Thursday Night Thinking #182

Ah, it's good to be back again with Thursday Night Thinking! And what could be more appropriate for this week than a classic Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen cover?

Thursday Night Thinking #177

With typical fanfare we return again to Thursday Night Thinking! Gaze upon the wonders of Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen!

Yes, Jimmy... Your "good looks." I'm sure that's why they did it...

Thursday Night Thinking #175

I took the last few days off (mostly because the weather made me not feel like posting). But if there's one thing I won't miss it's Thursday Night Thinking!

There was a lot of good stuff in this week's Superman 80-Page Giant. But for my money the Jimmy Olsen story was far and away the best. It really encapsulates the madness that life must be when you're Jimmy Olsen...

Thursday Night Thinking #173

Tonight: a very special Jimmy Olsen Thursday Night Thinking!

Here's the thing: I've seen a lot of Jimmy Olsen stories over the years. This one? Not the wildest by a long shot. Not even in the top ten.

Jimmy Olsen Feature

After finding out that the Jimmy Olsen backup in Action is already available online through iPhone and iPod apps I went ahead and downloaded the DC Comics app for my iPod.

I've always been the type to eschew the "digital comics revolution." I like my floppies just fine, thank you. But I've been looking forward to the Jimmy Olsen feature and I found that I just couldn't wait. And seeing as it was free I had no reason not to check it out.

Let me say that I was presently surprised by the format (I'll get to the content in a minute). The app is pretty well streamlined and I was easily able to find the Jimmy Olsen feature by tapping on the "free" tab. From there it was easy to download it. I wasn't sure how the digital comics would work, but there was an answer to that as well! When I tried to open my downloaded comic I was asked if I would like to see a short comic on how to read the comics.

Curious, I allowed it and was stunned to find that Superman himself would be my guide to the world of digital comics. What an age we live in. It turned out to be pretty simple; I tap on the right side of the screen to advance and the left if I want to go back. I discovered that the app was by default set to zoom in to panels automatically as a sort of "guided tour" of the comics. I was a little leery about that at first.

But in the long run it worked out quite well. It was actually quite a treat in some cases, as it hid other, surprising or revealing parts of the comic from my sight until I got to them. I still don't think I want to give up the experience of seeing the whole page at once, but reading comics on my iPod will certainly make for a nice side trip when I'm on the run.

As for the content of the the feature... They had me from "that time I was a genie." Though the comic is very modern in its sensibilities it still has that core of wackiness that made all those old Jimmy Olsen stories so fantastic. If things continue in this direction for the story it'll make for one hell of a comic.

Before I go I should say a quick word about the introduction of Chloe Sullivan. Apparently Chloe Sullivan fans (hardcore fans) are kind of... I'm not sure what word I should use. Did you know they paid for a commercial in honor of Allison Mack to commemorate her part in Smallville? That's dedication. Though I've seen all of Smallville up to this point and am a fan of the character, I don't really have anything to say about the comic version. She's not the same Chloe Sullivan after all -- and I didn't expect her to be.

Just like any number of transfers from one media to another, this version of the character is going to have to stand on her own. In time we'll see if she can do that.

Thursday Night Thinking #151

Coming to you fast and furious: Thursday Night Thinking!

Here's a serious question: who do you think will win in this "versus" match? My money's on the Batman-Superman team. Because, you know, heat vision. And batarangs.

Thursday Night Thinking #150

This is the 150th Thursday Night Thinking! It's astonishing that I've kept this going for so long.

Well, maybe not that astonishing. After all, we've got decades of covers like this to go through:

Jimmy Olsen always delivers.

Thursday Night Thinking #149

You know, when it comes to Thursday Night Thinking, there's one thing I can never resist. And that's the Silver Age wackiness of Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen. Behold:

Yep, this cover has it all. Superman using his secret identity to toy with others, Jimmy threatening to kill Superman, and a sensational caption box. All that plus a yellow thought balloon with giant red letters.

Truly, those were the greatest of days.

