POPEYE
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Human mutate
Occupation: Sailor, adventurer, comic strip character
Group Membership: Inmates of unidentified asylum (Alice Cooper, Alley Oop, Archie Andrews, Billie, Bluto, Jackknife Johnny, Jerome, Millie, the Penguin (Oswald Cobblepot), Sub-Mariner (Namor MacKenzie), Tiffany Sleek, others)
Affiliations: J. Wellington Wimpy
Enemies: Bluto
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: "The Sailor Man"
Base of Operations: Unrevealed
First Appearance:
(Historical) Thimble Theatre (January 17th, 1929);
(Marvel multiverse) Not Brand Echh I#12 (February,
1969);
(Reality-616) X-Men I#125 (September, 1979)
Powers/Abilities: As a result of rubbing Bernice the Whiffle Hen several times after he was shot, Popeye is effectively indestructible. When he eats spinach, he gains superhuman strength to a high, but undefined, level. Exposure to both these mutagens may well explain why he seems to have a prolonged lifespan (active from the 1940s to the present day) and his increasingly distorted features (he looked fairly normal in 1941, but by the modern era has an enlarged chin and bloated arm muscles).
Height: 5'5" (by
approximation)
Weight: Unrevealed
Eye: Brown
Hair: Brown, graying and balding
History: (Marvels I#1) - In 1941, reports of Captain
America (Steve Rogers) and Bucky (James Barnes) battling Nazis hit the
newsreels and newspapers of New York City, exciting Popeye, who told
Daily Bugle photographer Phil Sheldon that Cap would give Hitler "what
for."
(X-Men I#125) - Popeye attended the first state ball in the reign of the newly crowned Empress Lilandra on the Shi'ar planet Imperial Center, brushing elbows with the likes of Charles Xavier, Earth 1's Phantom Stranger and a Pierson Puppeteer.
(Marvel Premiere I#50) - Alongside his old foe Bluto, Popeye was locked away in an asylum to undergo therapy for being punch drunk. Wimpy apparently served as the pair's therapist.
(Captain America I#401) - Popeye was standing by the counter in the Laughing Horse Bar in Manhattan when Captain America and Hawkeye (Clint Barton) dropped by incognito for a drink.
(Fin
Fang Four Returns#1/2) - When news spread that the Green Wok Restaurant
in midtown Manhattan had discovered a cure for baldness it was invaded
by a throng of bald men desperate to partake,
including Popeye, who made it clear he was willing to pay whatever it
took. However the crowd swiftly dissipated after
chef Fin Fang Foom announced he had destroyed the last copy of the rare
herb that the cure required.
Comments: Created by Elzie Crisler (E.C.) Segar, and owned by King Features Syndicate. In the original version of this profile I ASSumed that all Popeye appearances in Marvel titles were the same individual, moving from one reality to the next - a precedent set by the likes of Forbush Man, as "humor" characters seem to be able to slip between realities much more readily than "serious" ones. However, as I've uncovered more and more appearances in different realities, I've decided to split the entry up. There's no evidence that it is all the one guy, but there's also no evidence it isn't; however, I'm now of the mind that it reads more easily if we split him up. Also, for convenience, I have left out any allies, friends, relatives, etc. who have not shown up in a Marvel title; the Marvel Popeye probably shares all those with the "main" King Features version, but unless and until they show up themselves (as Wimpy and Bluto have), I'm not going to massively expand the profile by including them.
If you know of any more Popeye cameos in Marvel titles, please let us know about them.
"I fights to the finish 'cause I eats my spinach, I'm Popeye the Sailorman!" <toot, toot>
Crazy Magazine#77 lampoons the Robin Williams' Popeye movie, but the parody stars Peepeye the Sailor Man, and so isn't eligible to be added to the history.
