Happy 60th Birthday Brutus!

02 September 2020 // Featured

Fred Grandinetti

Writer

New Popeye Cartoons for Television

Whenever interviewed by the media I am asked “Why did Bluto’s name change to Brutus?”  The bearded bully with an attraction to Popeye’s girlfriend Olive Oyl made his television debut in September of 1960.  The Popeye theatrical cartoons, produced by Paramount Pictures, were a huge rating’s success on television.  King Features Syndicate, who owned the rights to the Popeye characters, received no financial compensation when these cartoons played seemingly endlessly on hundreds of stations.  In 1959 King Features Syndicate decided to produce a new series of color Popeye cartoons which they would own and distribute.  Variety stated in their 26th August 1959 edition: “King Features Syndicate Productions, the new division of Hearst’ King Features Syndicate, has started production on 208 Popeye animated cartoons to be produced for library syndication.”

No Bluto Allowed

Al Brodax was the producer of these films and hit a snag when wanting to include Popeye’s foe, Bluto. The brute was created in 1932 by E.C. Segar for his Thimble Theatre comic strip syndicated by King Features. Although Segar only used him in one adventure, Bluto became forever linked to the Popeye universe when animation producer, Max Fleischer, put him in his Popeye the Sailor theatrical cartoon series. Fleischer (and later Famous Studios) Popeye films were owned by Paramount Pictures.  Paramount thought Bluto was created strictly for the animated cartoons and blocked King Features Syndicate from using him (presumably unless they bought the rights to the character). Bluto’s comic strip roots were all but forgotten and Brodax created Brutus! He named the character after Julius Cesar’s assassin. King Features originally promoted Brutus as a new character.  However, aside from his clothes and protruding belly, Brutus looked a lot like Bluto from the 1950s’ theatrical cartoons.

Brutus and Popeye are at it again from Coach Popeye (Jack Kinney, 1960)

Brutus’ Versality

Bluto often tried to steal Olive Oyl away from Popeye. However, Brutus was more versatile. Listed are examples of his occupations in addition to girl-stealing;

• Hoppy Jalopy (Larry Harmon, 1960)- Race car driver
• Irate Pirate (Larry Harmon, 1960)- Romantical pirate
• College of Hard Knocks (Larry Harmon, 1960)-College Professor
• Interrupted Lullaby (Gene Deitch & William L. Snyder, 1960)-Kidnapper
•  Potent Lotion (Gene Deitch & William L. Snyder, 1960)- Bank robber
• Matinee Idol Popeye (Gene Deitch & William L. Snyder, 1960)-Movie director
• Take It Easel (Gerald Ray, 1960) – Artist
• Skyscraper Capers (Jack Kinney, 1960)- Owner of a construction company
• Coffee House (Jack Kinney, 1960)-Beatnik
• Wimpy’s Lunch Wagon (Jack Kinney, 1960)- Peddles jukeboxes
• Popeye and the Magic Hat (Jack Kinney, 1960)- Stage magician
• Azteck Wreck (Jack Kinney, 1960)- Mexican bandit
• The Super Duper Market (Jack Kinney, 1960)- Proprietor of a super market
• Bell Hop Hop Popeye (Jack Kinney, 1960)- Manages a hotel
• Hair Cut-Ups (Paramount, 1960)-Barber
• Mirror Magic (Paramount, 1960)-King
• Dog Catcher Popeye (Paramount, 1960)-Dog catcher
• Amusement Park (Paramount, 1960)-Carnival barker
• Motor Knocks (Paramount, 1961)- Garage owner
• County Fair (Paramount, 1961)-Farmer
• Autographically Yours (Paramount, 1961)-Movie actor

Jackson Beck, who had provided Bluto’s voice since 1944, took on the role of Brutus. Both brutes sounded exactly alike, leaving audiences to believe they were the same character.

Brutus, along with several comic strip characters from King Features Syndicate, appeared in the hour long special, The Man Who Hated Laughter for The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie. It was produced by Hal Seeger and Jack Zander. It debuted in 1972 and was rebroadcast the following year.

For the 1978-1979 television season Hanna-Barbera produced The All New Popeye Hour for the CBS network. Popeye’s enemy was again called Bluto except for a blooper in one episode.  In the cartoon Close Encounters of The Third Spinach (1978) Jack Mercer, Popeye’s long-time voice, mistakenly called Darth Bluto, “Darth Brutus”.

The Daily Comic Strip

While the transition from Bluto to Brutus went relatively smoothly on television this was not the case in the print medium. When Ralph Stein was writing the daily strip, he brought Bluto back as a pirate to menace Popeye on 27th March 1957. Stein later added Bluto’s beardless brother, Burlo, as a threat to Popeye. Bluto and his nasty crew popped in and out of the daily until May of 1959.  When Segar’s assistant, Bud Sagendorf, took over both the daily and Sunday comic strip, several unnamed Bluto looking bullies encountered Popeye. This was in response to Paramount Pictures’ claiming ownership of the Bluto character.  To the casual reader, or frequent viewer of the Fleischer cartoons, in their minds this was Bluto.

