Popeye The Comic Book Man!

1948

Popeye the Sailor Man has proven to be one of the most durable characters in the now longish history of comics. The character of course debuted in Thimble Theater in 1929 under the hand of his creator Elzie Segar. Popeye quickly took over that strip and then became an animated sensation under the hand of the Fleisher Studios. When Segar passed away the strip was taken on by a host of folks, but eventually it came under the guidance of Bud Sagendorf in 1959. Sagendorf came to the character with a wealth of experience because he had been the guiding hand of the comic book from Dell Comics for over a decade at that point. Popeye appeared as a comic book for a few publishers but in 1948 Sagendorf's version found steady footing at Dell and ran for fourteen years.

1962

1962

The Sagendorf comic shifted over to Gold Key Comics when Western Publishing broke from Dell and Popeye continued for several years under the handsome Gold Key brand.

1966

1966

In 1966 King Features launched its famous characters into a comic book line which ran for just about a year or so. Popeye, along with The Phantom, Flash Gordon, and Mandrake the Magician was a part of this initiative.

1967

King Features ended the comic book experiment in 1967 leaving Popeye without a publisher for a short time in its venerable run.

1969

In stepped Charlton Comics and artist George Wildman who brought the title back in 1969. Sagendorf was concentrating on the comic strip exclusively at this point.

1977

Wildman, who went on to become the editor of Charlton Comics, was the guiding hand of Popeye's comic book adventures for most of the next decade when finally in early 1977. He was assisted by Charlton workhorse Joe Gill and the talented writer Nicola Cuti.

1978

The same talents with the addition of Bill Pearson continued on the title as it moved back to the folks at Gold Key which published the title under both the Gold Key and Whitman labels in 1978.

1984

Popeye the comic book series ended with its one hundredth and seventy-first issue in 1984 when the final Gold Key/Whitman issues was released. That adds up to thirty-six years of Popeye comics from a wide array of publishers.

1987

Among the most unusual comics I have buried around here somewhere the Popeye Specials from Ocean Comics beginning in 1987. These comics showcase stories by Ron Fortier which put out a rather detailed back story and origin for the famous Sailor Man. Drawn by Ben Dunn and Bill Pearson the first issue shows us Popeye as a child. Check this out for a glimpse.

1988

The following year another issue drops with Fortier and Dunn still aboard, but with Dell Barras and  Tom Grummett joining in on the art chores. This issue takes Popeye and Bluto to the land down under, Australia.

1999

A full decade passes, but eventually another special issue appears this time written by Peter David with a cover by Tom Grummett and interior art by Dave Garcia and Sam De La Rosa. As you can tell by the title, at long last Popeye and Olive tie the knot, though with enough action for all Popeye fans. Here the writer reflects on the project.

2012

Yoe Books and IDW Publishing collaborated to launch a reprint series of the earliest Popeye comics from Dell in 2012 and I eagerly jumped aboard as it left the dock. It apparently has proven to be quite a sales success.

2017

That is evidenced by the fact that five years later the full Dell series was reprinted. What will become of the series at this point is unknown to me, but frankly I'd love to see the series continue capturing new stories from the Gold Key, King Features, and Charlton years. The George Wildman material deserves a larger audience. Maybe it will happen, because it has been proven time and again that Popeye is a reliable seller on the stands. But at this late date, I have little hope. 

2024

Yet just last year we were given Eye Lie Popeye, a totally new take on the character. This time he's given a taste of Manga to go with his usual diet of spinach. Can't say I'm impressed. 

Come back tomorrow to celebrate a very special day indeed. 

Rip Off