There is one other place I know that Popeye
appears alongside Marvel characters, which I'm not including as a
sub-profile because it was in a non-Marvel title and the Marvel
characters were there as unofficial cameos. However, for completeness'
sake, here's a brief summary. In Aardvark-Vanaheim's normalman the
titular character lives on the planet Levram (read it backwards), where
he is the only non-superhuman resident. In normalman#1 the overly large
supergroup the Legion of Superfluous Heroes starts to take roll call,
and each subsequent issue revisits that roll call a few letters further
into the alphabet, some with crowd shots, and some without, until it
finishes in normalman#7. The crowd shots of the team include numerous
sneaky cameos of characters from other companies, and in normalman#7
Popeye is one of them. For the record, the cameo characters spotted
include:
normalman#1: (Marvel) Adam Warlock, Black Bolt,
Brother Voodoo, Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell), Cyclops, Dr Strange, Forbush
Man, Frog-Man, Howard the Duck, Hulk, Impossible Man, Iron Man, Marvel
Girl (Jean Grey), Namor, Nighthawk, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man, Starfox,
Storm, Thing, Thor, Vision, the Watcher;
(DC) Batman, Blue Beetle, Captain Comet, Captain Marvel (Billy Batson),
Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy, Flash (Jay Garrett), Invisible Kid (Jacques Foccart), Light Lass, Mr
Mxyzptlk, Mon-El, Polar Lad, Power Girl, Raven, Robin, Superman, Ultra
Boy, Wonder Woman;
(others) Betty Boop, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Cerebus, Fred Hembeck,
Grendel, Herbie the Fat Fury, Jimmeny Cricket, Judge Dredd, Kilroy (as
in "was 'ere"), Obelix, the Shield, Tarzan, Thunderbolt, Yellow Kid,
Zippy the Pinhead
normalman#2: (Marvel) Spider-Man; (DC) Spider-Man
normalman#3: (DC) Blok, Bouncing Boy, Brainiac 5,
Chameleon Boy, Dawnstar, Dream Girl, Duo Damsel, Element Lad, Invisible
Kid (Jacques Foccart), Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Starboy,
Sun Boy, Superman, Timber Wolf, White Witch, Wildfire
normalman#4: (Marvel) Conan, Daredevil, Dr Strange,
Impossible Man, Iron Man, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), Thor,
Wolverine;
(others) Badger, Captain Victory, Dalgoda, Elric of Melnibone, Reuben
Flagg, Reid Fleming, Grimjack (John Gaunt), Groo, Judah Maccabee, Judge
Dredd, Neil the Horse, Rog-2000, Rocketeer
normalman#5: (Marvel) Super Rabbit; (DC) OMAC, Yankee
Poodle; (others) Atomic Mouse, Bucky O'Hare, Cutey Bunny, Hoppy the
Marvel Bunny, Mighty Mouse, Super Duck, Super Goof, Underdog, Wonder
Warthog, an unspecified Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle
normalman#6: (Marvel) Adam Warlock, Captain Marvel
(Mar-Vell), Nighthawk, Phoenix (Jean Grey); (DC) Batman, Ferro Lad,
Huntress, Manhunter (Paul Kirk), Mr. Terrific (Terry Sloane), Terra
normalman#7: (Marvel) Angel, Captain Marvel (Monica
Rambeau), Spider-Man
(DC) Adam Strange, Ambush Bug, Batman, Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett),
Captain Atom (Charlton version), Captain Marvel (Billy Batson), Plastic
Man, Space Ranger, Supergirl, Superman, Swamp Thing, Tin of the Metal
Men, Uncle Sam
(others) Aahz, Alfred E. Neumann, Asterix, Beetle Bailey, Betty Boop,
Cerebus, Charlie Brown, Dagwood, Darth Vader, Dennis the Menace (U.S.
version), Felix the Cat, Fred Flintstone, Kid Miracleman, Kevin
Matchstick, Miracleman, Mr. Magoo, Mr. Monster, Mister X, Ms. Tree,
Obelix, Omaha (Cat Dancer), Popeye, Shmoo,
Tiger Man (Atlas/Seaboard), Tintin, V (V for Vendetta), Zirk, Zot
Profile by Loki & Proto-Man (Marvel Age#92 and Crazy Magazine appearances).
