A very well-written issue, Popeye #11 is one of the better issues. Whilst its still a simple story and plot, the various side elements all come together to offer something surprisingly more in-depth.

The official description from IDW:

When The Segarfeld Follies comes to town, there’s a new performer on the bill – The Great Blutovski! Who is he? Is Olive Oyl safe from his clutches? Why is he punching those kittens? And what on earth did he do with the Bearded Lady? More spinach-fueled adventures with everyone’s favorite one-eyed sailor!

This issue features a typical light and fun plot involving Bluto. There’s the typical elements one would expect when concerning Bluto, Olive and Popeye, but this issue features a wider cast as well; with other characters all playing important parts.

The main success of this issue is definitely Roger Langridge’s script. Whilst it starts with the typical flash-forward of most Popeye stories, the plot itself is actually rather solid and substantial. The side-plots should come as no surprise, such as Wimpy’s attempts to get more hamburgers, but they are much more relevant to the main plot. This integration is a little detail, but it adds more depth to the plot; you don’t find yourself taking out of the story so easily. That said, its not perfect and there are some areas I don’t quite understand, especially when concerning the younger audiences that might read this title. Why does Olive find herself unknowingly attracted to Bluto, or “aroused” as she herself mentions in one panel?

As for the art, this is Vince Musacchia’s usual pencils. It captures the traditional simple style of Popeye perfectly. There’s not a lot else to say, really. Musacchia’s role is to capture the older atmosphere of Popeye and he does that wonderfully, which only adds to the well written script. If you’re familiar with Popeye, the style and aesthetic here does not disappoint, offering a little nostalgia.

In short, this is one of the better examples of Popeye. Whilst trying to mimic and continue an older title will always be limiting, Popeye #11 shows there’s plenty of life left yet, and is well worth a read.

4.5/5