Popoey

Popeye began as a supporting character in 1929, created by cartoonist Elzie Crisler Segar for the comic strip Thimble Theatre. He was never meant to steal the spotlight, but audiences immediately latched onto the gruff sailor with one squinting eye, a corncob pipe, and a personality as tough as his fists. Before long, Popeye had completely taken over the strip. His rise exploded in the 1930s and 1940s through animated shorts produced by Fleischer Studios and later Famous Studios. These cartoons cemented everything people still associate with Popeye today: his raspy mutter, explosive temper, unwavering loyalty, and his secret weapon, spinach. Alongside Olive Oyl, Bluto, and Wimpy, the shorts blended slapstick comedy with simple morality, where grit and perseverance always won out in the end. Popeye’s influence stretched far beyond cartoons. He became a cultural icon, helped drive spinach consumption worldwide, and stood as a symbol of working-class strength and determination. Nearly a century later, he remains instantly recognizable, still finishing every fight the same way: strong to the finich, because he eats his spinach.