Popeye HC (2006-2012 Fantagraphics) comic books

Volume 1 - 1st printing. "I Yam What I Yam!" By E.C. Segar. Fantagraphics' Popeye will collect the complete run of Segar's Thimble Theatre comic strip (dailies and color Sundays) featuring Popeye, re-establishing Segar as one of the first rank of cartoonists who have elevated the comic strip to art. He was the most popular cartoonist of his day, his sense of humor coming straight out of Mark Twain. In this first volume, covering 1928-1930, Popeye's initial courtship of Olive Oyl takes center stage while Olive's brother Castor Oyl discovers the mysterious Whiffle Hen. Also, the entire cast meets the Sea Hag for the first time in their pursuit of the 'Mystery House' (Popeye's first extended daily narrative), and Castor Oyl attempts to turn Popeye into a boxing champion in a series of hilarious Sunday strips. These strips pre-figure the rise of superheroes in the 1930s and 1940s. Hardcover, 10 1/2-in. x 14 1/2-in., 186 pages, Partial Color (PB&W). Cover price $29.95.

Volume 2 - 1st printing. "Well, Blow Me Down!" By E.C. Segar. This second volume 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 second volume features work from 1930 to 1932, and most notably includes the debut of Segar's second greatest character: J. Wellington Wimpy, which stands as a one-of-a-kind icon some 70 years after his creation - the most likeable lowdown cad ever to grace the comics page. Popeye Volume 2 includes the stories: "Clint Gore" (continued from the cliffhanger 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. Hardcover, 10 1/2-in. x 14 1/2-in., 176 pages, Partial Color (PB&W). Cover price $29.95.

Volume 3 - 1st printing. "Let's You and Me Fight!" By E.C. Segar. We reach the halfway point of Segar's masterpiece with this volume, which includes one of Segar's greatest maritime epics, "The Eighth Sea," plus "King of Popilania" and the hilarious "Popeye, Star Reporter" - plus the arrival (in a crate!) of Swee'Pea! Also, lots of J. Willington Wimpy, our cover star. Aa a bonus this volume includes the never before reprinted two-week run of double-sized "Chicago World's Fair" Popeye strips from 1933 - plus the conclusion of Donald Phelps's incisive essay "Real People, Real Theatre," and Rick Marschall's insightful analysis of Segar's continuity and story techniques. Hardcover, 10 1/2-in. x 14 1/2-in., 168 pages, Partial Color (PB&W). Cover price $29.95.

Volume 4 - 1st printing. "Plunder Island!" By E.C. Segar. With this fourth volume of our beloved series, Segar's Popeye reaches one of its highest peaks in "Plunder Island," the glorious, epic-length Sunday-continuity adventure that ran for eight months and pitted the intrepid sailorman against the malevolent Sea Hag and her terrifying, grotesque sidekick the Goon - helped, and sometimes hindered by, the easily corruptible J. Wellington Wimpy. "Plunder Island" is presented here for the first time in its complete, full-color, uncut glory! Meanwhile, in the "dailies" section of Popeye Volume 4, Popeye visits "Poodleburg" and gets involved in a quest for both "Romance and Riches." Other stories include "Unifruit" (featuring the return of King Blozo), the western epic "Black Valley" (with the unforgettable sight of Popeye in drag), "The Pool of Youth" (featuring the return of the Sea Hag... and her sister!); and the beginning of the extended six-month-long yarn "Popeye's Ark"! Comics historian Richard Marschall rounds off this volume with a long article on Segar's storytelling skills and narrative strategies, focusing in particular on the "Plunder Island" sequence. Rediscover an American treasure in this handsomely designed series to be enjoyed by comic fans of all ages. Hardcover, 10 1/2-in. x 14 1/2-in., 168 pages, Partial Color (PB&W). Cover price $29.95.

Volume 5 - 1st printing. "Wha's a Jeep!" POPEYE MEETS HIS PAPPY! PLUS SWEE'PEA AND THE JEEP! Remember last volume's cliffhanger? The penultimate installment of this acclaimed reprinting of E.C. Segar's masterpiece begins with "Popeye's Ark: Part Two," the tale of Popeye's eventful reign over Spinachovia - a bleak island populated only by men and lacking all "femininity" - even as Olive Oyl controls the country of Olivia (not to mention the men of Spinachovia). Then in "War Clouds," the two monarchies come tumbling down in a furious battle as Spinachovia is attacked by the tyrannical land-hungry King of Brutia, King Zlobbo! This volume's star is Eugene the Jeep, the rare, friendly, leopard-spotted, and magically-endowed little creature. And Segar makes a great addition to the cast in "The Search for Popeye's Poppa," when the ever-cantankerous Poopdeck Pappy is tracked and finally, hilariously found; the title of the follow-up story, "Civilizing Poppa," speaks for itself, as it tells the classic tale of man taming beast as Popeye guides a stubborn Pappy through table manners. And as in every volume, this year-and-a-half's worth of full-color Sunday strips are as dazzlingly reproduced as ever. The adventures of Popeye, Olive, Wimpy, Swee'Pea and the gang on the top are complemented with the riotously funny bonus strip "Sappo," including a somewhat self-referential storyline where the titular character becomes a cartoonist and teaches the craft to his friend, Professor Wotasnozzle. Hardcover, 10 1/2-in. x 14 1/2-in., 168 pages, Partial Color (PB&W). Cover price $29.95.

Volume 6 - 1st printing. "Me Li'l Swee' Pea!" It's finally time for collectors to add the last "E" to the P-O-P-E-Y-E spelled out on the spines of Fantagraphics' landmark series. Popeye creator E.C. Segar died at the age of 43, leaving behind less than a decade's worth of strips and this sixth and final volume collects not only the last of the dailies but also 62 splendid full-page, full-color Sundays. Additional features include two historical articles by Popeye expert Rick Marschall, an illustrated Segar-written biography of Popeye and more rare art and photos. Hardcover, 10 1/2-in. x 14 1/2-in., 168 pages, Partial Color (PB&W). Cover price $29.99.