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Popeye turns 75 today.
The Empire State Building is lit up spinach green from dusk to dawn all this weekend in celebration. If you don't live in New York City but would like to take a peek, you can take a gander at this webcam.
Popeye, and especially Wimpy, are among my favourite comic characters of all time. If you aren't familiar with E.C. Segar's classic Thimble Theater strip, from which Popeye originated, may I suggest a look at these online samples? And if you like what you see, take advantage of the discounts Fantagraphics has on its few remaining Popeye collections (scroll down). They're well worth it at any price.
Despite primarily being about the Popeye cartoon and collectibles, the Thimble Theater Homepage is the best resource on Popeye to be found outside of the library. It's especially nice to see someone search further afield on the subject. For example, the page on creator E.C. Segar reprints a short autobiography by Segar as well as a well-stocked pictorial biography by the site's author. The section on the comic strip itself has an amusing encounter between the character and his creator from the pages of a 1934 issue of Modern Mechanix, among other things.
The ever-reliable Toonopedia has its own concise history of Popeye, and this site relates a few facts about Popeye's origins, in-between claims to the character's Texan's roots. Patrick McDonnell, cartoonist behind the Mutts newspaper strip, has his own tribute to Segar (and one for Herriman as well, worth checking out for the sombrero alone). While short on actual commentary, it does provide a few more sample strips, as well as further proof of Segar's influence on today's comics.
The City of Chester has a page devoted to their most famous son, with plenty of biographical detail. This page also draws comparisons between Chesterites and the cast of Thimble Theater, naming apparent or supposed inspirations for Olive Oyl, Wimpy, Swee'pea and Popeye himself. Further descriptions of Segar's cartoonish neighbours can be found here, with pictures.
The Quarter Bin was one of the best places to go for long-form online comics criticism back in the day. It's archives are still available, and there you will find quite possibly the most informed appreciation of Popeye to be seen on the internet. Not only that, but it reprints my absolute favourite Olive Oyl moment. The fine folks at Quarter Bin also set their sights on Poopeye, the Mad parody of the sailor man with equally interesting results.
Happy Anniversary, Popeye! May your twister sock punch never fail to lay your enemies among the swee'peas. |
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