Warner Home Video has announced the July 31st release of the first volume of classic Fleischer Studios animated cartoons featuring E.C. Segar's Popeye the Sailor.  Volume 1 (MSRP $64.95) is a deluxe 4-disc set containing 60 cartoons arranged in chronological order and covering the years from 1933 to 1938.  The set includes 550 minutes of uncut, unedited cartoons taken directly from the original masters and as such it will likely include the disclaimer 'Intended for the Adult Collector -- May not be suitable for Children.'

In addition to authorized high quality transfers of the original Popeye cartoons the set will include over five hours of extras, including features such as 'The History of the Fleisher Studios' and 'The Story of Popeye the Sailor Man' along with behind-the-scenes featurettes and commentaries from leading animation historians.

E.C. Segar introduced his spinach-slurping sailor with the bulbous forearms in King Features' Thimble Theater comic strip in 1929 and just four years later, Dave Fleischer gave the grappling gob his screen debut in 'Betty Boop Meets Popeye the Sailor,' the first cartoon in this set.  Last November Fantagraphics released the first of its deluxe hardcover volumes of Popeye comic strip reprints, Popeye Vol.1: I Yam What I Yam ($29.95).  With both his comic strip and on-screen exploits becoming available in superior formats, it couldn't possibly be a better time to be a fan of the belligerent, one-eyed grammar-mangling seaman.