Thursday Night Thinking #147

This, of course, is most certainly... Thursday Night Thinking!

Tiny Supermen? Really? Sounds like something Grant Morrison would come up with...

Thursday Night Thinking #145

The week is nearly over and I'm tired. What can get me through the last day? How about a soothing dose of Thursday Night Thinking?

Ah, Jimmy Olsen. You always know what to say. Er, I mean think.

Thursday Night Thinking #132

I have only one thing to say: Thursday Night Thinking!

Sensational indeed.

Thursday Night Thinking #127

Yes, again the time has come for Thursday Night Thinking! Tonight: a classic Superman thought from he cover of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen:

I love that one of the first things Jimmy apparently does when granted super-thinking powers is to get himself a desk and put his name on it.

Thursday Night Thinking #126

It's that time again, friends. Time for Thursday Night Thinking!

You know, I think I may have used one of these thoughts sometime before. Still, three thoughts for the price of one is worth a second go 'round!

Thursday Night Thinking #121

My co-bloggers have both been confirmed as Black Lanterns! Gotta hurry with... Thursday Night Thinking!

There are actually a couple of good thoughts in there. And I've got to say: Jimmy Olsen can be pretty sly sometimes.

Now I've got to get out of here! Run awaaaay!

Thursday Night Thinking #113

It's Thursday... So it's Thursday Night Thinking!

Tonight we have a classic cover (and classic thought) from Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen!

I can think of a few reasons, James. Starting with that bow tie.

Relative Importance

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen Special #2 is the most important comic you didn't read this week.

That is, of course, assuming you didn't read it. If you did, you know what I'm talking about.

If you read it you know that there were stunning revelations, the return of characters long unseen, references to old series that almost nobody read (I, of course, have the complete run). There's all that and a death on the last page. The death of one of the most important characters in the history of DC Comics.

Of course, I doubt the aforementioned dead person is really dead. You know how these things go. Still, most of my points still stand. There is a lot in SPJOS #2 (quite a mouthful) that sets up even more important things for the future.

If you've been following the current ongoing Superman event and didn't read that comic you need to run to your LCS immediately. Go now. I'll wait.

Thursday Night Thinking #100

This is it... The astonishing, unbelievable one hundredth edition of Thursday Night Thinking!

It's a been a long strange road. With crazy thoughts, scary thoughts, and poignant thoughts. Tonight, for this special occasion we have one of the purest types of thoughts:

This, my friends, is what it's all about. Here we celebrate the schemer, the plotter, and the common man with the uncommon plan. Truly, we celebrate them all. From the highest Superman to the lowest Jimmy Olsen. All are equal in their thinking.

Will this be the final Thursday Night Thinking? I don't think so!

Ideas

It's funny how comic fans (such as myself) will have ideas about what they'd do if they were in charge of comics. I've always had the idea that if I were in charge of Superman, I'd do a big story where he disappeared for a year or so and didn't show up in his own books during that time. The two main titles would still be there, but Superman would temporarily become Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen and Action would temporarily become Action Comics Feature Lois Lane.

They'd have their stories and adventures while trying to find out exactly what happened to Superman. Where did he go? What's the deal? But more than anything they'd be an excuse to do wacky stories like the old days -- but with a modern twist.

What's also funny is how if you wait long enough, the guys at the company will end up doing your idea. If I'm reading the DiDio interview correctly, they basically are taking Superman out of his books for a while and focusing on some other characters. And if James Robinson is doing Superman, we'll be seeing Jimmy Olsen. I'm pretty excited.

And I'm glad it's not me writing it...

Thursday Night Thinking LXVI

Thursday Night Thinking! Is this the final thought of Jimmy Olsen?

Probably not.

Thursday Night Thinking LIX

This is Thursday Night Thinking. And this is what you came here to see: Jimmy Olsen in a time traveling bubble.

All is right in the world.

I'll try to post tomorrow, but I'm going to visit Kalinara tomorrow. So if I do post it'll be from the computer in her secret lair, not mine.