Eye Lie Popeye

I’m still trying to process the 80th Annual Reuben Awards. For three days in Columbus, Ohio; cartoonists, illustrators, wirters, animators, editors, and fans came together to celebrate the people who make this art from so special. The National Cartoonists Society was founding in 1946, and there was something really meaningful about marking 80 years in a city with such a deep connection to cartooning history. Columbus was an amazing host. Between the National Cartoonists Society conference, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, and the energy around Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, the whole weekend felt like a love letter to the craft. And honestly, I felt like a kid in the candy store! Working with King Features means I get to be around some truly legendary creators, but imposter syndrome definitely creeps in sometimes. Then you find yourself standing in a room with cartoonists whose work you’ve admired for years, talking shop, sharing a laugh, or watching them draw for a crowd, and it all becomes altogether rewarding. King Features was proud to be represented by an incredible group of nominees: Ricardo Siri, better known as Liniers (Macanudo), Ricardo Martinez (Goomer), […]

What happens when you take one of the most iconic characters in comic history and drop him into a high-stakes, dimension-hopping adventure filled with mystery, magic, and manga-style mayhem? You get Eye Lie Popeye—a bold new miniseries from acclaimed artist and writer Marcus Williams (Marvel’s Captain America, DC’s Nubia & the Amazons), now debuting on Comics Kingdom. In 2023, Williams posted a fan art crossover that shook the comic world: Popeye and Goku, training together in a fictional Dragon Ball x Popeye: World Breakers universe. His high-energy rendering of Popeye as a grizzled, muscle-bound warrior caught fire online, resonating with fans who saw untapped potential in the sailor man’s strength, heart, and grit. Alex Garcia, Director of Direct-to-Consumer Comics at King Features, saw something more than fan art—he saw a future. “We’d been exploring ways to bring Popeye into a modern storytelling format—something manga-inspired, high-concept, and emotionally grounded,” says Garcia. “When I saw Marcus’s piece, it clicked instantly. That was the tone. That was the artist.” From that spark, Eye Lie Popeye was born. Rather than retell old sea tales, Williams and Garcia leaned into the mythology, asking a new […]

Happy Free Comic Book Day, comics fans! Since its inception in 2002, Free Comic Book Day has become a beloved annual celebration, encouraging fans old and new to discover amazing stories and talented creators across the comic universe. This year, Comics Kingdom is thrilled to invite all “Phans” to celebrate by picking up a special zero-issue of “The Phantom,” brought to you by the innovative minds at Mad Cave Studios. Rediscover the legendary adventures of the Ghost Who Walks with fresh storytelling that pays homage to its iconic legacy. Find your local comic book shop here But that’s not all—we have an incredibly exciting launch lined up! On May 9, prepare yourselves for the groundbreaking debut of Eye Lie Popeye Season 1, Comics Kingdom’s first-ever “toon” style vertical comic. Eye Lie Popeye reimagines everyone’s favorite spinach-loving sailor in a fun, fresh, and visually dynamic format perfect for mobile and web scrolling. Dive into a wild new adventure with Popeye, Olive Oyl, Bluto, and the whole crew as they bring classic charm and modern twists to your screens. And we’re not stopping there! Coming this summer, EXCLUSIVELY to Comics Kingdom is […]