popeye the sailor man is one of the most popular cartoon characters of all time. he first appeared in a comic strip called "thimble theatre" by e.c. segar in 1929. popeye is a sailor who smokes a pipe and mutters things under his breath. he has only one eye, he is short and uneducated, but when trouble occurs, usually saving his girlfriend, olive oyl from his nemesis, bluto/brutus, he eats a can of spinach, and gets super-strength.