Popeye: The 60th Anniversary Collection (60th Anniversary Edition)

Rating:
Summary: "Well, BLOW ME DOWN!" Proof that Popeye is God.
Review: Sick of the whining in "Cathy"? Has "Peanuts" lost its edge? Did "Gil Thorp" spend too much time in court as opposed to being ON the court? Is "Dilbert" nothing but an effeminate little panty-waist to you? Well, mateys, Mike Higgs' collection of essays and artwork glorifying everyone's fave sailor, POPEYE (you were expectin' Ted Turner?) will restore your faith in the comic pages, if not in humanity itself. These essays and illustrations effectively cover Popeye's birth in "Thimble Theatre", his rise to becoming America's most popular cartoon character, through his creator E.G. Segar's death and the aftermath. A plethora (yes, plethora) of illustrations and reproductions herald the era when cartoonists were more concerned with their art than with merchandising (although varieties of Sailor-Man merchandise is discussed and pictured). The book also chronicles Popeye's creative desent as television saturation exposed the weaknesses in the post-Segar Popeye down to that unspeakable rape of the Thimble Theatre corpse, "Popeye and Son".
As cultural icons go, none shone greater than Popeye, and none has had their legacy as botched (besides the Bay City Rollers, of course). Higgs' collection of memories, memorabilia and critical thought serve as the primal source for long-denied fans of Popeye, Bluto/Brutus, Wimpy and that trollop Olive Oyl. A must for any collection!