
Well at least it’s short. And Murphy Anderson is doing a good Curt Swan imitation with the artwork. The less said about the story, the better.
Stupid Jimmy Olsen moment
His father is a millionaire: he didn’t need to steal ANYTHING! He could’ve just given the kidnappers some cash while STILL doing the signal watch thing!
Superpowers count: 46
Adding lightning eyes, electricity force-field and gravity absorption.
Interesting letters: I’m not surprised that Krypto can read, but does the editor know that (spoiler for a 1902 story) “The Hound of the Bastervilles” dies at the end?
