Popeye the Sailorpedia
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Popeye1st

Popeye issue #1. Cover art by Bud Sagendorf.

There have been several Popeye publications since the character first appeared among the cast of Thimble Theatre, starting with hardcover bound collections of the daily strips throughout the 1930s. This format continued in early issues of the Four Color comic book series by Dell Publishing, before evolving into new stories and art by Bud Sagendorf, formerly the assistant of Popeye creator E. C. Segar. These issues were followed by the first and most famous Popeye comic series in 1948, published by Dell, also with the talent of Bud Sagendorf. Many other editions by several publishers have been released over the years as well.

The Dell series was first simply called Popeye. It was later titled Popeye the Sailor, as it continued with Western Publishing under the brand Gold Key with issue #66 in 1962. This title was kept by the publishers that followed.

This comic book series mostly dealt with self-contained tales (unlike the original, serialized comic strip), usually featuring a longer lead story starring Popeye and a few shorter backups headlined by either Popeye or other characters. Sagendorf even introduced new backup series such as Axle and Cam or Sherm! and equally used Segar's complement to the daily strip, Sappo, as the supporting feature in the book. Short text stories would also be included, as well as the later Popeye's Physical Fitness Program, with the format changing through the years.

Sagendorf eventually retired from the series, leaving his duties to artists such as George Wildman, while the series was picked up by Charlton Comics with issue #94 in 1969. Wildman stayed on when the series was once again picked up by Western Publishing, under the brands Gold Key and Whitman, until the final 171st issue in 1984.

This series is currently being reprinted by IDW Publishing under the brand Yoe Comics, which began in 2012. IDW also ran another series titled Popeye from 2012 to 2013, as well as a Mars Attacks Popeye special in 2013.

In Japan, a Popeye manga series was published by Shōnen Gahōsha from 1961 to 1965.[1]

Publications[]

Title Publisher(s) Issue Numbers Publication Dates
Thimble Theatre Starring Popeye Sonnet #1 - #2 1931 - 1932
Popeye Paint Book McLaughlin Bros. N/A 1932
Popeye Cartoon Book Saalfield #2095 1934
Popeye David McKay #1 - #2 1935
King Comics David McKay #1 - #155 1936 - 1949
King Comics Best Books #156 - #159 1950 - 1952
Popeye/Popeye and Wimpy Four Color N/A 1942 - 1949
Popeye/Popeye the Sailor Dell, Western, King Features, Charlton #1 - #177 1948 - 1984
Popeye (manga) Shōnen Gahōsha (Shōnen Gaho supplement) N/A 1961 - 1965
Popeye Saalfield #9212 1969
Popeye [Bold Detergent Giveaway] Charlton N/A 1969
Thimble Theater Starring Popeye the Sailor Nostalgia Press N/A 1971
Popeye King Features #E1 - #E15 1972
Popeye [Giant Comic Album] Modern N/A 1972
Popeye King Features #L2 1974
Popeye "Getting Better Grades" King Features N/A 1974
Popeye King Features Add 1975
Popeye Kite Fun Book Western N/A 1977
Thimble Theatre, Introducing Popeye Hyperion Press N/A 1977
Thimble Theatre, Introducing Popeye Hyperion Press N/A 1977
Popeye The First Fifty Years Workman N/A May 1979
Popeye the Sailor Nostalgia Press N/A 1979
Thimble Theatre Starring Popeye Tempo Books N/A 1979 - 1980
Popeye and the Jeep Tony Raiola N/A 1982
Prophetic Allegory: Popeye and the American Dream: Two Classics by E. C. Segar American Life Foundation and Study Institute Paper Back 1983
Thimble Theatre, Starring Popeye Berkley Books Gallery Feb 1984
The Complete E.C. Segar Popeye Fantagraphics N/A 1984 - Nov 1990
The Complete E.C. Segar Popeye (collection of daily and Sunday strips) Fantagraphics N/A 1984 - 1990
Popeye Special Ocean Comics #1 - #2 Summer 1987 - Sep 1988
Mondo Popeye St. Martin's N/A 1989
Popeye Summer Special Harvey #1 Oct 1993
Popeye Harvey #1 - #7 Nov 1993 - Aug 1994
The Wedding of Popeye & Olive Ocean Comics #1 1999
Popeye [E.C. Segar's Popeye] (collection of daily strips) Fantagraphics #1 - #6 Sep 2006 - Feb 2012
E. C. Segar's Popeye: Plunder Island Fantagraphics N/A 2008
Popeye Halloween Mini-Comic Fantagraphics #1 2009
Popeye: The Great Comic Book Tales by Bud Sagendorf IDW N/A Feb 2011
Popeye Classics IDW #1 - ? Aug 2012 - Present
Popeye IDW #1 - #12 Apr 2012 - Apr 2013
Popeye IDW #1 - #3 Dec 2012 - Jul 2013
Mars Attacks Popeye IDW N/A Jan 2013
Classic Popeye IDW N/A Feb 2013
Popeye Classics IDW #1 - ? Feb 2013 - Present
Thimble Theatre Presents Popeye IDW #1 Mar 2014
Eye Lie Popeye Comics Kingdom Vol. 1 2023

Last Updated: 6/1/2023

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