Who's Who: Elastic Lad

Elastic Lad
by Russell & Siskoid

Real Name: Jimmy Olsen

Super-Power(s): Stretching
Planet of Origin: Earth

Relationship to Legion: Honorary member

Legion Log
Elastic Lad is actually Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen. He gained elongation powers for the first time when a mysterious liquid in a mysterious alien chest broke open over him. Initially thinking these powers were permanent, he quit the Daily Planet and joined a circus. He lost these powers when he was exposed to Green Kryptonite.

Jimmy received stretching powers for the second time when his friend Professor Potter created an "elastic serum" that he accidentally drank. This serum allows him to temporarily stretch any part of his body. Generally speaking, each drop of the serum is good for one minute of power.

In the course of his adventures, both as Superman's friend and as Elastic Lad, Jimmy met Legionnaires such as Colossal Boy, Bouncing Boy, Chameleon Boy, and Mon-El. To reward him for his courage and intuition, the Legion decided to grant him Honorary Membership. He passed their initiation test, and he was inducted in a ceremony in the 30th Century.

However, Elastic Lad appeared only sporadically as an Honorary Member. In one important case he helped elect the Legion's leader in their fourth year. In another, he voted on whether Star Boy should be expelled from the Legion for killing someone in self-defense. For several years after this, no adventures with the Legion were recorded. His last appearance of any substance was when the Legion asked him to write articles for their monthly Legion Bulletin.

After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Jimmy's timeline is reset, he has never been an honorary member of the Legion, and transformations no longer occur as regularly as they did in the Silver Age, though he did once became a type of "Elastic Lad" on contact with the Eradicator. This transformation, however, was extremely painful and hasn't appeared since, having been genetically edited out. In the Legion's "Five Years Later" continuity, the Dominion's vaults held an Elasti-Kid 5 who may have been a stand-in for Jimmy in the post-Crisis universe.

In the Amalgam universe, a version of Jimmy exists called Fantastic Lad, who is an amalgam of Elastic Lad and Mister Fantastic, and a member of the Legion/Guardians of the Galaxy amalgam, the Legion of Galactic Guardians 2099.

In the reality where the Tiny Titans go to school, Elastic Lad gets all tied up in a "stretchy guy party".

Important Elastic Lad Stories:

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (v1) #31
 (reprinted in The Amazing Transformations of Jimmy Olsen TPB
and Showcase Presents The Superman Family Vol. 2)

Jimmy becomes the first Elastic Lad

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (v1) #37
 (reprinted in Showcase Presents The Superman Family Vol. 3)

Jimmy becomes the more permanent version of Elastic Lad

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (v1) #62

 (reprinted in Superman: Tales From the Phantom Zone TPB)

Elastic Lad peaks into the Phantom Zone and 

resists the urge to learn Superman's secret identity

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (v1) #72

 (reprinted in The Amazing Transformations of Jimmy Olsen TPB,
Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 2, and
Showcase Presents The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 1)

 
Jimmy Olsen is made an Honorary Legionnaire

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (v1) #76

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 3 and
Showcase Presents The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 1)

Female Legionnaires pretend to be infatuated

with Elastic Lad in order to make Lucy Lane jealous

Adventure Comics (v1) #323

 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 3 and
Showcase Presents The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2)

Jimmy helps elect the Legion's fourth leader

  Adventure Comics (v1) #342
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 5 and
Showcase Presents The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 2)

Jimmy votes Star Boy GUILTY of murder

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (v1) #99

Jimmy becomes a "One-Man Legion"

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (v1) #100

Several Legionnaires attend Jimmy Olsen's & Lucy Lane's wedding

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (v1) #105

 (reprinted in The Amazing Transformations of Jimmy Olsen TPB)

Jimmy battles various versions of himself, including Elastic Lad

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen (v1) #106
 (reprinted in Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 7 and
Showcase Presents The Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 3)

Jimmy is called to the future to report for the Legion Bulletin

Secrets of the Legion of Super-Heroes #3

The Legion reviews its ranks, mentioning 

that Jimmy is still an Honorary Member in good standing

Legion of Super-Heroes v2 #300

 (reprinted in 1,050 Years In The Future TPB 
and The Curse TPB)

Elastic Lad attends the Legion's anniversary celebration. 

Jimmy's last appearance with the Legion of Super-Heroes

DC Comics Presents #93

Elastic Lad's last pre-Crisis appearance

Action Comics #583

 (reprinted in Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow TPB)

Elastic Lad is murdered by Brainiac & the Legion of Super-Villains

Who's Who Update '88 #4

The Post-Crisis Jimmy Olsen gets a new Who's Who page

Adventures of Superman #458

Jimmy Olsen temporarily becomes "Elastic Lad" under the Eradicator's warping influence

Legion of Super-Heroes v4 #29

Elasti-Kid 5 may be Jimmy's stand-in in post-Crisis continuity

Spider-Boy Team-Up #1

The Amalgam universe includes a Fantastic Lad

Tiny Titans #22

Elastic Lad goes to a stretchy guy party