CLARIFICATIONS:
Popeye has no known connections to
Popeye (Earth-665/Not Brand Echh)
Group Membership: Anti-monster mob (Henry, Ignatz
Mouse, Jeff, Katzenjammer Kids, Krazy Kat, Mutt, Nancy, Sparkly, J. Wellington Wimpy, others)
Enemies: Baron von Doomenstein, Dracula, von Doomenstein's "Frankenstein's" Monster
History:
(Not Brand Echh I#12/8) - On Earth-665, Popeye joined other
comic strip characters (including his friend J. Wellington Wimpy) in
forming a mob to berate monsters including Dracula, Baron von
Doomenstein and his "Frankenstein's Monster," claiming that monsters
were ruining their business, making children abandon "Funnies" (comic
strips) for "Grimmies" (horror stories). Popeye warned the "monster
swabs" that their days were numbered.
--Not Brand Echh I#12/8
Enemies: Avengers (Iron Man/Tony Stark,
Giant-Man/Hank Pym, Hulk/Bruce Banner, Thor Odinson, Wasp/Janet Van
Dyne), Scarlet Centurion (Nathaniel Richards)
History:
(What If? I#29/1) - Early in Earth-8110's "heroic era," Scarlet
Centurion tricked the Avengers into capturing every other superhuman on
the planet in the belief this would negate a timeline where the world
descended into barbarism thanks to superhuman conflict. The captives,
including Popeye, were handed over into the Centurion's custody for
"rehabilitation." Popeye was stored in stasis alongside the other
prisoners, next to the Grey Gargoyle.
(What If? I#29/1 - BTS) - Once the Avengers realized they had been duped and defeated the Scarlet Centurion, the prisoners were presumably released (despite the Avengers disbanding thanks to their continued belief the world would be better off without superpowers).
--What If? I#29/1
Affiliations: J. Wellington Wimpy
Enemies: Cloche
History:
(Crazy Magazine#33/1) - Popeye informed
nautical treasure hunter Mr. Trash that his unscrupulous rival, Cloche,
had just killed Trash's bodyguard.
(Crazy
Magazine#82/16) - Popeye and Wimpy were stranded in the ocean in a small
rowing boat. As Popeye did all the rowing work, Wimpy stood up and 
proclaimed he could see a Wendy's, prompting an annoyed Popeye
to tell him to pipe down. Meanwhile, a mostly submerged sea serpent
moved towards them, a malevolent look in its face. Some time later,
after Popeye had rowed their boat all the way into the middle of a
desert, Wimpy announced that perhaps it had been a Taco Bell; roasting
under the hot sun and tired from doing all the work, Popeye merely
groaned a response. Finding food at last, Wimpy subsequently experienced
inner peace, but by this point Popeye was absent.
Comments: Popeye's
appearance in Crazy Magazine#33 is in a cameo in the magazine's parody
of the movie The Deep (1977). Given the context, and the lack of
Marvel characters in the tale, it might not belong with the other Crazy
appearance, but it could conversely be argued that most Crazy movie
parodies take place in the same reality as other Crazy stories (Teen
Hulk, etc.). So, for the moment, I've added it in here.
--Crazy Magazine#33/1 (Crazy Magazine#82/16
Popeye (Earth-82324/Miracleman's world)
History:
(Miracleman#12 (fb)) - When Young
Nastyman went on a drunken rampage in an Icelandic bar that
Popeye was frequenting, the sailor seemingly decided discretion was
the best option and tried to get out unnoticed.
Comments: Miracleman#12 was originally published by
Eclipse Comics, and in that version it's even more obvious that this is
Popeye. The Marvel reprinting recolored the background characters,
making them stand out less.
--Miracleman#12
Popeye (Earth-7642/"Crossover")
History:
(Marvel And DC Present The Uncanny X-Men and New
Teen Titans#1) - On Earth-6472
Popeye was among the crowd departing Central Park after the New York
Philharmonic finished an open-air concert on the Great Lawn, heading out
to the west side of Manhattan and passing by Belvedere Castle.
Comments: Recognizable only because of his
distinctive chin and ever-present pipe. Also, is that Jhagur from Void
Indigo above him in the image? Before anyone naysays on the basis that
Void Indigo was first published in 1984 and the X-Men/Teen Titans
crossover came out in 1982, it's not impossible that Void Indigo was in
development as far back as 1982 and simply took a couple more years
before it got published.
--Marvel And DC Present The Uncanny X-Men and New Teen Titans#1
Popeye
(Earth-9047/What The--?!)
