SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ "A QUICK CRACK UP↑" - Episode 3

 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - KEY MOMENT Episode 9

 

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!

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - SORRY FOLKS, TODAY'S COMIC STRIP IS A RE-RUN. . .

 

 

SORRY FOLKS, TODAY'S COMIC STRIP IS A RE-RUN. . . 

 

I needed (and still need) to take care of some things on the home-front and for my work at my "day job". I plan on returning with a new SEA SHANTY FUNNIES web comic strip (and continue our current storyline) this upcoming Sunday -- the Almighty willing. It should be a longer comic strip this next go round is my current plan. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

 

So, HOLD FAST!

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES Update

 Sorry, I wasn't able to get to my digital drawing board last night to deliver for you my usual Wednesday morning web comic. I was out on the town with some high school pals including the model and inspiration for our umpire Troy Vilayhong nd fellow SEA SHANTY FUNNIES Facebook Group members including my wife Jennifer for dinner and a fun get together. However, the next comic strip is 75% completed and I will post it tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. Central. I've got to go work at the day job now.

Sunday morning's SEA SHANTY FUNNIES comic delayed for later in the day today

GOOD MORNING! It's Sunday morning and about 6:00 a.m. Central Time. Today's Sunday comic strip will be delayed for later in the morning today. I'm not sure what time just yet.

I usually post a BIG Sunday comics strip every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. Central Time. During the weekdays, I aim for Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30 a.m. Central also currently, but things may shake up with the summer now in full swing and things getting a bit chaotic for me. I will need to make some adjustments.

As for TODAY'S SUNDAY COMIC...

However, things got busy for me yesterday and I went to bed early around 9:00 p.m. and got up at about 3:30 a.m. to start today's comic strip later than usual. No worries. I have "biphasic sleep patterns" and sleep in two shifts during the evenings. That's how I roll.

I'm about halfway through illustrating today's comic and see I won't meet my self-imposed deadline of 7:20 a.m. today. Sorry about that. However, I do want to publish this comic strip online and have it go out today so I'm going to keep working on it this morning. I will post it as soon as I finish it. No worries. All is good. Just I'm behind the 8-ball as they say and running behind.

If you missed yesterday's TWO strips, go check them out. They caused quite a stir! 

Check back later today!

Thanks.

Unboxing Video of SEA SHANTY FUNNIES Fan Club Membership

 

 

I missed this video when it was originally posted. I just stumbled upon it by accident when surfing YouTube this evening while I'm drawing a new "Key Moment" comic strip for tomorrow morning at this minute. I didn't realize this was posted and missed it earlier. 

Thank you to Mathew Rhys for the "unboxing video" of the SEA SHANTY FUNNIES Fan Club package. I got a kick out of watching it. I thought others here might like to see. 

I still have these available if anyone else wants to join the Fan Club and also get the first issue of the SEA SHANTY FUNNIES comic book that collects last year's comic strips

We will return with new comics shortly after this brief interruption.

 

Check out YouTube Video Replay - Live Chat Discussing POPEYE movie starring Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall

Last night, I was invited to participate in a streamlined online video chat on the YouTube channel "Monitor Duty" to discuss the 1980 musical comedy film POPEYE starring Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall and directed by Robert Altman. I joined comic fans Mathew D. Rhys, Ryan M. Maxwell, Michael Hutchison, and YouTuber "Cartoonicus". It clocks in at about two hours.

Paramount recently announced that POPEYE is scheduled for a 4K Blu-Ray release on August 18th.

Sure, the film has its quirks with those that love it or hate it. Yes, there are a few things I am critical about the film, but it is one of my favorite films of my childhood. I am one of those who absolutely loves the film. I originally saw it during its first run at the movie theater back in 1980 when I was nine years' old when my parents took me to see it. I had been a Popeye fan since I was about three years' old.

I was especially excited to be joined last night in the chat by the "go to" expert on the POPEYE movie - my friend Ryan M. Maxwell. He is an authority on the film in my book.

You can re-watch the streamed chat on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/GuKUZuslsxg?si=mv930Oc_p5AuKbp3

Back from my trip for Father's Day

Over the long weekend, I drove up to Minnesota to see my parents and brother. My father recently had a stroke and is dealing with some other issues. He was in a rehab facility and just went home today.

I got to spend several hours each day with him and spent Father's Day with him. He has some memory problems, but we were able to reminisce about some old times and have a laugh.

It was so very good to see all of them. It has been about a year since we last got together. I'm now back home and itching to draw and take care of some things around the house now. 

Taking a small break....

 

If you come here to regularly read my blog, please let me know

So, you found my blog here.

Do you stop by mainly just to read my public domain-based Popeye comic strip called SEA SHANTY FUNNIES?

Do you do so on a regular basis?

Or did you come here for other reasons?

PLEASE LET ME KNOW by leaving a message here on the blog or email me at scott@scottmccullar.com to tell me whether or not you are enjoying the comics.

