Supermans Pal Jimmy Olsen has become one of DCs most innovative and exciting titles since its launch, and issue #5 is a highlight of the series. Fraction and Liebers take on the Dark Knight is idiosyncratic and irreverent. Highly recommended. Read Full Review

No joke, this is one of my favorite comics being published right now, and one of the best series on the stands. Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen is simultaneously hilarious and sincere, inviting you to laugh at the outrageous story while still being invested in the characters. It's an amazing balancing act that Fraction, Lieber, Fairbairn, and Cowles have pulled off perfectly each and every month, with hardly a bad issue yet. This is a funny comic made by people who are having fun with comics, and that joy is infectious and evident in the reading. Now pick it up, friends, and prepare to be Calendarmangled. Read Full Review

Seriously, this book is such a balm from the gritty, serious, Year of the Villain, nonsense we keep being force fed. Hope we continue to get Olsen books from Fraction even after this mini-series ends. Read Full Review

And if you cant appreciate a prank war with Jimmy and Batman you might need to ask yourself why so serious? Read Full Review

I think it’s now safe to say, this series will go down as one of the essential arcs of Jimmy Olsen. It’s looking into his past and giving him a history that is tied to that of Metropolis itself and one of its most famous residents. The introduction and exploration of the Olsen family is beginning to be the series’ best element. Added to that, his unpredictable personality, a continuously interesting mystery and a hilarious prank war with Batman, and it makes this one of the best books being put out by DC and a must-read. Read Full Review

Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber continue to deliver the most offbeat, bizarre comic in DC's stable with Jimmy Olsen,a tale of Jimmy Olsen, the complex Olsen family dynamics, and Silver Age science always entertains but rarely comes together as a cohesive narrative. Read Full Review

The story or stories here are very good. I have to say that my favorite part of the book is the art. Steve Lieber has long been one of my favorite artists and I am glad he is getting some notice on this book. This is a very solid issue indeed. Read Full Review

Those looking for a solid, straightforward narrative will be disappointed. While I wish this series was more consistent and focused, its unpredictability makes it a discovery with every issue. Read Full Review

I got six pages in and I wrote down “10/10” and I’m not about to call my past self a liar.

Batman is hilarious.

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #5

Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Steve Lieber
Colourist:Nathan Fairbairn
Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Every issue of Superman's Pal Jimmy olsen is a masterpiece and this issue is no different.

Be it the near-perfect script from Fraction, or the impeccable art from Lieber, this book has quickly become one of -if not the best - books on stands right now.

(Warning: spoilers below)

Script
This issue is hilarious. Simple as that. Matt Fraction has managed to craft one of the most genuinely funny stories I have read all year, and a lot of that humour comes from his portrayal of batman. Yes, that's right, Batman. Fraction has managed to take a character possibly best known for his 'grittyness' and turn him into the funniest character in the issue. How does he do that exactly? By playing into the 'grittyness' and 'seriousness' of the character and throwing him into a world of comedy.

Through this, Fraction creates a Batman that is so serious he believes he's living in a constant war ,and even attacks Olsen because he can't decide whether he's a soldier or an enemy.

Other batman- related gags include: Batman believing he's hilarious, only to find out Alfred has been paying people to laugh at his jokes and Bruce revealing to a date that he's batman, only to immediately claim it's not true, it was simply one of his "hilarious jokes."

This issue isn't just all comedy though. This is still, at its core, a mystery story and fraction doesn't forget that. Fraction progresses numerous plot threads that have been in place since issue one, but never allows the comedy to undercut the more serious nature of these plot threads. Fraction manages to have batman confess "he's also hilarious" while wearing a comedic arrow- through-the-head hat on one page, while having a dour funeral on the next without making either of them feel out of place, or undercutting their significance in any way. The Olson-luthais flashbacks continue this issue, and once again add to the history of metropolis, and further develop to the heated rivalry between the Luthor and olsen families which has been present since issue one.

Before I move on from the script, there are two more aspects I would like to quickly talk about, these are: the vignettes, and the non linear structure of the story. The story is presented in a series of 2-4 page vignettes; I love the vignettes because it allows the jokes to be quick and to the point. The 2-4 page format allow the jokes to be delivered in an almost rapid- fire rate, which allows a set-up, a punchline and some fallout, then 'bang' you're on to the next joke or scene. It allows the jokes to be concise and to the point, without over staying their welcome. I would compare the non linear structure to why I love the non-linear structure in pulp fiction, or, to stay within the medium, to DC: The New Frontier. These stories use the non-linear structure to slow the pacing and allow the characters to gain some breathing room which jimmy Olsen does this perfectly. Jimmy Olsen #5 allows the characters to go off in strange directions without having to worry about tying into the next page because the narrative ties can be given later in the story or even in a later issue. Not only does this give the characters the freedom to move, it also adds another layer to the story as it let's you play detective and rearrange the all these individual vignettes until you have a complete, linear story. This is absolutely genius,because it mirrors the events that are taking place in the story with Jimmy-who is rearranging separate events until he finds the person who tried to assassinate him. Adding this new layer allows you to relate and identify with Jimmy in a way that is impossible is most other stories. Fantastic stuff, Fraction!

Art
Steve Lieber's art is beautiful. His clean, sharp lines create a perfectly simple, yet detailed book. No line is out of place ,nor are there more lines than what is necessary. Lieber's greatest talent, in my opinion, is his character's faces. Far too often I see artists draw the same face for multiple characters, but lieber doesnt do that, lieber gives every character their own distinct face, and manages to keep it consistent from panel-to-panel. What makes it even more impressive is he manages to make family members so similar ,yet never loses their individuality. You can see this when you look at the olsen/Olson family. Lieber manages to make every character look like their own person, yet thanks to small details, such as: giving each character the same amount freckles, or a similar nose, each character has that similar, yet different appearance that family members share.

Nathan Fairbairn's colours go a long way to set the tone(s) of the story. Whenever the story is being comedic the colouring is brighter and really pops; but whenever the story tackles more serious subject matter, the colours are more muted and darker. Something that I noticed was how, during a rooftop vignette featuring Batman, Jimmy and Superman, fairbairn's colours are all muted and grimy -except for Superman. Superman is still colourful and bright. I like this because it shows the contrast between batman's 'dark' and 'dirty' world, and superman's 'cleaner', more 'bright' world, and how Superman doesnt quite fit in batman's world. To further add to this, clayton cowles does a fantastic thing in his lettering. Cowles presents Batman's dialogue in a separate font. Batman's font is more 'rugged' and 'edgier'. It's a great way to present the side of Batman Fraction is going for and it works with the script perfectly.

In conclusion, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #5 is a fantastic issue for a fantastic series. It has jokes, and gags, mystery and suspense and some truly great art. It's one of the best series currently on sale, and you're doing yourself a disservice if you're not reading it!

Rating: 10/10






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Absolutely worth reading. Fun and crazy.

can the main dc series get the talent that series like this is getting? Seriously this is fucking hilarious stuff and light hearted tone that comics should be, not the dark brooding nature that everything seems to strive for. I still don't know if this is out of continuity, I assume it is because there's so much going on that doesn't gel with what's going on, but I am all here for it. I also love the art, very simplistic, but not in a bad way. Services the light tone that the book is going for. Easy recommendation

I genuinely love how Batman is written here.

Alfred's a supper computer

Prelude:
Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen has been an absolute blast so far, highlighting Fraction's writing and Lieber's wonderful art. Let's see how this issue goes. Judging from that solicit, pretty darn well.

The Good:
Outside of one scene (see The Bad), Fraction writes Bruce and Batman really well. Mainly Bruce though.

The Jimmy vs Batman prank war is pretty cool and funny.

Dr Mantel is back which suggests that the plot is a bit more focused on his side of things.

I loved the historic aspect of this book and what it appears to be setting up.

Man, this issue is funny.

Oh, can't believe it took me this long to mention it, but Lieber's art is phenomenal.

Janie Olsen and her chemistry with Jimmy was great to see.

Is that Dex-Starr or the earlier mentioned smoothie? Either way, I'm impressed.

The Bad:
I'm not sure if he was over-doing it on purpose, but I'm not happy with how Batman sounds on the rooftop scene with Superman and Jimmy.

Conclusion:
An absolutely amazing issue full of fun hijinks that is tempered by Batman's characterisation in the rooftop scene. more

Matt Fraction should write Superman's titles.

Dex-Starr

Portland hipster trash