E. C. Segar's Popeye Volume 1: I Yam What I Yam
Written & illustrated by E. C. Segar, introduction by Bill Blackbeard. Fantagraphics Books, 2006. E.C. Segar's Popeye will be presenting Elzie Crisler Segar's (1894-1938) comic strip masterpiece in full, in large format. It evolved out of the Thimble Theater, where Popeye was a bit player & Segar admits it was a happy accident. Popeye evolved naturally to take over, becoming one of the most endearing & enduring characters that American popular culture has ever produced. Segar's life was cut tragically short, when he succumbed to illness, but Popeye & his memorable ensemble, Olive Oyl, Swee'pea, Bluto & the rest are reprinted in their original b&w or colour, starting here.

Segar's side strip Sappo is also reprinted in the Sunday sections. Fantagraphics are to be congratulated for undertaking this ambitious task. 184 pages. Hard Cover Part Colour 11" x 15" (279mm x 381mm) ISBN: 1560977795 and ISBN-13: 9781560977797 Highly Recommended.

Our Price: £19.99 ($29.99) (€21,99)      

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E. C. Segar's Popeye Volume 2: Well, Blow Me Down!
Written & illustrated by E. C. Segar, introduction by Bill Blackbeard. Fantagraphics Books, 2007. The second volume (of six) of the acclaimed hit series collecting the entirety of E.C. Segar's original Popeye (a.k.a. Thimble Theatre) comic strips begins with a foreword by Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker and continues with an introduction by noted film and cartooning critic Donald Phelps. This volume features work from 1930 to 1932 and most notably includes the debut of Segar's second greatest character: J. Wellington Wimpy.

Wimpy stands as a one-of-a-kind icon some 70 years after his creation, the most likeable low-down cad ever to grace the comics page. Popeye Vol. 2 includes the stories: "Clint Gore" (continued from the cliff-hanger last volume); "A One-Way Bank," in which Popeye opens a bank that allows withdrawals but no deposits; a long war story featuring King Blozo that begins with "The Great Rough-House War"; and "Skullyville," which wraps up the daily strips for this volume. 176 pages. Hard Cover Part Colour 11" x 15" (279mm x 381mm) (ISBN-13: 9781560978749) Highly Recommended.

Our Price: £18.99 ($28.49) (€20,89)      

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