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How did Popeye first appear in Thimble Theatre?

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Popeye made his first appearance in the Thimble Theatre comic strip in January 1929.12

Created by Elzie Crisler Segar, the strip had been running for a decade prior to the sailor's debut, focusing primarily on the adventures of Olive Oyl, her brother Castor Oyl, and her then-boyfriend Ham Gravy. Following Popeye's introduction, he quickly became the strip's dominant character, eventually replacing Ham Gravy as Olive Oyl's primary love interest.13