I see from my statistics that I'm getting a few thousand readers every week, YET I RECEIVE NO FEEDBACK here on my blog.

Let me know if you are a regular reader.

Let me know if you are enjoying the comic strip.

Let me know if you are out there.

I need someone. Anyone. Just one person to let me know that they're there.

I don't do these comics for the money. I do them to entertain. I thrive on feedback to continue making them and posting them here.

So please, somebody out there....

REPLY to this post with even the simplest "Hello."

Thanks,

Scott

There will be a new comic strip tomorrow on Wednesday

 

I'll be back tomorrow on Wednesday with a new comic strip as we wrap up the questionnaire interview this week. 

 

Life got hectic for me on Monday night, but I got out more SEA SHANTY FUNNIES membership packages ready to go out this morning with copies of issue one. 

 

See you in the funny pages.

I visited Chester, Illinois for the first time today

My wife Jennifer and I took a mini-vacation on Monday to St. Louis to see a baseball game that night and then we did a day trip to Chester, Illinois to see the hometown of Popeye creator E.C. Segar today on Tuesday.

We had a wonderful time. We drove around town to see the statues and spent some time getting to know Debbie and Mike at Spinach Can Collectibles at the Popeye Museum. They were so very friendly.

We're back home in Springfield, Illinois this evening. It is late and I'm about to go to bed, but I thought I'd post a few photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Night's Interview with Me is Now Available to Watch on YouTube

I'd like to thank Mathew D. Rhys and Michael Hutchison for inviting me to "Monitor Duty" podcast video chat for an interview about my work on my Public Domain-based POPEYE comic strip SEA SHANTY FUNNIES last night. The interview and chat is available to watch now over on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMrEATcl5ok

I'd also like to thank the other guests in the chat and those that stopped by in the audience like Popeye expert Ryan M. Maxwell and all-around good guy, comic writer, and pal John Morgan 'Bat' Neal. Also, to those with the screen names "Cartoonicus" and "Twitless" who came into the conversation to ask me questions.

If I missed anyone last night, it is because I sometimes have difficulties with keeping track of online screen nicknames and who they are connected to with real people names. . . so sorry if I missed recognizing you if you were there. Plus, it was a flurry for me that I couldn't read all the chat on the side screen at the time.

Also thanks to my wife Jennifer McCullar who also makes a few on screen cameo appearances in the video chat with our puppy Lulu to talk about the original comic character Caldonia Kindheart that was introduced into the SEA SHANTY FUNNIES comic strip as Wimpy's new girlfriend in the current storyline.

The interview goes pretty in-depth about my creative processes and choices, public domain and legal hurdle issues, and other Popeye and comic stuff that goes into making SEA SHANTY FUNNIES. If you wanted to get a little "inside baseball" behind the scenes, there were a few other golden nugget tidbits there in the chat last night.

Fair warning, this chat runs about 2 HOURS. I re-watched it and enjoyed the replay from a third person perspective. It is kind of strange watching yourself be interviewed. I tend to ramble in my thoughts. I just realized that if I ever do another video chat for a video podcast like this again in the future, I need to lift my head up and look more into the camera next time while making eye contact. Arf! Arf!

I'm tend to fall into deep thought a lot trying to formulate my words as I wrestle with my stutter. And as my wife points out, I tend to ramble and be verbose at times. So apologies in advance.

However, I hope you'll enjoy watching the chat.

Thanks again for those that turned out last night

p.s. I also gave some brief shout outs during the chat to my pals Troy Vilayhong and Joshua Garrett in the course of discussion.

I also recognized Chuck Dixon for encouraging me to write more of these Popeye stories that led me to continuing on with SEA SHANTY FUNNIES where I've now written and illustrated over 100 episodic comic strips at this point. I had stopped at 4 "test" comic strips in February 2025 thinking this wasn't going to work and then started back up in November 2025 making more. Here I am still doing it.

Tune in tonight for a LIVE INTERVIEW with me on YouTube about SEA SHANTY FUNNIES

REMINDER: Feel free to join in and watch and post questions or thoughts. I've been invited to participate in an interview on YouTube tonight on the "Monitor Duty" YouTube Chanel to discuss my public domain-based POPEYE comic strip SEA SHANTY FUNNIES and perhaps some other comic book related topics by video podcaster (and Popeye fan) Mathew D. Rhys on his weekly show.

The show should go live 6 pm Pacific / 7pm Mountain / 8pm Central / 9pm Eastern this Wednesday night on May 27th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMrEATcl5ok

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Episode 117½

 

Popeye would like a word...

I'd be interested in your thoughts, too.

 

Here on my blog, I can get up to 2,000 visits a day from people reading my SEA SHANTY FUNNIES webcomics. YET, NOBODY HAS EVER ONCE RESPONDED WITH A SINGLE REPLY TO ANY OF THESE POSTS WITH MY WEB COMICS ON MY BLOG.

