Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar. The character first appeared in the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929, and Popeye became the strip's title in later years. In this story Popeye is on stage with his trained fleas. Olive and Brutus watch from the audience. Whe Olive expresses admiration for Popey and his fleas Brutus decides he has to take action.