Popeye returns to comic books in new series from IDW

The sailor with huge forearms, who gains incredible strength from eating spinach, is something of a forefather to the superheroes who became popular starting in the 1930s. The first IDW “Popeye” cover references this, as the design is in homage to the “Action Comics” No. 1 cover that introduced Superman. Popeye and Superman have another historic tie — both were featured in cartoons from Max and Dave Fleischer's Fleischer Studios. The Popeye cartoons began in 1933 and were produced through 1957. Popeye's comic strip is still being produced today.

The writer of the new four-issue comic-book series is Roger Langridge. Langridge's “Fred the Clown” was nominated for multiple comics awards, including the Eisner, Harvey, Ignatz and Reuben. Langridge recently wrote “The Muppet Show” for Boom! Studios and “Thor The Mighty Avenger” for Marvel. His humor series “Snarked” is published by Boom! Studios.

Artist Bruce Ozella joins Langridge. The comics will feature Popeye and friends including Olive Oyl, Bluto, Wimpy and Swee'Pea.

“I grew up reading Segar's Popeye and we'll be bringing his sensibility to our new series,” said Ted Adams, IDW's co-founder and chief executive officer, in a news release.