Local cartoonist celebrates Popeye's 80th birthday bash

The 80th birthday of cartoon icon Popeye claims a local tie with Youngstown artist Chris Yambar. Yambar and his production company, Premium Pop, recently created a brand new Popeye comic called "Popeye Picnic." This comic is a full-size, 32-page premium comic book. "The comic is titled 'Popeye Picnic' because it was released during an event to celebrate Popeye's 80th anniversary this year. It was the first new Popeye comic written after 30 years," Yambar said.

Artist Elzie C. Segar created the iconic sailor in 1929, in Chesterfield, Ill. Popeye made his grand debut in 1929 in Segar's comic strip "Thimble Theater."

"His creator set into motion one of the biggest character licensed properties ever," Yambar said.

Chester, Ill., venerates the character of Popeye every year with a festive celebration of the cartoon. This celebration includes live radio dramas, a picnic and a parade.

"This event in Chester, Ill., is a great tourist destination, and people from Canada, Europe and all across the United States come to this celebration," Yambar said. A Popeye museum is even located in the town.

In four and a half hours, Yambar and Premium Pop signed more than 2,200 copies of "Popeye Picnic." In 2007, three Popeye cartoon DVD box sets were released, containing 60 Popeye cartoons in each box set.

"It's amazing how popular he is after all these years. With Popeye, everyone is as popular as Bart Simpson or Mickey Mouse," Yambar said.

Yambar is especially fond of Popeye's war hero days from the 1920s to the 1940s.

"I love the hell out of Popeye comic books published by every comic company in the world, including Dell Comics and Charlton Comics," Yambar said.

Charlton Comics is the leading company for printing and reprinting Popeye comics.

Yambar is fortunate to be a part of this Popeye anniversary experience.

"The two artists of this book, George Broderick Jr. and Ken Wheaton, are super Popeye fans and Popeye was on the top of their bucket list," Yambar said.

Meanwhile, Yambar did some research in Chester, Ill., and spoke with representatives at the Popeye Picnic. It was at the Popeye Picnic where Yambar introduced the idea of putting together a premium promotional comic book that illustrates Popeye's history. This is how "Popeye Picnic" emerged.

Inside this anniversary comic, all the early and modern Popeye characters are invited to the picnic. Popeye then travels back in time and meets a man named Rocky Fiegel, who inspired the creation of Popeye.

Rocky is a wiry, two-fisted bar brawler, and labeled as the toughest man in Chester, Ill. He was the quintessential symbol of a macho man who was a laborer and a drunk. Although Rocky was kind to children, he did not take any abuse from the adult world.

Yambar continued his research by going through early Popeye newspaper comics and comic books.

"I wanted to make sure that the Popeye characters spoke with the right 'Popeyeisms,'" Yambar said.

Yambar wanted to realize the importance of Popeye as a character, research the comic's history and discover the reasons why Popeye is a cult icon.

"When I worked on 'The Simpsons,' I made sure that they spoke with the voice that is consistently recognizable to the fans," Yambar said.

Yambar's mission is to be as legitimate as possible with his characters in order to keep the concept recognizable to loyal fans.

"There is no worse insult to a fan than someone who does not research the character of Popeye," Yambar said.

Yambar gets bombarded with mail from fans encouraging him to continue his work with Popeye.

"When many people demand something, that means that I have done something right," Yambar said.

In February 2010, Yambar will celebrate his 10th anniversary of being a writer for "The Simpsons" comics.

"I love the characters I work with, and that's the way I roll. People have to love what they are doing, and do it well, because we only get one chance," Yambar said.