Suspended Animation Classic #288
Originally published July 3, 1994 (#27)
(Dates are approximate)

Comics Legend E. C. Segar
By Michael Vance

He was what he was, and that’s all he was. He was Elzie Crisler Segar, an undisputed comics genius and the papa of Popeye.

It was eleven years before the one-eyed sailor stumbled onto the comic strip stage of “Thimble Theatre”. Popeye upstaged its original cast centered around Olive Oyl and brother Castor, transforming a modestly successful strip into a world-wide phenomenon. Popeye is so well known that this simple statement may sound foolish.

If you haven’t read Segar’s “Popeye”, you don’t know Popeye at all.

That means that if you haven’t read “Thimble Theatre” before Segar’s death in 1938, you love a pale shadow of one of the most popular fictional characters on Earth.

Cartoonist Jules Fieffer wrote: “No strip housed more contradictions, a noisy tenement of clashing impulses; gentleness meets with nastiness; courtesy meets violence; greed, loutishness, and brutishness knock heads with kindness, righteousness, and moral vigor. Brute strength, used by all sides, is so run-of-the-mill it is like steak and fries. And fist fights are uncommonly good natured.

“Segar was very good in his time/ but times have gotten worse, and he is even better in ours.”

Jules Fieffer is right.

“Popeye” merchandise has taken every imaginable form, including toys, clothing, a live-action movie and hundreds of animated cartoons and comic books. Among the comics, some featuring Segar’s work are five titled “Popeye”, “Comic Album”, “Comics Reading Libraries”, and “Giant Comic Album”. “March of Comics”, “Wow”, “Thimble Theatre”, and “Feature Books reprinted “Popeye”. Original art and newspaper strips are rare.

“The Complete Segar Popeye” (Fantagraphics Books) is the best collection. Four volumes reprint Sunday pages, and seven feature daily strips. All are highly recommended.

Published over many years, some of these are rare. A comics dealer or price guide may help. Comic book shops, mail order companies, trade journals, and comics conventions are best sources. Prices vary; shop around.

1994 Toyota Soarer, with Lexus badging.