Review by Win Wiacek

Collected in this superb full-colour hardback are Bud Sagendorf’s Popeye stories from 1954’s end and throughout 1955.

We rejoin the ceaseless parade of laughs, surreal imagination and thrills with ‘Desert Pirates (a story of Evil Haggery)’ as Popeye’s ruthless nemesis the Sea Hag uses witchcraft, seduction, brainwashing and principally hamburgers to turn Wimpy into her weapon against the old sea salt. Follow-up yarn ‘Popeye An’ Swee’Pea in “Danger, Lunch!”’ resorts to tireless domestic themes as a quiet meal with Olive becomes an assault course after the anarchic and precocious “infink” amuses himself with a hammer and chemistry set.

‘Thimble Theatre Presents Popeye An’ Swee’Pea in “Mud!”’ finds unconventional family unit Popeye, Swee’Pea and villainous reprobate Poopdeck Pappy deemed dysfunctional by Olive. Her eccentric efforts to save the kid and make him a gentleman are vigorously resisted by all involved. Just as the sailor man idly daydreams of being a monarch, the wacky ruler of Spinachovia returns in ‘Popeye and King Blozo in “Exile!” or “Bein’ King is Fer de Boids!!!”’ The maritime marvel unwisely trades cap for crown and learns a salutary lesson about people in general and being careful what you wish for.

Epic thrill-fest ‘Alone! or Hey! Where is Everybody? or Peoples is All Gone!’ has humans abducted, leading the sailor man into ferocious battle with evil machines and his most persistent enemy, after which our stars swap sea-voyages for western climes in “a tale of gold and cactus” entitled ‘Lorst!’ Set some years previously, the story reveals how Popeye made his fortune prospecting.

Sagendorf was attuned to popular trends, and understood how kids’ minds worked. His tales are timeless in approach and delivery. As television expanded in the 1950s, westerns dominated both large and small screens and plenty of comics. Thus, many episodes see Popeye as a horse-riding sagebrush wanderer who runs a desert railroad when not prospecting or exploring.

A Popeye and Swee’Pea house-wrecking short precedes ‘Trouble-Shooter’, in which the tireless “hoomanitarian” sets up as a helping hand for folk with troubles. Sadly, the gesture attracts some real nuts like cowardly King Hinkle of Moola who needs a patsy to fight rival ruler the King of Boola. Returning to western deserts, Popeye and Swee’Pea swap sea-voyages for arid plains in ‘Monskers!’ and encounter a gigantic dinosaur which is not what it seems.

Then sailor man, Olive, Wimpy and Swee’Pea endure a nautical nightmare storm that leaves our cast castaway on an island of irascible, invisible folk in eponymous saga ‘Nothing!’ Next, Popeye and Swee’Pea revisit western deserts to dig in the dirt and face ‘Uprising! or The Red Man Strikes Back! or Birds of a Feather!’ as the kid contends with and eventually befriends infant Big Chief Thunder Eagle Jr. Sadly their play war is misunderstood by Wimpy who calls in the US Army. The manic mirth multiplies exponentially when Wimpy proves his insane ingenuity and dangerous lack of perspective in ‘Stop Thief!! or Please Halt! or Burglarproof House!’

As well as Popeye there are back-up features, first Axle and Cam, introduced in Volume Six, a robotic father and son indulging in wild romps on other worlds. Professor O.G. Wotasnozzle usurps them, callously inflicting his wacky scientific genius on his poor schmuck landlord.

Outrageous and side-splitting, these all-ages yarns are evergreen examples of narrative cartooning at its most surreal and inspirational. This book is one of many, but each is sure-fire, top-tier entertainment for all those who love lunacy, laughter, frantic fantasy and rollicking adventure. If that’s you, add this compendium of wonder to your collection.