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Superman by Kurt Busiek #6
Superman: 3-2-1, Action!
The world's most famous superhero, has thrilled readers worldwide for over 60 years! Superman's pal, Jimmy Olsen, is in the spotlight in these exlosive stories, as mysterious events leave Jimmy exhibiting an amazing array of super-powers whenever he is endangered!
160 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2008
1 person is currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Busiek
1,850 books625 followersKurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
Busiek did not read comics as a youngster, as his parents disapproved of them. He began to read them regularly around the age of 14, when he picked up a copy of Daredevil #120. This was the first part of a continuity-heavy four-part story arc; Busiek was drawn to the copious history and cross-connections with other series. Throughout high school and college, he and future writer Scott McCloud practiced making comics. During this time, Busiek also had many letters published in comic book letter columns, and originated the theory that the Phoenix was a separate being who had impersonated Jean Grey, and that therefore Grey had not died—a premise which made its way from freelancer to freelancer, and which was eventually used in the comics.
During the last semester of his senior year, Busiek submitted some sample scripts to editor Dick Giordano at DC Comics. None of them sold, but they did get him invitations to pitch other material to DC editors, which led to his first professional work, a back-up story in Green Lantern #162 (Mar. 1983).
Busiek has worked on a number of different titles in his career, including Arrowsmith, The Avengers, Icon, Iron Man, The Liberty Project, Ninjak, The Power Company, Red Tornado, Shockrockets, Superman: Secret Identity, Thunderbolts, Untold Tales of Spider-Man, JLA, and the award-winning Marvels and the Homage Comics title Kurt Busiek's Astro City.
In 1997, Busiek began a stint as writer of Avengers alongside artist George Pérez. Pérez departed from the series in 2000, but Busiek continued as writer for two more years, collaborating with artists Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer and others. Busiek's tenure culminated with the "Kang Dynasty" storyline. In 2003, Busiek re-teamed with Perez to create the JLA/Avengers limited series.
In 2003, Busiek began a new Conan series for Dark Horse Comics, which he wrote for four years.
In December 2005 Busiek signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. During DC's Infinite Crisis event, he teamed with Geoff Johns on a "One Year Later" eight-part story arc (called Up, Up and Away) that encompassed both Superman titles. In addition, he began writing the DC title Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis from issues 40-49. Busiek was the writer of Superman for two years, before followed by James Robinson starting from Superman #677. Busiek wrote a 52-issue weekly DC miniseries called Trinity, starring Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Each issue (except for issue #1) featured a 12-page main story by Busiek, with art by Mark Bagley, and a ten-page backup story co-written by Busiek and Fabian Nicieza, with art from various artists, including Tom Derenick, Mike Norton and Scott McDaniel.
Busiek's work has won him numerous awards in the comics industry, including the Harvey Award for Best Writer in 1998 and the Eisner Award for Best Writer in 1999. In 1994, with Marvels, he won Best Finite Series/Limited Series Eisner Award and the Best Continuing or Limited Series Harvey Award; as well as the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story (for Marvels #4) in 1995. In 1996, with Astro City, Busiek won both the Eisner and Harvey awards for Best New Series. He won the Best Single Issue/Single Story Eisner three years in a row from 1996–1998, as well as in 2004. Busiek won the Best Continuing Series Eisner Award in 1997–1998, as well as the Best Serialized Story award in 1998. In addition, Astro City was awarded the 1996 Best Single Issue or Story Harvey Award, and the 1998 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series.
Busiek was given the 1998 and 1999 Comics Buyer's Guide Awards for Favorite Writer, with additional nominations in 1997 and every year from 2000 to 2004. He has also received numerous Squiddy Awards, having been selected as favorite writer four years in a row from 1995 to 1998,
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 29, 2022
Jimmy will always be one of the best supporting non-powered characters in the pages of Superman comics imo
February 10, 2011
I like a lot of Busiek's other works, but his Superman run is killing me. Here we have a few Jimmy Olsen stories, including the character's origin. The present-day parts tie in with the Countdown to Final Crisis crossover, and while it isn't hard to figure out what is going on, it's fairly distracting.
