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James "Jimmy" Olsen, Jr. was a bow red-haired young man who worked as a cub reporter and photographer for the Daily Planet, alongside Lois Lane and Clark Kent, whom he idolizes as career role models.
History
Meeting Superman
Jimmy first met Clark Kent at the Daily Planet, the two of them striking a quick friendship. He officially met Superman while the latter had been captured by Parasite, to be kept as a prisoner while Parasite drained his powers. Jimmy was able to track Parasite by realizing he flew to the same place every 12 hours or so. Upon arriving at S.T.A.R. Labs boiler room, Jimmy found Superman imprisoned. While Jimmy loosened up the chains, Superman was able to escape and engaged Parasite, defeating him.
Investigating Intergang and meeting Supergirl
Jimmy complains to Lois that he wants to join in on the Intergang investigation. He insists that he has a lead, a video arcade token that one of the teenagers dropped after he and Lois were attacked by a group of Intergang members. Lois refuses to let him tag along, and Jimmy decides to check the arcades himself. Supergirl, who is visiting the Daily Planet under the guise of Clark's cousin, overhears this conversation and seeing a chance to prove herself, decides to join him. The pair eventually finds the right arcade and discover the same two teenagers that fought Superman. They follow them to Intergang's hideout and sneak in, but get caught by Granny Goodness. Even though Jimmy claims that they only want to join, Granny decides to have them beat up. Supergirl unveils her costume and easily defeats the Intergang group.
After this, Superman gets captured by the Female Furies and sent to Apokolips. It is then revealed that Intergang, under the order of Darkseid have placed a Doomsday Magnet, a weapon that would change the path of Fleischer's Comet, sending it to earth. Jimmy is unsuccessful at destroying the Doomsday Magnet device despite his best efforts, but Superman and Supergirl destroy the comet before it could cause any damage.
At the Planet, Jimmy proudly admires his front-page story on Supergirl's debut. As his co-workers eagerly crowd around for more details, he points out the window, where Kara flies around Metropolis, proud of her achievement and confident that Earth has a new heroine.
Newfound fame
When Superman stops Angela Chen's helicopter from crashing, Jimmy provides assistance by getting the crew out of the helicopter while the bridge starts collapsing. Angela, looking to cover for her lost footage, asks Jimmy for an interview. He politely refuses, claiming he wouldn't be comfortable, nor would really call himself a close friend of Superman. Later, a newscast shows Angela interviewing Jimmy. However, the interview has been edited so that when Angela asks about Jimmy's relationship to Superman, it appears that he's saying that he's Superman's pal. People start to ask Jimmy for favors, such as giving Superman a thank-you note, inviting him to a party, getting him to do commercials, asking him to attend charity dinners, and having people turn down their music.
The newfound fame comes with negative attention as well, as Jimmy shortly after finds himself in the clutches of Metallo. Superman arrives and with the help of Jimmy defeat Metallo. Superman counsels Jimmy and gives him a watch, a wristwatch which with the press of a button emits a special ultrasonic frequency signal that Superman can hear anywhere on Earth.
Several years later, Huntress used Jimmy's signal watch to contact Superman to help her find the Question.
Appearances
Superman: The Animated Series
Justice League
Justice League Unlimited
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