E.C. Segar who wrote Popeye was a very wise man who was subtle but direct. The comic strip Popeye was his attempt to get kids--and adults too--to eat spinach and vegetables and to use olive oil in cooking. Segar knew about the Italian use of olive oil and its health enhancing properties and also spinach--and vegetables.

Children then did not care much for vegetables unless the parents had taught them to eat vegetables and the vegetables were seasoned to taste. The cheap cooking oil was just terrible--lard--and it was deadly: heavy grease really and hog lard was used mostly, very thick and hard to digest.

Segar knew that children were just getting into sweets and it bothered him so he devised a way to tell children and parents to eat their veggies and use olive oil and "knock" out bad blood--Bluto.

Al S. Morrison, 610 Woodlawn #9, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482, xzm@verizon.net

Nice try Al...

Sounds like a newsflash, before all the facts are collected!

Your contribution is in complete conflict with the articles links information... that Popeye was a brief spot in 'Thimble Theater' while 'Olive' was stoked with her first lover, 'Ham Gravy' etc etc etc.

Did you ever actually read the originals? Cheer up, you're vision is a good one for all generations, though not the original intent of the artist (though it sounded like you must have been right next to him while he wrote his creations).

Might have been better if you stated that 'Eventually, the Popeye saga developed into it's current image of strength, health, and love''.

You didn't mention that Popeye was depicted in prayer. Was this the 'new' Popeye or also the original? I should hope that all of his original depictions will permit the viewers to absorb all his developments throughout creation.

Pleasant readings, and digest the truth with research.

(don't believe a word I say... unless you prove it's true)

That has to the most asinine and moronic collection of romantic wishful thinking and/or speculation, that I have heard in a long time. Popeye was a cartoon, Seagar was a starving artist in the Depression era and did nothing more than create a cartoon character that appealed to a lot of people.

The original Popeye character was nothing like the "toned down, cutesy tootsey spinach chomping, Olive Oyl chasing buffoon" that appeared in King Features cartoons and comic books.

If Seagar indeed had the "hidden agenda" suggested by Al, then I think Al is the only one who sees it, and to postulate and publish such ridiculous blatherings is a total waste of time, and we would all be better off if Al would keep his opinions to himself