My main issue with Busiek's run is the lack of any credible threats whatsoever. Every villain he uses is some lame 70s-style reject who doesn't present any real danger to the main characters. Here we have some 8th-rate Intergang group called The 10, the endlessly monolouging Kryptonite Man and his radioactive monkey (no joke). Jimmy Olsen has wacky powers, and tries to impress Superman and hot girls. Supes and Jimmy are pals and talk about things that pals would talk about.
I get that if you're into the Silver Age style of zany adventures, you may well love this, but for me, it's just a story devoid of any drama, and the "aw shucks" shenanigans of past decades just aren't fun anymore. I guess I'm just one of those stupid young people.
My main issue with Busiek's run is the lack of any credible threats whatsoever. Every villain he uses is some lame 70s-style reject who doesn't present any real danger to the main characters. Here we have some 8th-rate Intergang group called The 10, the endlessly monolouging Kryptonite Man and his radioactive monkey (no joke). Jimmy Olsen has wacky powers, and tries to impress Superman and hot girls. Supes and Jimmy are pals and talk about things that pals would talk about.
I get that if you're into the Silver Age style of zany adventures, you may well love this, but for me, it's just a story devoid of any drama, and the "aw shucks" shenanigans of past decades just aren't fun anymore. I guess I'm just one of those stupid young people.
November 18, 2019
The story is full of thrill, amazement, suspense, and it is always fun to read it, even though it is a comic book and has drawings in it, you can imagine some details that you think, and you are able to understand the story and the characters. The story has a lot of characters and to understand how the secondary characters (external superhero’s and villains), you need to read other comics that are not part of the Superman series. However, this crossover is very easy to understand because this external characters do not affect the story with their origin and independent story’s. The book is really good structured and has a lot of creativity within it; you can never get bored of the story because it has a lot of stories within one story because it is a tiny part of all the Superman story, but it has a big bunch of story’s and fights. The story makes you think a lot because unconsciously you begging to make predictions, also there are a lot of science stuff and terms. Overall, the Superman 3-2-1 Action is full of hope and suspense and critical thinking and I would recommend this graphic novel to everyone that searching for a story that is full of weird things and suspense. I rated this with a five stars because I really love the story and how it develops, also, the crossover has a magnificent touch and I hope there is more thrill coming in because I have not finished the book yet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2017
This was a nice read. Not my all-time favorite Superman stories--not a huge fan of Jimmy Olsen getting super powers, though that was a really interesting "what-if"--but these were still definitely fun. These are great snapshots of Jimmy Olsen--the entire character, not just his friendship with Superman. After all, the best part of Superman isn't necessarily the Man of Steel himself (though, he of course, is awesome), but his relationships with the people in his life. He's one of the few superheroes who has a strong family support system, as well as an equally strong group of friends. That, really, is why Superman is such a hopeful beacon: He doesn't just epitomize the best that we can be, he represents the best that we can be together. And Jimmy Olsen, in many ways, is the personification of that idea. If you're on a Superman kick like I am, this is a solid choice for must-read list.
May 5, 2018
It's funny how DC used a completely generic title to disguise the nature of this book - although there is a sort of pun involved you'll only discover upon reading. The nature of the book then is a Jimmy Olsen compilation - and if that's what you're after, I guess this is as good as it could be. Present are one of his origin tales, an extended piece where he gets powers (that lead into some event story of old) and a double-length tale to close. The problem is that it's so dated by modern standards - huge amounts of exposition, thinking out loud and talking out loud. And all the wordiness cannot convince that these stories are actually all that - even the introduction kind of admits these pieces only ever existed as filler. It's not horrendous, but you do need to be in the mood for some ripe cheese and stupidity.
March 25, 2025
This was bad. Kurt Busiek and DC editorial take some of the worst elements of the terrible Countdown series (Jimmy having powers) and add to it. Here, Jimmy tries to be a hero and its incredibly lame. What worked though was Clark realizing Jimmy could use a friend and the return of Krypto. Brad Walker's art was very good. Overall, this is not a story anyone would clamor to reread.
