John Sappo

John Sappo made his comics debut in King Comics #34 back in 1939, stepping onto the Golden Age stage courtesy of creators Eddie Sullivan and Charlie Schmidt. Published by David McKay, this early funny-pages character shares his world with some of the most beloved icons of the era — Popeye, Olive Oyl, Wimpy, and the irascible Poopdeck Pappy among them — giving him a wonderfully rich neighborhood to inhabit. With a publishing footprint that stretches all the way to 2008, Sappo's presence in the funny pages proved surprisingly durable for a Golden Age creation, and collectors will want to note that one of his appearances carries genuine key-issue status. A small but charming piece of comics history worth tracking down.