SUPERMAN’S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #138

Image is rotated 90 degrees; cover appears glossy with strong color but shows visible wear at the top and bottom edges consistent with corner and edge softness, along with a faint crease line near the bottom border. Spine area is not clearly visible due to the bag/board and angle, so spine stress cannot be fully assessed. The book is bagged and boarded, which limits close inspection of surface texture; interior and back cover were not assessed.

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #138 (June 1971) arrived during Jack Kirby's celebrated run on the title, the unlikely vehicle DC handed him for launching the Fourth World mythology. By issue #138 the series had settled into the ongoing adventures of the Guardian, the Newsboy Legion, and the Project cast that Kirby grafted onto the existing Jimmy Olsen concept, blending science-fiction concepts with Superman-universe trappings. Kirby is credited as writer and penciler, with Vince Colletta providing inks typical of the era's DC output, and the issue continues plot threads from the surrounding Fourth World storyline rather than introducing a standalone first appearance.

Market data shows a book collected primarily for its Kirby authorship rather than for any single landmark event within its pages. Sales activity clusters most heavily in the 9.4-9.6 range, with a sizable population of raw and mid-grade copies changing hands at modest prices, while a small population of 9.8s commands a real premium reflecting the difficulty of finding Bronze Age newsstand comics in pristine condition. Demand is steady but not driven by speculative first-appearance chasing; it instead tracks broader interest in completing Kirby's Fourth World saga and in Jimmy Olsen's transformation under his authorship.

This issue suits Kirby completists and Fourth World collectors building out the full 133-148 run rather than investors targeting a single grail. Lower and mid-grade copies trade cheaply and are readily available given the healthy census population, making them accessible entry points for readers assembling the story arc. High-grade 9.8 copies are comparatively scarce and see a steep price jump from the next tier down, rewarding patient collectors who prioritize top-census condition over affordability.