J. Wellington Wimpy

Few characters from the Platinum Age have lingered in the cultural imagination quite like J. Wellington Wimpy, who made his comics debut in King Comics #30 in 1938 and has been gracing the page ever since — a remarkable 76-year run that speaks to his enduring charm. Created by Jo King, this rotund, bowler-hatted figure moves through a world populated by some of comics' most beloved personalities: Popeye, Olive Oyl, Swee'Pea, and Poopdeck Pappy are among his frequent page-companions across Dell's long-running Popeye titles. With a key issue to his name and 42 catalogued appearances stretching all the way to 2014, Wimpy is far more than a supporting player — he's a Platinum Age original whose presence gives the Popeye universe so much of its comic richness and warmth. If you're building a serious collection of classic funny-page comics history, he's absolutely worth seeking out.