 

Why? I'm glad you're there and hoping you're enjoying, but a brother here would love some feedback and perhaps some evidence of acknowledgment that you're reading and perhaps even enjoying? 

 

Will SOMEONE out there just hit reply and respond? Pretty please? 

 

Hello, is there anybody out there?

 

First person that responds on this blog... I'll mail you a personalized Popeye sketch. Offer valid through June 1st. 

 

THIS WEEK for SEA SHANTY FUNNIES (New comics and a live stream interview)

 First, I will have new web comic strips this Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. So please check back.

 Also, something special...

Tune in to YouTube for LIVE Streaming Interview Chat with Me this Wednesday Night

I've been invited to participate in an interview on YouTube this Wednesday evening to discuss my public domain-based POPEYE comic strip SEA SHANTY FUNNIES and perhaps some other comic book related topics by video podcaster (and Popeye fan) Mathew D. Rhys on his weekly show.

 

His streaming YouTube channel is at https://www.youtube.com/@MathewDRhys/streams

 

Quick Publishing Schedule Update

This week, a New Episode of SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ will be released on Sunday morning, May 24th. It'll be the full Sunday Fun Day main storyline comic strip.

As many of you know if you're following, I had to take a bit of a breather the past two days at my wife Jennifer McCullar's request. I took last Saturday night off and also took all-day Sunday off to spend with Jennifer doing stuff. We went downtown to an art fair and I ended up with all those BEETLE BAILEY books by happenstance as we were browsing a nearby old bookstore.

I'm rested up and all is good. I'm ready to get back to drawing.

At this time, there are no new comic strip episodes planned for the weekdays this week (sorry about that) as I play a little catch up on drawing the big comic strip for Sunday. I'm also finishing up a few side related projects (including SEA SHANTY FUNNIES fan club stuff).

Thank you for understanding.

This week, I plan to resume and finish up the big Sunday Fun Day comic strip (Episode 117) as "Detective Week" reaches its conclusion (more as an epilogue and a launch to the rescue mission). I plan over the next three weeks to probably focus on just the main Sunday storyline to get that Sunday publishing schedule back on track. After I finish everything and if I have "spare time", then I may squeeze a few weekday short gag comic strips as I can.

I am also planning on finishing up the printing of the remainder of the trading cards and stickers for those that purchased the fan club package that have held me up. I plan on getting everything packaged up and out in the mail by the weekend. I had to make a few substitutions on paper cardstock being used for the cards which delayed things.

More updates when I can.

Here is Teaser #1: Next week, I've been asked to do a livestream video chat interview about Popeye, SEA SHANTY FUNNIES, perhaps my work on GREEN ARROW over at DC Comics or my other indie comic book series THRILL SEEKER COMICS, plus my love of comics in general, on Wednesday evening, May 21st. Details are forthcoming in a separate post we'll make.

And Teaser #2: Sometime coming up very soon in June... Jennifer and I are planning a trip to Chester, Illinois to pay our respects to the hometown of E.C. Segar and see the Popeye Museum and see each of the Thimble Theater related statues of Popeye and friends (& foes!) that are sprinkled throughout the riverport town.

We plan on taking some videos, photos, and seeing the sites. It will be my first time ever trip to Chester. We live driving distance (I'm in Springfield, Illinois). I'm really looking forward to the pilgrimage journey and seeing the Popeye sites.

Just letting you know where things stand in my plans for this week if all goes as planned... that is.

Scott

SEASHANTY FUNNIES delay...

 

My wife Jennifer's post and directive from FACEBOOK last night...

Apologies. Today's Sunday Fun Day comic strip has been put on hold and it will need to be rescheduled. I got a late start and began drawing it last night and my wife Jennifer asked that I put a hold on it. She said that she felt I needed to take a break from working in my studio. I guess I bit off more than I can chew this past week with all things and I needed to take care of myself and some matters on the home front. I do appreciate her looking out for me when I sometimes get a little blindsided with things that I lose track and need to take care of myself and others. I appreciate your understanding. 

We'll be back after this break. (But here is a sneak peek of one of the panels of the next comic strip...)

 

Please check back later for an update.

 

Thanks,

Scott and Jennifer 

SEA SHANTY FUNNIES™ - Happy Mother's Day

 

 

Happy Mother's Day

 

I'll try to keep this short. Life threw me an unexpected curve ball over the past couple of days with some family matters that I had to be there for and that is what is important. I didn't get a chance to draw the full Sunday Fun Day comic page I had intended to do for today. I'm sorry about that, but I will circle back around to it soon.

 

In the meantime, I whipped this little piece up at 5:30 a.m. this morning featuring Swee'Pea and his own Mom as a quick substitute offering to have something for you as I had about an hour to spare before everyone wakes up in my household.

 

So, Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful Moms of the World out there and to all that are reading this. Thank you for all you do and all the love you endlessly give.