JIMMY OLSEN 138 (1971)
Writing and pencils by Jack Kirby
Cover by Jack Kirby & Neal Adams
The Kirby collages are invading the covers now!
If Doomsday ever gets his own comic book and this isn’t on every single cover I’m going to be very disappointed.
We begin with DNA Project on red alert thanks to the activation of the monster from last issue, and we get at two-page spread with a collage.
I have to admit that the collage showing the cavernous scenery is pretty well done, but it’s still clashing with the artwork. I mean, see how tiny the vehicles are in that image?
Well, THIS is how Kirby gets to do the following page:
You mean to tell me we could’ve had TWO additional pages with AWESOME Kirby artwork like that instead of the collage!?
Just to give you another example, THIS is how Kirby shows the monster rampaging beneath the surface:
That’s a 1,000% better than anything Kirby could possibly do in a collage!!!
Yeah, I’m sorry, but these collages are getting less and less defensible every single time I see them.
Last time Superman, Jimmy and the Newsboy Legion were trapped by the monster into an indestructible cocoon, so Superman has to break through it… by rubbing his hands.
Sounds legit.
Also: man is the Newsboy Legion getting annoying!!!
In a surprising twist, Kirby decides to add to the cast a character that he didn’t create: Terry Dean, from issue #127.
To be completely honest, I had half-forgotten Jimmy is still supposed to be the main character.
He’s had less screen time than Morgan Edge!!!
On the Superman side of the story, DNA Project is going to blow up any second thanks to the damages caused by the monster.
I’ve been very critical of Kirby’s work on this book. But if only had been just a little more focused, instead of the constant nonsense he could’ve given us a real epic Superman story!!!
No complains here. THIS IS AWESOME.
Okay, at this point the Newsboy Legion has moved past their “annoying but harmless” phase and into the “I actively despise them” territory.
Historical significance: 3/10
Re-introducing Terry Dean and beginning a subplot about Morgan Edge, but otherwise nothing of consequence really happens.
Silver Age-ness: 2/10
All things considered, nothing more than the standard superhero nonsense.
Does it stand the test of time? 7/10
This was actually pretty good! I didn’t comment much of the action, because there’s only so many times I can write that Kirby is a master at depicting action. Just remove the massive amounts of completely unnecessary characters (Jimmy, the Guardian and the entire Newsboy Legion) and you can leave most of it as it is.
Most Kirby panel
Most WTF panel
Interesting letters: someone is reading way, WAY too much into this comic.