History:
(Marvel Age I#32) - On Earth-9047 Popeye laughed
as he read his copy of the Daily Bugle.
(Marvel Age I#92) - On Earth-9047, Popeye remarked on the August 23 birthday of Terry Austin.
(What
The--?!#12/2) - In the Hyborian era of Earth-9047, Popeye blended in by
wearing a horned helmet and going shirtless, and went for a beer in the
same tavern as Hagar the Horrible, and Cronan the Beerbarian and his
friend Tuborg.
--Marvel Age I#32 (Marvel Age I#92, What The--?!#12/2
X-Men I#125, p10, pan6 (main image)
Marvels I#1, p26, pan1 (headshot)
What If? I#29, p13, pan3 (imprisoned on Earth-8110)
Marvel Premiere I#50, p8, pan7 (group therapy)
Captain America I#401, p14, pan1 (in the Laughing
Horse Bar)
Fin Fang Four Return#1/2, p4, pan7 (seeking the cure for baldness)
Not Brand Echh I#12/8, p7, pan1 (with anti-monster
mob)
Crazy Magazine#33, p9, pan4 (starring in "The Beep")
Crazy Magazine#82, p74, pan2 (rowing in the sea with
Wimpy)
Crazy Magazine#82, p75, pan3 (rowing in the desert
with Wimpy)
Miracleman#12, p9, pan2 (avoiding Young Nastyman) - shot showing Young
Nastyman with Popeye blue-tinted from Marvel printing, other shot from
Eclipse printing
Marvel And DC Present The Uncanny X-Men and New Teen
Titans#1, p62, pan2 (Popeye in
Central Park)
Marvel Age I#32, back cover (reading the Daily Bugle the day before
Terry Austins birthday)
Marvel Age I#92, back cover (acknowledging Terry Aust'skins
boithday)
What The--?!#12, p11, pan2 (barbarian
Popeye and Cronan)
Appearances:
Not Brand Echh I#12 (February 1969) - Arnold Drake (writer), Tom Sutton
(art), Stan Lee (editor)
Crazy Magazine#33 (January 1978) -
Fred Wolfe (writer), Murad Gumen (art), Paul Laikin (editor)
X-Men I#125 (September 1979) - Chris Claremont (writer), John
Byrne (pencils), Terry Austin (inks), Roger Stern (editor)
Marvel Premiere I#50 (October 1979) - Alice Cooper, Jim Salicrup, Roger
Stern & Ed Hannigan (writers), Tom Sutton (pencils), Terry Austin
(inks), Roger Stern (editor)
What If? I#29 (October 1981) - Steven Grant (writer), Alan Kupperberg
(breakdowns), Al Gordon (finished art and inks), Tom DeFalco (editor)
Crazy Magazine#82 (January 1982) - Steve Skeates (writer), Joe Albelo;
Terry Austin; John Buscema; Dave Cockrum; Armando Gil; Larry Hama; Alan
Kupperberg; Bob McLeod; Marshall Rogers (art), Larry Hama (editor)
Marvel And DC Present The Uncanny
X-Men and New Teen Titans#1 (1982) - Chris Claremont (writer), Walt
Simonson (pencils), Terry Austin (inks), Louise Jones (editor)
Marvel Age I#32 (November 1985) - Jim Salicrup (writer, editor),
Roger Zalme (art)
Marvel Age I#92 (September 1990) - Chris Eliopoulos and Barry Dutter
(writers), Ron Zalme (art), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
What The--?!#12 (May 1991) - Barry Dutter (writer), Kez Wilson (art),
Renee Witterstaetter (editor)
Captain America I#401 (June 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rik Levins
(pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Marvels I#1 (January 1994) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Alex Ross
(art), Marcus McLaurin (editor)
Fin Fang Four Return (July 2009) - Scott Gray (writer), Roger Langridge
(art), John Barber (editor)
Miracleman#12 (Eclipse, September 1987) - Alan Moore (writer), John
Totleben (art), Letitia Glozer (editor)
Miracleman#12 (Marvel, December 2014) -
Alan Moore (writer), John Totleben (art), Letitia Glozer (editor)
First Posted: 11/01/2017
Last updated: 09/03/2022
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Special thanks to www.g-mart.com
for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel
Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should
check out the real thing!
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