Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #7

Few things capture mid-1950s DC charm quite like Superman crouching in full costume at a marbles ring, absolutely dominating the Metropolis Marbles Championship while a stunned crowd — including the contestants labeled "Target Kid" and "MIB Masters" — looks on in disbelief. The cover, penciled by Curt Swan and inked by Stan Kaye, stages the whole scene with warm humor: a speech bubble from the crowd perfectly sums up the spectacle ("What an exhibition Superman is giving! I'm glad I don't have to compete against him!"). Teasing the featured story "The King of Marbles," this issue is a delightful snapshot of the era when Superman's world had room for playground competitions and Jimmy Olsen's everyday adventures.