I'd Glady Blog This Tuesday but I'd Rather Blog Today.

I've posted a few of my Popeye action figures in the past, and have often claimed I would roll them all out someday. Well, that day has finally come. Behold!

Yup, that's everything. The only figures from the series I don't have are a repainted Popeye, Bluto and Olive Oyl as well as an exclusive (FAO Schwarz, I believe) three figure set of the trio in "black and white." But as for original/non-repaint figures, I have them all!

This Popeye series of action figures began it's run in the early 2000s. They started out available at Toys R Us where I found the first series (and maybe other places too,) and then became more and more difficult to obtain as the series continued on and finally ended around a third release (which was mostly repaints.) They were manufactured by Mezco Toys.

I worked hard tracking everyone down from this series, and a straggler or two took me a few years to finally acquire, but I did it and I am pretty proud of my Popeye collection - one of the finest series of action figures ever made in my honest opinion. So without further ado, let's run down the figures individually, shall we?

We'll start small. Swee'Pea was actually released as an accessory along with Olive...

...and repainted in a blue sleeper when released as an accessory along with Alice the Goon.

Eugene the Jeep was an accessory released with J. Wellington Wimpy.

The main man, Popeye the Sailor. This was the first Popeye released in series one, in his classic sea-faring outfit. Popeye has a waist-twist punch action feature ala classic MOTU action figures. His pipe and hat are removable, and he came with a bunch of accessories including an anchor, a can of spinach or two, a picture frame which reads "Me Pappy," a set of shark teeth...

...and a removable muscle (read: muskle) with a battleship tattoo.

A personal favorite, the series two featured Poopdeck Pappy. Pappy came with a treasure chest (which contained a can of spinach, natch) and a hammock. His hat and pipe are also removable.

Olive Oyl is a "bendy" figure and has a removable hat and a purse. Olive was released in series one. She also came with Swee-Pea and a heart-shaped picture frame with Popeye on one side and Bluto on the other. The Harlot!

J. Wellington Wimpy came with Eugene, a tray full of burgers, a couple loose burgers of various levels of consumption, and a meat grinder. Wimpy came out in series one.

Series one Bluto came with a barbell and 2000 lb. weight. He has an "upper-cut" punch feature when you lock his right arm back and click a button on his back.

One of the last original figures to be released and the rarest and hardest to come across is Alice the Goon. Alice came out in series three with a repainted Swee'Pea. Alice's hat is not removable.

The Sea Hag came out in series two, with her vulture Bernard and a magic flute accessory.

Pea Coat Popeye was inspired by the Robin Williams live action Popeye film. He came out in series one. His hat and pipe are removable and he has a "twisker fisk" feature - you wind his right fist up and it spins when you push a button. Pea Coat Popeye also came with a treasure map, a duffel bag...

...and a removable muskle tearing out from his coat sleeve.

Deep Dive Popeye from series three represents Popeye in a classic diving suit. His helmet is removable as are his lead shoes. He's even smoking a pipe under there! He came with a buoy and hose attachment as well as a treasure chest with spinach in it (repainted Pappy accessory.)

Scuba Bluto from series three came with removable scuba tanks and a knife and sheath that straps to his arm or leg.

Series two's Sailor Bluto came with a torpedo and a bomb. His action feature is the opposite of his "regular" release - his arm snaps back and swings downward, "throwing" his objects instead of an upper-cut motion.
Series two's Sailor Popeye came with one of the best accessories yet - a huge fist that can snap onto any Popeye figure. He also came with a U.S.N. bucket and mop. Of course, his hat and pipe are removable.

Bernard was released as an accessory (or companion) with the Sea Hag. he can be removed from his perch.

Finally we have Storm Gear Popeye from series two. Storm Gear Popeye came with a ship's wheel and piece of the deck, as well as a bent telescope with an eye bulging out of it and an octopus and star fish, and a can of spinach. His hat and pipe are removable.

Well, that's it, my entire Mezco Popeye action figure collection. Now to find a shelf upon which to display them all together.

"Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!" (Sorry, the bomb accessory was just too perfect - I couldn't resist!)

Diver Down

The final non re-paint Popeye in Mezco's Popeye toyline, and one of the last I procured to complete my set, is also one of the funnest.

Deep Dive Popeye:

Deep Dive Popeye came out with series three in 2004, and along with Scuba Bluto and Alice the Goon was the only other figure in the set that wasn't a mere re-paint. Series three was also the last series of Popeye action figures Mezco would produce, which is a terrible shame.

Deep Dive Popeye is a gorgeous figure with a super-awesome dive helmet that looks just like something he would wear in the cartoons.

There is some part re-use from earlier figures, but it's in all the right places and he in no way feels like a cobbled together figure. The torso and belt are original to this figure, and the suspenders and helmet base are molded directly to it.

The dive helmet is insanely neat, with rivets and hinges and little plastic "windows" that you can see through...

...and open! Yes Popeye has his pipe, even under water. My dad was a chain smoker when I was a kid, which is one of many reasons Popeye has always reminded me of me pappy.

The helmet has cool details too, like a piece of patch "metal" hammered to the back, presumably over a previous leak. Safety first!

All three windows open to reveal Popeye's pretty face...

...at least, I hope that's his face!

The helmet is also removable, as are the lead boots. The positioning of his head is a bit constricted by the collar, but who cares.

Also included with Deep Dive Popeye is a treasure chest, a buoy and a hose. The hose is supposed to attach to the top of the helmet but the small plastic tip broke the first time I tried it.

The treasure chest was also released with Poopdeck Pappy in series two.

Open it up to reveal Popeye's true treasure...gold dubloons, triploons, and quadrooploons!

Oh yeah, there's a removable can of spinach in there too.

The can has a small tab on the side...


...so you can pop the spinach up for healthy snackin' action!

Say goodnight Bluto, it's clobberin' time!