October 21, 2025
A 'good' collection, but not a great one.
The first two collections are Kurt Busiek but they are much weaker outings, partially because they cannot escape the shadow of the New Krypton Saga.
But the third story? 'American Evolution'? Exceptional!
The first two collections are Kurt Busiek but they are much weaker outings, partially because they cannot escape the shadow of the New Krypton Saga.
But the third story? 'American Evolution'? Exceptional!
March 24, 2019
Pierwsza historia była o tym, jak Jimmy odziedziczył Krypto po Connerze, więc bardzo plus, a druga historia jakoś do mnie nie przemówiła totalnie
November 12, 2025
I finished reading the SUPERMAN BY KURT BUSIEK volumes two days ago, which meant the Superman trades written by Kurt Busiek already on my shelf can move to the library donation pile. But then I glanced at this one, which collected some less-than-favorite arcs in Busiek's run (although I liked "Jimmy" more this time through), and it includes a random issue from a series titled LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE. Issue 14 to be exact. It's written by Mark Evanier and drawn by the legend Steve Rude, and it's based on an old plot Jack Kirby came up with during his JIMMY OLSEN run in the 70s that he never got around to using. I had to reread it - a Kirby JIMMY OLSEN plot drawn by Steve Rude? How could I not?
And it's every bit as magical as you'd want it to be. I'll keep this book even if the first half is redundant.
++++++++
Eh.
"Jimmy," by Busiek and Leonardi, is well done, but lacks a certain excitement and inspiration. Maybe I'm just hung over from reading so much Kirby, but this issue just felt like it was going through the motions. Nothing's wrong with it, per se, but I'm already forced to really think to
remember what happened in it.
"3-2-1 Action" suffers a bit from loose art by Walker. But ultimately, the drunken Irish robots just don't work for me. And super-animals in battle... maybe Jeff Smith could work it. But here, it's pure corn.
"The American Evolution," an old issue of Legends of the DCU, by Evanier and Rude, is the book's high point. It's based on an unused Kirby plot, so it's crazy, and Evanier does a great job keeping all the players in action. Guardian and Superman get some great moments, and the contrast between Jimmy's daring and Bernie Sobel's selfishness is well done. Lots of fun, and a gorgeously drawn issue by Rude. He's in Kirby mode, so it's not his best work, but Rude's faux-Kirby is still better than most artists' best work.
And it's every bit as magical as you'd want it to be. I'll keep this book even if the first half is redundant.
++++++++
Eh.
"Jimmy," by Busiek and Leonardi, is well done, but lacks a certain excitement and inspiration. Maybe I'm just hung over from reading so much Kirby, but this issue just felt like it was going through the motions. Nothing's wrong with it, per se, but I'm already forced to really think to
remember what happened in it.
"3-2-1 Action" suffers a bit from loose art by Walker. But ultimately, the drunken Irish robots just don't work for me. And super-animals in battle... maybe Jeff Smith could work it. But here, it's pure corn.
"The American Evolution," an old issue of Legends of the DCU, by Evanier and Rude, is the book's high point. It's based on an unused Kirby plot, so it's crazy, and Evanier does a great job keeping all the players in action. Guardian and Superman get some great moments, and the contrast between Jimmy's daring and Bernie Sobel's selfishness is well done. Lots of fun, and a gorgeously drawn issue by Rude. He's in Kirby mode, so it's not his best work, but Rude's faux-Kirby is still better than most artists' best work.
April 1, 2019
I loved this. I guess Kurt Busiek is my favorite Superman writer. I've loved the last few things I've read of his. The focus of this volume was on Jimmy and his relationship with Superman. I think because of that it forced the story to focus a little more on the Clark side of the character. I don't need Superman to be fighting some kind of uber villian to enjoy the story. In fact, I usually prefer it when he's not. There are so many interesting aspects to Superman, and the more complex ones tend to come out in these smaller, more personal stories. I loved this book. It was exactly what I wanted it to be. Plus, I loved the bonus story inspired by an old Jack Kirby plot. It managed to maintain that classic feel and yet still came across as modern and fast-paced. I highly recommend this.