Popeye deals with Bluto the Pirate and his gang from the November 2, 1957 daily strip. By Ralph Stein (writer) and Bill Zaboly (artist)

Olive Oyl first uses the name Brutus, in the daily comic strip, on January 29, 1963. After this story he would remain absent from the daily for the remainder of 1963 through 1964. By Bud Sagendorf

When Brutus returned to the daily strip on March 8, 1965 he was no longer related to The Sea Hag. Note how Bud Sagendorf has Popeye introduce him to the audience

On 5th August 1960, The Sea Hag instructed her “Sonny Boy”, with a bulbous dented nose to beat up Popeye.  Sonny Boy, aside from the nose, looked very much like Bluto.  On 12th November 1962, Sagendorf began a storyline, in the daily strip, where The Sea Hag and her “boy” plan on launching Popeye into space.  On 29th January 1963, Olive says to the old hag, “It’s your fault my sailor is in that hole with Brutus!” This was a subtle attempt by Sagendorf to have The Sea Hag’s boy become a separate character named Brutus. On 8th March 1965, Brutus returned to the daily strip and was no longer related to The Sea Hag.

The Sunday Strip

Sagendorf started a storyline, in the Sunday page, running from September through October of 1962 featuring The Sea Hag and her son.  The witches’ offspring had fallen in love with Olive Oyl. On 23rd September 1962, readers saw (if their newspaper published the first three panels of the comic strip) The Sea Hag asking her son why he loved Olive Oyl.  The following Sunday (30th September 1962) Olive stared at a photo stating, “Brutus wants to marry me.” “Brutus” looking exactly like the son who appeared in the previous Sunday. However, the next Sunday page (7th October 1962) the witch leaps into her son’s arms frightened by Olive’s new hat.  In the 14th October 1962 Sunday page “Brutus”, on bended knee, flatters Olive Oyl.

The bearded brute’s confusing transition in the Sunday page. By Bud Sagendorf

As in the daily strip it was probably Sagendorf’s intent to subtly have The Sea Hag’s son become known as a separate character, Brutus. Since the story arc flip-flopped on the identity of Popeye’s rival, I suspect it was published out of sequence.  After a long absence Brutus returned to the Sunday page on 4th May 1965. No mention was made of his relationship to The Sea Hag.

On 11th October 1970, Sagendorf introduced a short, curly haired woman with dark circles around her eyes.  She said to Popeye, “I am the mother of Brutus!”.  Popeye is chastised by the woman for always beating up her son which has caused him to lose confidence in his ability to cope with other people. An angry Brutus says, “Mums! Stop interfering in my business!” Brutus is punched in the face by his mother who shouts, “Don’t interrupt Mumsy when she’s talking!”

The Gang of Bearded Bullies

Television’s Brutus meets other bearded brutes. These include Famous Studios’ Bluto, a bearded pirate, Bud Sagendorf’s renditon of Brutus and a version from Italy. From Bobby London’s daily strip from 23 July 1991

When Bobby London took over the daily strip Bluto returned in 1988 to menace Olive Oyl’s original boyfriend Ham Gravy.  On 27th May 1991, London began a storyline called “The Return of Bluto” This concerned Segar’s Bluto returning to Sweet haven to, as he put it, “I, Bluto the terrible was once the most feared man of the seven seas…one lost battle with Popeye and Sweet haven was full o’ goofy lookin’ clowns imitain’ me…yeah…ruined my reputation. I mean how could anybody be scared of a guy named “Brutus”.  London filled this story with the different versions of Popeye’s bearded foe all existing separately from one another.

Hy Eisman, who produces Popeye’s Sunday strip antics, had Olive Oyl making a date with “Brutus’ twin brother” Bluto on 28th December 2008.  The Sea Hag recruits the twins to fight it out with Popeye on 5th April 2009.

Brutus became the twin brother of Bluto in the Sunday strip from April 5, 2009 by Hy Eisman

The Comic Books

The name change became more confusing in the Popeye comic book series.  In Popeye #40 (1957) “The Big Guy That Hates Popeye” made a brief appearance.  The brute reappeared in Popeye #41 (1957), referred to as “Olive’s New Boyfriend”.  This nameless bearded bully was seen plotting with The Sea Hag in Popeye #42 (1957).  Although he became known The Sea Hag’s son in Popeye #43 (1958) Sagendorf used this same character design for assorted bearded characters in subsequent issues.  These included a restaurant owner, strongman, cowboy and Duke!

Sonny, who resembles Bluto, reports to his Mom, The Sea Hag from Comic Album #7 (Sept-Nov, 1959). By Bud Sagendorf

Brutus, looking very much like his television counterpart, debuted in Popeye #64 (1962). Although the Sea Hag’s son returned in Popeye #66, (1962) Brutus returned in issue #67 becoming a regular cast member.  Sagendorf went back to drawing Brutus like The Sea Hag’s son before settling on a design giving the bully black circles around his eyes, dark eyelashes, a trimmer beard and Captain’s hat.

