So, in recent weeks, I've started to explore Popeye's publishing history over in Italy where there are thousands of pages of Popeye stories that have never been printed over here in America. Stories I never knew about or read.
Our fellow Popeye fan and friend Tano Strilla recently sent me a book called "Il Meglio di Braccio di Ferro" (The Best of Popeye) which are original Italian stories of Popeye by Pier Luigi Sangalli and Sandro Dossi that I am reading for the first time. One of the tales is of "Georgie the Giant" (named "Grissino" in Italy which means 'Breadstick'). This is a character first introduced by Bud Sagendorf at the beginning of 1960 in the POPEYE #51 and #52 comic books published by Dell Comics.
Today's KEY MOMENT is a snapshot from the second issue. In the previous issue that he first appeared in, "Georgie the Giant" was Popeye's foe whom he knocked out. Spoiler alert. But Georgie was a Gentle Giant and as King Blozo states to Popeye, "Because you defeated him he says he is your slave and has to stay with you."
The next issue, he comes over for a weekend visit and causes all sorts of problems for Popeye's hometown due to his size.
"Grissino" would later spin off as the lead character into his own back up features in many of the "Braccio di Ferro" Popeye comics over in Italy where he appeared over 130 times in his own stories. He even spun off into his own comic book in Italy. He was also popular in the French version comic "Cap'tain Présente Popeye". The Comic Book Grand Database says that Georgie the Giant (called "Georges" in French) had appeared in French comics over 150 times. (I only own one French comic and intend to explore their publishing history soon, also).
Over here in the U.S., "Georgie the Giant" was but one of many footnote minor characters that came and went with a few minor appearances, but for Italian and French readers, he was literally "a BIG DEAL". I'm no expert on Georgie the Giant, but he is a character of interest that I'm now appreciating and wanting to read more of his exploits in these non-American Popeye comics.
I have a whole new love and appreciation of Georgie "Grissino" the Giant. I just received my second Italian Popeye book yesterday with Grissino and I look forward to reading many more Italian comics featuring Popeye (Braccio di Ferro) as a fan (and possibly for research).
As I've mentioned previously, I'm starting to learn a bit of Italian at the moment due to my interest in Braccio di Ferro and private correspondence that I've had lately with Tano. To me, it is funny, because I first learned to read English as a child at age five due to my father giving me comic books to read. Some of those comics were Popeye comics. Now, here I am at fifty-five years of age and I'm learning to read Italian ... thanks to... um... comics once again.
As they say, "I've gone full circle".
Over the past month, we've had a great influx of new readers. Many are from all over the world and I have come to realize that Popeye's popularity is global and unifying. We all love Popeye, don't we? This just isn't an "American thing". It is a "world thing". This has inspired me with all of you new readers to really look at exploring offering my comics translated into other languages if the interest is there.
For my readers from around the world where English is difficult for you to read: I know many of you are reading translations of these posts, however the text in the artwork is not always accessible for you to read.
Please let me know what languages you would like to see SEA SHANTY FUNNIES translated in. First up, I intend to begin doing some translation in Spanish and Italian. What other languages would you like to see my comics translated in for you to read?
I want to do so because of my love for these characters. I would love to be able to provide entertainment and fun for you to read new Popeye tales. Thanks!
