DC Comics reviews 7/14/20 – Dark Nights Death Metal #2, Strange Adventures #3

Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #12

Jimmy Olsen has been one of DC’s most pleasant surprises as it found an ideal portrayal of Superman’s pal with a terrific blend of comedy and unpredictable adventure.

The final issue of the maxi-series finds Jimmy and his allies learning the truth about his brother and…his uncle in a wholly fitting and entertaining twist.

Matt Fraction has always written the book so different from most modern comics. It’s like he gets that comics can just be fun without being so doom and gloom. Fraction didn’t do any flashbacks on the Olsen family tree this issue, which I actually missed, but that was mainly due to revealing the latest chapter of the family dynamics here.

Artist Steve Lieber brings his usual lighthearted touch to every page and he does it so effortlessly that it’s easy to miss the expressive characters and layouts. That’s been a subtle strength of the book all along. Colorist Nathan Fairbairn brings a warm cheery feel to the visuals as well.

While this maxi-series was largely tied to one extensive plot, hopefully DC will consider an ongoing series or at least another limited series. This creative team deserves to tell further adventures of Superman’s pal.

Rating: 10 out of 10