In Popeye the Sailor #86 (1967) Brutus asked Olive Oyl to babysit his nephew, Hardtack.  Like Brutus he wore a captain’s hat and had dark circles around his eyes. He and Swee’pea actually become friends. Hardtack would only make a few appearances in the comic book.

After caging the television version of Brutus Poopdeck Pappy is humliated by his Granny. From Popeye the Sailor #113 (1972). By George Wildman.

When George Wildman began drawing the Popeye comic book series, he initially drew Brutus in Bud Sagendorf’s vein but switched to how he looked in the television cartoons. Wildman later went back to Sagendorf’s version. Eventually Brutus called The Sea Hag, “Maw” and she referred to him as “Sonny Boy” beginning with Popeye the Sailor #128 (1975).  Wildman often used older Popeye comic book stories for reference. He probably discovered adventures featuring The Sea Hag and her bearded son mistaking him for Brutus.

Ocean Comics produced a trio of Popeye special comic books. Issue #2 (1988) featured Brutus and Bluto as twin brothers.

George Wildman’s rendition of Brutus, clobbering Popeye (2009)

Popeye’s Cartoon Club

Cartoonist Randal Keith Milholland is a contributor to the comic strip Popeye’s Cartoon Club. This was launched to help celebrate Popeye’s 90^th birthday in 2019.  One of his strips depicted Bluto and Brutus as siblings with distinctive but recognizable character designs.  When asked about the difference between the pair Milholland said:

Their personalities are wildly different, or became so. Sure, in the early 1960s King Features cartoons Brutus has a strong personality similarity to Bluto of the Paramount cartoon era, but when you look at how Brutus is portrayed in the comics – especially Bud Sagendorf’s run of the strips and Wildman’s comic books) Brutus really comes off as a lesser villain than Bluto. Bluto is the sort of guy who, if he walks into a bar, he is going to walk up to the biggest, meanest man and lay him out just so everyone knows the pecking order.

Brutus, at least how I always read him from the comics, is more likely to go for someone a little weaker or already knocked down. Brutus wants a sure win, Bluto wants to be the biggest, most dangerous guy around. And then there’s personality. Bluto has his dim moments, but he does have a cruel animal cunning. He’s vicious and straight to the point. He’s can scheme when he needs to or he can just stampede in, but either way he’s going to try to get what he wants.

Brutus always came off as oafish, more of a follower than a leader. That’s why Brutus works well with someone like Sea Hag to command him. A lot of this was captured greatly in Bobby London’s Popeye run with the Return of Bluto, but I think I prefer Hy Eisman’s idea that they’re siblings. Of course, if they’re identical, that means they have to be triplets with Burlo. To me, Brutus feels more like a goofy younger brother – a bit aimless, takes orders well and not big on thinking for himself. The perfect fall guy and henchman for an older brother Bluto.

Cartoonist Randy Keith Milholland’s take on the relationship between Bluto and Brutus from 2019

Merchandise

Popeye products produced due to the success of the theatrical films on television initially featured Bluto. These included 1957’s Popeye Cartoon Kit by Coloforms, Popeye Color and Re-Color Book by Jack Built Toys and Adventures of Popeye board game from Transogram.  However, 1957 also gave us a Popeye Printing Set by M. Shimmel Sons Inc.  One of the stamps was a bearded brute called “Mean Man”.  This moniker was used for Popeye’s bearded enemy, on merchandise, until 1960 when Brutus became known to television audiences.  Early items featuring the name Brutus included, RCA Camden’s Popeye’s Favorite Stories Album (1960), Kenner’s Presto Paint Set (1961) and Popeye View-Master Reels (1962).

The comic strip design of Popeye bops Brutus as he appeared on television. From the Popeye Sparkle Paint’s set by Kenner Toys (1966)

Beginning in 1960 Kenner’s Give-A-Show Projector included several Popeye slides. The sailor man battled a Fleischer looking Bluto and television’s Brutus in separate slides during the 1960’s.

Bud Sagendorf drew Brutus as he appeared in the television cartoons for this 1962 Viewmaster slide titled Paint Ahoy.

In 1982 Nintendo manufactured an extremely popular Popeye video game featuring the character designs of the cast utilized in the Al Brodax produced television cartoons. This game, of course, featured Brutus prominently.  Parker Brothers released a board and card game utilizing the same versions as Nintendo. In 2003 NJ Croce issued a set of bendable figures featuring the cast in the style of King Features’ television cartoons. In the set were Popeye, Olive Oyl, Wimpy, Swee’pea and Brutus.

While the license may say this is Brutus it is clearly the Fleischer Studio’s design of Bluto. This mix up of his name and character design occured on several products

Since the 1990’s a number of products have utilized the Fleischer Studio’s version of Bluto calling him Brutus.  These products include a number of tee shirts, men’s shorts, golf club cover and dolls.

Happy Birthday Brutus!  Here’s to sixty more years of girl stealing and bopping Popeye the Sailor Man!

Popeye Celebrates Brutus’ 60th birthday. Art by Fred M. Grandinetti. Colors by Dave Hudon.