Flying Photo-Journalists: The Other Relentless Redhead Reporters

Jimmy Olsen, a name synonymous with relentless redheaded reporters. While multiple versions of the "Action Ace", Jimmy's predominant nickname, existed... the two most notable were the Daily Planet's Jimmy of Earth-One and the Daily Star's Jimmy of Earth-Two. Each young lad grew into manhood, fullfilling a lifelong goal of being a renowned reporter. Each focus, at least at first, on photojournalism. As the go-to photographer of their respective newspapers, the Olsens over time earned the trust of their editors-in-chief, Perry White and George Taylor, to transition into well-regarded writers as well.

A key factor towards the success of each Jimmy was his friendship with coworkers Lois Lane and Clark Kent, who were seasoned journalists that groomed them over time. In addition, both Olsens became well known as becoming the best friends of their worlds' Supermen, whom they assisted in various adventures... becoming something of sidekicks to the Men of Steel. While the Earth-Two Jimmy had only his wits and his natural skills to aid him, the Earth-One Jimmy also had several temporary superhuman powers gifted to him by his friend Professor Potter from time-to-time.

The Earth-One Jimmy had one other secret to his success, a miniaturized lookalike of himself from the bottled city of Kandor. Kandor had been shrunked by the amoral android Brainiac from the doomed planet Krypton-One, and later retrieved by Superman where he placed it in his Fortress of Solititude. In gratitude for all his help, the Kandorians created a couple specialized Squads of select citizens from among them. Although each member was tiny, these individuals of the Superman Emergency and Lookalike Squad proved invaluable at times to both Kal-El in both his Superman and Clark Kent identities, and those of his friends in Metropolis.

Among these, Zol-Lar proved especially adept at being an apt superpowered substitute for Jimmy, whom he looked like. When temporarily enlarged, Zol-Lar would impersonate Jimmy while flying at superspeed. On Earth-Two, in place of Zol-Lar, there was another redhaired photojournalist named Tubby Watts who also on possessed superhuman speed and flight. Using the speed formula 3X2(9YZ)4A which his pal Johnny Chambers used, Tubby was able to pinch hit for Chamber's alter ego Johnny Quick on occasion. 

While not as physically fit as his world's Jimmy, Tubby's appearance matched the temporarily overweight Jimmy of Earth-One. And more importantly, Tubby was just as faithful and tenacious, both in reporting the truth and helping his heroic best friend to expose evildoers.