Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #5 is an issue of the series Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1955.
Synopsis for "The Boy Olympics"
When the City Sentinel, a rival newspaper in Metropolis, is threatening to go out of business, the newspaper boys go to the Daily Planet to try and get a job, and are refused. When Jimmy overhears the boys plights he agrees to help them raise money to save the City Sentinel, however believing that Perry White wouldn't like Jimmy helping out the competition he decides to do so in secret.
Getting the idea from an Ice Olympics poster, Jimmy decides to have the kids put on a "Boy Olympics" in the hopes of gaining enough revenue to save the troubled paper. Even with Superman's help to whip the boys into shape, Jimmy has a hard time juggling his job at the Planet and training the boys for the big day.
When the Boy Olympics is finally put on, Jimmy puts on a mask to conceal his identity from Perry. However, after they earn enough money to save the Sentinel (with the help of a generous contribution from an anonymous donation), Jimmy fesses up to Perry about helping out their rival. To Jimmy's surprise, Perry is glad Jimmy helped them out because according to Perry, competition is the "lifeblood of America." Jimmy soon learns that Perry was the anonymous donation.
Appearing in "The Boy Olympics"
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Other Characters:
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Synopsis for "The Brain of Steel"
Perry White unveils a new computer in the Daily Planet offices that will help them gain information on news stories faster. Scoffing at the device, Jimmy is soon proved that it's a valuable tool when it's able to do math equations and assess the value of stolen gems in a report of stolen goods.
When a bumbling scientist comes by to demonstrate the indestructible handcuffs he invented, he shackles Lois Lane and Clark Kent together to show their effectiveness, however he forgets to bring the key to unlock them and has to go back to his lab to find them. Stuck shackled to Lois with no way to free himself without exposing his secret identity, Clark is caught between a rock and a hard place when reports of various emergencies are radioed in.
However, the computer comes up with very-human solutions to help solve the problems, and Jimmy -- showing resounding initiative -- goes off in the Flying Newsroom with Jumbo Jones to help with each one. Helping fire fighters quell a blazing building, and stopping a runaway train. When the scientist finally unlocks the handcuffs, Clark is able to slip away and change into Superman in order to stop a forest fire.
Later, back in his guise of Clark Kent, Superman muses how the computer never came up with the answers at all -- it was him manipulating the machine with his x-ray vision the whole time. When Lois tries to ask the computer what Superman's secret identity he manipulates the machine to tell her it doesn't know. Later when he's alone, Clark asks the computer if it thinks that Clark Kent is really Superman, the machine responds that Clark is too weak to have broken out of the handcuffs.
Appearing in "The Brain of Steel"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
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Items:
- Computer
- Indestructible Handcuffs
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Synopsis for "The Story of Superman's Souvenirs"
When reports about the escape of "Killer" Burke get out, Jimmy is shocked to find the crook showing up in his apartment, in order to escape the police dragnet. Realizing that Jimmy has a series of souvenirs from Superman's various adventures, Burke demands that Jimmy give him one that would allow him to escape from the authorities.
As Jimmy tells the story of each, he realizes that he is living the tales of Scheherazade where he's delaying the "Killer" by spinning him some yarns; especially since he's left the Signal Watch at the Daily Planet and cannot contact Superman!
After telling Burke the story of the machine gun, the mystery meteor, and the iron Superman Costume, Jimmy fools "Killer" into using Lex Luthor's invisibility belt. However, Burke soon discovers the device's one flaw: since it totally curves light around the user, they cannot see. The blind Burke then gives himself away to the authorities, crying out for help. After Jimmy deactivates the device the criminal is taken into police custody.
Appearing in "The Story of Superman's Souvenirs"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Superman (Flashback and main story)
Antagonists:
- "Killer" Burke
- "Lefty" Orton (Flashback only)
- Lex Luthor (Flashback only)
- Matey Otis (Flashback only)
- "Typewriter" Tate (Flashback only)
Other Characters:
- Island Natives (Flashback only)
- Chief (Flashback only)
- Metropolis Police Department
- Scheherazade (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Metropolis
- Daily Planet (Mentioned only)
- Temple Square
- Small Native Island (Flashback only)
Items:
- Electro-Ray Gun of Krypton
- Invisibility Belt of Lex Luthor
- Jimmy Olsen's Signal Watch (Mentioned only)
- M1919 Browning machine gun
- Mystery Meteor
- One Thousand and One Nights
- Superman's Costume
Vehicles:
- Boat
- Motorcycle
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in its entirety in Showcase Presents: Superman Family Vol. 1.
- "The Story of Superman's Souvenirs" is reprinted in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #128.
Trivia
- "The Story of Superman's Souvenirs" is based loosely on the premise of One Thousand and One Nights, as Jimmy Olsen compares his predicament to that story's narrator, Scheherazade.
See Also