We discuss favorite Superman stories in a special episode of the All the Books Show Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...
We discuss favorite Superman stories in a special episode of the All the Books Show Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...
December 2, 2012
I'm an unashamed fan of the Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen series, so I was both impressed by Busiek's homage to that silly garbage in these stories and by his sheer chutzpah for bothering to try. But my favorite part of this book was easily Evanier and Rude's pitch-perfect imitation of Kirby in the final story, which was fittingly based on an unused Kirby plot using almost all of his major DC creations--the New Gods, Guardian, Intergang, etc. As a hardcore Kirbyphile, I was blown away by Steve Rude's synthesis of Kirby's style with his own.
While this book is a sterling example of DC's over-reliance on elements of the Silver Age (hell, they had to publish a whole book of the random 50's Batman tales Grant Morrison referenced in R.I.P. just to make sense of the damn thing), I couldn't help but be charmed.
(on another note, I couldn't help but notice Superman's finger is covering the letter U on the cover. Sperman?)
While this book is a sterling example of DC's over-reliance on elements of the Silver Age (hell, they had to publish a whole book of the random 50's Batman tales Grant Morrison referenced in R.I.P. just to make sense of the damn thing), I couldn't help but be charmed.
(on another note, I couldn't help but notice Superman's finger is covering the letter U on the cover. Sperman?)
May 20, 2008
Superman may get the title billing, but all three stories in this book are about his pal, Jimmy Olsen. The first story retells Jimmy's origin, which has been fudged a little bit, post- Identity Crisis. In the title story, Jimmy has apparently gained superpowers as part of the Countdown crossover. Jimmy dons a costume and takes on the Kryptonite Man. (As you'd guess, he needs some help from Superman.) The last story is a tacked on book from 1999--an homage to Jack Kirby's Fourth World stories that starred Olsen.
The last story takes away from what's an otherwise solid collection. Kurt Busiek's stories, firmly entrenched in the current continuity, hit all the right notes of Superman and Jimmy, two timeless characters.
Also worth noting: Brad Walker's version of Jimmy Olsen has a nose that's far too slender and elongated.
The last story takes away from what's an otherwise solid collection. Kurt Busiek's stories, firmly entrenched in the current continuity, hit all the right notes of Superman and Jimmy, two timeless characters.
Also worth noting: Brad Walker's version of Jimmy Olsen has a nose that's far too slender and elongated.
July 10, 2013
The Jimmy Olsen origin story is quite good [7/10]. The Countdown crossover is pretty mediocre until Krypto enters the story. Who's a good dog!? Who's a good dog!? [6/10]. The Evanier story is very Kirbyesque, but I generally find that era of story pretty slow for the modern market [6/10], and of course it doesn't belong here at all.
August 19, 2013
I would rather listen to the Spin Doctors' "Jimmy Olsen's Blues" instead of reading this collection again. I liked the "Jimmy" story from Superman 665, but was not into the "Countdown to Final Crisis" cross over in Action Comics. Overall a disappointment, but I was glad to read the origin story for Jimmy.
May 7, 2015
Nice set of stories on Superman's pal Jimmy Olsen. Without a doubt there are times when Jimmy has truly been an unsung hero. While these stories are okay and do lead up to some nice moral, they aren't that big.
Still nice to read. C+
Still nice to read. C+
November 6, 2016
Solid work with the ever-continuing updates of Jimmy Olsen (he gets younger with each and every reboot). The final story with Evanier and Rude channeling Jack Kirby (even using a plot idea by the King) is delightfully insane.
January 15, 2009
Busiek really shines in these Jimmy Olsen stories... he's got a gift for putting superheroes in real world context.
April 4, 2012
Even for a Superman fan, this book was quite silly and disappointing.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews