Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen?

Matt Fraction is one of the smartest writers in modern comics but sometimes his work falls foul of being too clever for its own good. Not this time around: he and artist Steve Lieber have produced a wonderfully enjoyable take on Jimmy Olsen that's entirely true to the spirit and daftness of the Silver Age series - and it was very daft indeed - while being entirely modern at the same time. And all that without any of the relentless grimness and gore that have plagued DC Comics for most of this century.To cut what could be a long story to spoiler-free shortness, the maxi-series collected in this book sees Jimmy Olsen going on the run and, in doing so, trying to solve the mystery of his own murder (he's not dead - that's not a spoiler - but everyone thinks he is, for reasons that become crystal clear when you read the book, and that's not a spoiler either). He's unable, for once, to call on any help from Superman, and has to fall back on his own somewhat wayward resources.Readers as old as this reviewer may remember that in Jimmy's own series in the 1960s - a time when Superman-related titles sold so well that even a book about his pal outsold most Marvel mags - was characterised by some of the nuttiest plots ever to hit the four-colour page. Jimmy's impetuous decisions, weird transformations (perhaps most memorably into a giant turtle-creature), and cross-dressing were the order of the day. Fraction, to his immense credit, gives us Jimmy's impetuous decisions (most notably: removing the wheel from the Batmobile), a transformation into a giant turtle and some weirdly alluring cross-dressing, and so much more besides. What's particularly impressive is that he manages to do this in the context of a plot which is not only coherent and resolved with immensely satisfying logic, but also seems entirely plausible within the context of the wider DCU (though don't ask where, if at all, it fits in whatever passes for DCU continuity these days). The narrative structure is complex, non-linear, and reliant on flashbacks, but it's all surprisingly easy to follow.Fraction is ably assisted by artist Steve Lieber, whose elegant, uncluttered ligne clair style is entirely suited to the book. His visual storytelling is remarkably clear - and astonishingly so by the standards of many modern comics artists, who seem unable to complete an issue without some imagery the reader can't quite make out - and he has a gift for facial expression that is reminiscent of Curt Swan, who drew the Silver Age series. In sequences which flash back to Jimmy's childhood, he uses a style which exquisitely melds Charles Schulz and Bill Watterson, and it's absolutely pitch-perfect. And when action's required, he's good at that too. The charm of Lieber's work is off the scale.I was going to say that this is probably the best Superman-related title since Morrison and Quitely's All-Star Superman from the mid-noughties. Then I realised that in terms of sheer charm, coherent plotting, lack of pretence and art that - skillful as Quitely undoubtedly is - doesn't make you feel slightly queasy, it knocks All-Star Superman into the heart of the sun. It may be the best Superman-related title since Alan Moore's Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow, and there's no higher praise than that.

It starts like a silly little book about Superman's weird, funny, good hearted friend and on the surface it stays that way but in actuality it ends up being quite the complex story. Really, the quality of this book cannot be overstated. Apparently it didn't sell amazingly back in floppy format but now there is no reason not to read one of the best books published in a while.

Fun non linear story telling I really enjoyed it, a homage to the madness of the silver age!

I saw Matt Fraction's name and made an impulse buy. I got about 2/3 the way in, but I just couldn't get into it.If you like silver age style storytelling, you might like this!

This was a really fun read. The pacing of the story is relentless, but it really is a lot of fun. The way it all comes together at the end was satisfying.