Doughy, self-important Daily Planet reporter Sid Sharp is sick of being scooped by Clark Kent every time Superman deals with a threat in Metropolis. As a result, despite Clark's niceness, Sid grumbles hatefully at Clark. Sid decides he needs his own superhero to follow around, and costumes up to make himself that hero. Darkseid sends Parademons to abduct Superman, but they grab the costumed Sid instead. Superman resignedly goes to rescue Sharp from Apokolips. Clark once again beats Sid to the scoop, somehow, and Sid is furious since he was on another world. But Clark's scoop puts Sid in the limelight and Sharp gets to smile at the headline that makes him the hero.
Tropes:
- Didn't See That Coming:
- Granny Goodness is surprised that Superman actually came to rescue Sid.
- As Sid "condemns" Superman, Kanto admits that humans always make things interesting.
- Distressed Dude: Sid Sharp gets mistaken for Superman by Parademons due to wearing a similar costume, causing him to get captured. Superman then has to go save him from Darkseid.
- Fat Bastard: Downplayed with Sid Sharp, who is pudgy, irritable, self-important, and jealous of Clark Kent always being the first to get a story about Superman's exploits, but he is far from a bad guy at heart.
- Indy Ploy: Superman needs time to recover, so Sid buys time by telling the others that Kanto will try to take all the credit for their victory. He sows further dissent by saying Kanto plotted to scapegoat the others should the plan fail; he then says it was really Desaad. When Darkseid shows up to quell their squabbling, Sid proceeds to "condemn" Superman for failing him; Darkseid is so taken off guard by this that he hesitates and gives Superman the last bit of time to recover.
- Mythology Gag: The episode's title is similar to that of the comic series Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen.
- Nerves of Steel: Sid is captured by the forces of Apokolips, but he keeps mocking and yelling at them (even Darkseid himself!) without a second thought.
- Oh, Crap!: Sid only expresses concern when he realizes he's going to be bait for a trap for Superman.
- Poisonous Captive: Sid buys time for Superman to recover by sowing dissension among Darkseid's subordinates.
- Pun: After Superman swipes Desaad's Mother Box, Sid calls him "the Man of Steal."
- Shout-Out: When Darkseid confronts Desaad towards the end of the episode, he says "You have failed me for the last-" before being interrupted by Kalibak.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Clark Kent usually gets any scoops Sid Sharp is after, and Sid also spends a good chunk of the episode as Darkseid's prisoner. At the end, Clark writes up a story about the episode's events and how Sid helped Superman.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Kalibak admits he was hoping to get a hug from Darkseid out of all this. A big one.
- You Have Failed Me: Darkseid quotes this verbatim, as noted under Shout-Out above; however, it's not revealed if he went through with it.
