Popeye the Sailor Man has been a favorite character for over 75 years. The crude and feisty, yet completely lovable sailor was created by Elzie Crisler Segar and made his first appearance on January 17, 1929 in King Features daily comic strip Thimble Theatre.

What made Popeye so popular is his odd, seemingly unexciting persona. He’s a man of the sea with squinting eye, pipe, and abnormally large forearms with anchor tattoos. Though he looks grumpy, he is a good guy who stands for fair play and never starts a fight, just finishes them. His nemesis, the burly, hulking Bluto, is the epitome of a bully and Popeye’s constant triumph over the brutish Bluto was a source of inspiration for all children. Olive Oyl, the lady in his life, was just as oddly proportioned as him with a bean-pole body, large feet, and pickle-shaped nose. Their unusual appearance is loved by fans for its odd ball charm.

What’s interesting to note, is that Olive Oyl was a star before Popeye was. She was the star of Thimble Theatre along with her boyfriend Harold Hamgravy. The strip was a comedy adventure about Olive, Hamgravy, her brother Castor, and her parents Cole and Nana. When Popeye first appeared he was just a minor character. He was hired by Castor Oyl and Hamgravy to crew a ship headed to Dice Island where there was a casino owned by a crooked man named Fadewell. Castor planned to win big at the casino with the luck he attained from rubbing the head of Bernice the Whiffle Hen. On the trip back, Popeye was shot several times and survived by also rubbing Bernice’s head.

Popeye was immediately a hit. He was given a larger role and the strip was expanded into other newspapers. Though initially Olive Oyl was did not look fondly on Popeye, in later strips she left Hamgravy for him. Popeye’s simple and morally resilient attitude, his frugal use of grammar, and steamship whistling pipe made him the guy everyone loved. Segar developed the strip more, then cartoons and merchandise followed and the rest is history. Now if only we could prove that spinach really does make you that strong.