J. Wellington Wimpy

J. Wellington Wimpy is the hamburger-obsessed, perpetually broke companion of Popeye the Sailor, known for his genteel manner and his infamous promise to 'gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.' His comic-strip adventures were reprinted in Dell's King Comics.

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.