Strong To The Finish!

Today, we take a closer look at Popeye: sailor man, spinach enthusiast and quite possibly the first superhero to grace the funny pages?

In January 1917, Popeye made his debut in E.C. Segar’s “Thimble Theatre” comic strip. The calorically-challenged Olive Oyl was the original star of the strip, and already had a romantic interest by the name of “Ham Gravy”. But apparently she was more of a forearms gal….You’re listening to Frank Luther with “Popeye the Sailor Man”, the first recording of the song, made in 1934.

So about the superhero thing: DC and Marvel fans might bristle, but Popeye was the first in print. And according to Random House Dictionary, a superhero is a hero “possessing extraordinary, even magical powers.” So what if said powers come from a canned vegetable?

Want to see more on first strip? Click right here!