| "Junior" | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
See Notes |
|
First Appearance |
Barbecue for Two (1960) |
|
Original Publisher |
King Features Syndicate |
|
Created by |
Jackson Beck |
Origin[]
"Junior" is a character that first appeared in the Popeye the Sailor TV series from 1960, an enemy and next door neighbor of Popeye.
He is essentially a new character meant to resemble the earlier Bluto in both appearance and actions. The character was created to fulfill Bluto's role, as at the time King Features Syndicate, which was producing the TV series, mistakenly thought the Bluto character had been created for the animated shorts, and not originated in the Thimble Theatre comic strip. Jackson Beck, who provided Bluto's voice in many theatrical cartoons up until their end, voiced him in the series.
He is usually portrayed as large, obese, bearded man. He mostly uses his brute strength to accomplish what he is trying to do, but does display some ability for tactical planning. Neither Popeye and Olive Oyl, nor any other characters, think of him as anything more than a worthless scoundrel.
"Junior" and Bluto differ in many small ways, while Bluto was often portrayed as a fellow sailor who also sought to win the heart of Olive Oyl, while this character was portrayed as a generic villain, or bank robber, who showed no romantic interest in Olive. Instead, he usually took her hostage, leaving Popeye to rescue her.
Popeye calls him "Junior" in Barbecue for Two to which he responds "Junior!?" Don't call ME a sissy name like THAT! My name is- (charges at Popeye while roaring).
Public Domain Animated Appearances[]
- Barbecue for Two (TV pilot, 1960)
- Matinee Idol Popeye (TV episode, 1960)
- Weight for Me (TV episode, 1960)
Notes[]
- The copyright for the TV pilot was never renewed, thus placing the pilot in the public domain.
- Matinee Idol Popeye & Weight for Me entered the public domain due to an incorrect copyright date, MCMXL (1940) rather than MCMLX (1960).
- While the character goes unnamed in his debut, in the storyboards for the TV pilot, he is named Chauncy.
- The character is first called Brutus in the episode "Muskels Shmuskels" - September 1, 1960 which is not in the public domain.
- It was long accepted that Bluto and Junior were one and the same. However, a 1988 Popeye comic book, published by Ocean Comics, presented the two characters as twin brothers. The Popeye comic strip, at the time written and drawn by Hy Eisman, generally featured only Junior, but added Bluto as Junior' twin brother in several 2008 and 2009 strips.