Hermes Press is celebrating the art of Popeye, the longest-living pop culture comic strip character. The Art of Popeye: A Masterwork of the Medium by R.C. Harvey is a must for fans. Popeye was created by Elzie Segar, the character comes and goes like a wave that hits the shore. 2021 is one of those years, another book titled The Art of Popeye Artists and Comic Strippers’: Versions of the Spinach-Eating Superhero edited by comic book archivist Craig Yoe comes out this year from Clover Press. I am really excited about The Art of Popeye: A Masterwork of the Medium by R.C. Harvey it covers the 90 years plus of the character including the classic movie by Robert Altman.
When cartoonist Elzie Segar created Popeye, as a minor character ten years into the run of the Thimble Theatre strip in 1929, little did he know that the world’s most famous sailor would still be around over ninety years later and still being offered as a Sunday feature?
To celebrate Popeye, the character, the comic strip and his universe, a feature cartoonist Charles M. Schulz described as “perfect… consistent in drawing and humor,” Hermes Press is publishing the definitive art monograph on the subject.
This 300 plus page book features a comprehensive essay written by pop culture historian R.C. Harvey accompanied by over 350 illustrations of original strip and comic book art, animation art, illustrations, advertising art, products, the Robert Altman film, and everything Popeye. Every aspect of Popeye is explored, from Olive Oyl and Eugene the Jeep to Wimpy and Bluto.
So, if you’ve ever read the strip, watched the cartoons, seen the movie, or ever eaten spinach and wondered if you’ll have superpowers, this new comprehensive history is a must.
Robert C. Harvey (born 1937), popularly known as R. C. Harvey, is an author, critic and cartoonist. He has written a number of books on the history of the medium, with a special focus on the history of the comic strip, and he has also worked as a freelance cartoonist.