Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #125

This December 1969 issue of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen serves up one of the more wonderfully absurd covers the Silver Age has to offer: a tearful Superman sits helplessly weeping at a movie screening while a grinning, freckle-faced Jimmy Olsen leans in with a small vial, eagerly collecting every teardrop. The cover dialogue — Superman asking "What kind of pal are you?" and Jimmy cheerfully replying "Just keep bawling, Superman! Every teardrop is precious to me!" — sets up the featured story, "Superman's Saddest Day!", with exactly the kind of delightful mischief this series does best. Cover pencils by Curt Swan and inks by Murphy Anderson give the scene their signature polished warmth, making even the Man of Steel's waterworks look charming.