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Rating: 
Summary: Segar's twilight fables
Review: In his seminal text _Simulacra and Simulation_, post-modernist Jean Baudrillard theorizes on the core idea of the original, the copy of it, and the diminishing returns therein: how the replication of an original idea/source, and the eventual copying of a copy, tends to decay the meaning and/or substance of that original, until what was once powerful and true becomes a mere facade, a shell of its former glory. Near the end of his foreword to _The Complete E.C. Segar Popeye, volume eleven,_ Donald Phelps makes a similar statement about the commercial saturation of Popeye; while the tics and outward symbols of Segar's fierce sailor-man remain, in the vast amount of subsequent media available (decades of WB comics, the Altman/Williams film-fiasco, television cartoons), the essential elements that made Segar's work so unique and precious---the intelligence, the wit, the warmth and wisdom and intricate storytelling---are sadly lacking. Popeye and his Thimble Theater cohorts exist now, for the most part, as nth degree copies of copies: image-shells (the pipe, the anchor tattoos, Olive Oyl's dress) and slogans ("Spinach!" "Blow me down!"), all replicated so often as to become rote over the course of six decades and counting. Thus, it is a shame that of the original Popeye (nee Thimble Theater) cartoon strip, which ran from the mid 20's to late 30's, there is only this one volume currently available for a *budget* purchase, while hundreds of poor-man's simulacra can be bought on Amazon, at the dollar-store, even on the street-corner - In parts of the South, the Fried-Chicken stereotype persists and profits on this one-eyed sailor's sterling reputation ("I yam honest an' I yam mighty proud of it!"). But I digress (perhaps). This, the single Thimble Theater re-print volume available (at a budget price, that is), contains the dailies for Segar's last run before his death in 1938. Unlike the current spate of "funny-pages" heavyweights that dominate the paper-news, which range from horrendously one-note (Cathy, Garfield) to saccharine (Family Circus) to downright unreadable (far too many to list), Thimble Theater was entertaining and rewarding on multiple levels, for adult and child alike. Segar combined preposterous action and high adventure, subtle wit and slapstick antics, quality storytelling with amusing digressions---all in all, an amazing variety within a consistent core---but above all else, Thimble Theater had _heart_, a human warmth and unequivocal understanding about the nature of the world, even if it be as off-kilter as Popeye's, that transcends the reputation of the one-joke laugh-trigger strip. It's as good (if not better) as Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, and Fox Trot to name a few famous exceptions-to-the-rule. _Popeye: Volume Eleven_ begins with the climax to a tale involving the Sea-hag and Popeye's rascally father, Poopdeck Pappy, and contains four more story-arcs: A Sock for Susan: Popeye befriends a poor, starving girl, and takes it upon himself to protect her. But there is more to Susan than meets the eye, and Popeye finds himself thrust into reoccurring imprisonments, a trial, a mystery, several fights; all with a great deal of sly humor on the side. 5/5 Wild Oats: Poopdeck Pappy begins to sow his wild oats in a most excessive (and humorous) fashion, at the ripe age of 99, no less. Popeye stews with worry, as his father is partying on his dime. Poopdeck's misadventures land him into a lengthy and at times hilarious court-drama. 5/5 Valley of the Goons: Popeye and Wimpy are shanghaied by a pathetic bunch of sea-pirates, who intend on "skinning Goons" for money. The beginning of this strip is very funny, particularly the episode involving Popeye's displays of strength, but it does wander on a bit long. 4/5 King Swee'pea: Swee'Pea is crowned king of Demonia. Alas, this story remains unfinished, but it does contain some slapstick humor (Olive Oyl's contortionist problem) and a satire of Warmongering that makes one curious as to the conclusion.
3/5 (unfinished) Hopefully someday Fantagraphics will again reprint this amazing strip in its entirety. Until that day, volume eleven gives us a hint of Thimble Theater's depth, a glimpse of its genius. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Nastolgic Look
Review: Popeye, has been a cultural Icon of the USA for over 60 years and this book brings to the public forum the witty, warm and often whimsical nature of the original Segar serial. It is a must for all collectors and for children yearning to find out just why their parents make them eat their spinach.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Nastolgic Look
Review: Popeye, has been a cultural Icon of the USA for over 60 years and this book brings to the public forum the witty, warm and often whimsical nature of the original Segar serial. It is a must for all collectors and for children yearning to find out just why their parents make them eat their spinach.
Rating: 
Summary: Sadly,Segar's final story was unfinished
Review: This final volume in the wonderful Popeye series concludes unsatisfactrily.the stories that segar wrote in 1937 & 1938 are top-notch(A Sock for Susan's Sake is very good,Wild Oats is a scream, Valley of the Goons is delightful)but his unfortunate end from cancer in 1938 prevented him from truly concluding the story of King Swee'Pea- which Tom Sims & Doc Winner brought to a less-than -satisfacory conclusion.Recommedned to all Popeye fans and Segar completists because Segar was reaching his peak as a storyteller at this time. As Mort Walker said,"Maybe he wouldn't have been able to maintain quality during the 40s and 50s-but I sure would've liked to see him try."
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