Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006

Popeye by E. C. Segar (Fantagraphics Books)

Beloved by millions and a cartoon star for multiple generations, Popeye began in the 1920s as a minor character in an already successful comic strip called "Thimble Theater" by E. C. Segar. He quickly took over the series and now you can read the original escapades that made him a star. This first of a series will eventually reprint all his early strip adventures in chronological order. One of the great geniuses of the comic strip form, E. C. Segar created work that represents some of America's finest art in its epic scale, colloquial language, daffy humor and themes of romance and commerce. Unlike other very fine reprints of comic strip masters — see Frank King's Gasoline Alley series or The Complete Peanuts books — Popeye contains large-size full color Sunday strips along with the dailies. Not to be missed.