JIMMY OLSEN 67 (1963)
by Leo Dorfman & Curt Swan
Can we trust 1963 with the premise of “cross-dressing Jimmy Olsen”?
A second time?
We begin with Jimmy turning down an offer to work for a rival newspaper.
He then takes Lucy on a date to a prison-themed restaurant. Yes, because what better theme to a restaurant than “jail”.
Jimmy is then shocked by the fact that *gasp* women get paid!
This is apparently just too much for Jimmy’s frail ego.
Perry White’s reaction to Jimmy demanding a raise is probably the most realistic scene we’ve ever seen on this title.
Then the other newspaper dodges a bullet by hiring someone else.
Jimmy tries to get a job at other newspapers, but the only open positions are for “girl receptionists”, so he takes the only logical decision.
I feel bad for Curt Swan always working on stupid stories. Look at his attention to detail: you can tell that Jimmy is having trouble walking in heels just by his body language.
A body language that is communicated in a still image with barely any speed lines. That’s talent right there!
But enough praise about this comic because we have THIS STUPID SCENE:
Are you freaking kidding me, Perry!? Who hires people based on their initials!?!?
Jimmy’s plan is, of course, even dumber than that:
Ah yes, I can see it now: “Jimmy, I’m hiring you back as a journalist because my secretary was bad at her job”.
Sounds legit.
Jimmy is such a screw-up that he can screw up anything, including screwing up.
His next scheme is to lose the money that Perry has raised for charity.
What the… this whole thing started because you were broke, Jimmy! Now your plan revolves around having spare money!?
I looked it up: according to the sources I found, $500 in 1963 would be $4,254.71 in 2020!!!
And of course Jimmy can’t do this either.
Jimmy also manages to get into a fight with a woman who thinks that “Leslie” is flirting with her husband.
In a rather convoluted moment, Lois takes “Leslie” with her to visit a new home while taking with her the new dress she’s just purchased. All just to lead to… this:
Two things:
1) How fast did Jimmy draw that bath!?
2) Jimmy has the same dress size of Lois Lane. Considering how Lois Lane was drawn in the Silver Age, this would be impossible without his Elastic Lad powers!
I’m beginning to suspect Perry didn’t hire “Leslie” because of her initials.
Adding insult to injury: even the tiresome “don’t call me chief” doesn’t work.
Look at Jimmy’s facial expression. What a waste of Curt Swan’s talent.
And the final insult: Leslie gets a better contract than Jimmy.
Well, the final insult is supposed to be that Jimmy is a moron for believing this whole scheme would really work, but we knew that already.
If Superman was heating the iced coffee, how did the ice not melt and how would Jimmy not notice it while holding the coffee cup!?
But at least we end on a positive note with Lucy beating up Jimmy for cheating on her (which is a bit rich from miss “I have portraits of my five boyfriends on my nightstand”).
We could’ve ended up with that fantastic panel, but no, we have to suffer for this one:
Since the same page includes the “statement of ownership”: this book was selling nearly half a million copies on average.
Historical significance: 0/10
Sadly Lucy doesn’t dump Jimmy after this.
Silver Age-ness: 3/10
Mostly because of the premise. The disguise not fooling anyone does a lot to bring down this score.
Does it stand the test of time? 4/10
Honestly I was expecting a ton of sexism, but for 1963 this is harmless. Unfortunately it’s also a very, very stupid story. It’s not impossible to rework it for today’s audience, but why would anyone want to do that?
Stupid Jimmy Olsen moment
Quitting your job because you’re not paid enough and then take another job that you try to sabotage by throwing away your saving.