Why is Popeye on Google? E.C. Segar's Birthday

So you may have noticed Popeye's presence in the Google logo today and asked yourself 'why is Popeye on Google?' Google is paying homage to E.C. Segar, the creator of Popeye, 105 years after his birth. Born December 8, 1894, Elzie Crisler Segar introduced the world to Popeye in 1929 when the character made his debut in the comic strip Thimble Theatre.

Segar passed away at 43 years-old due to a prolonged case of liver disease, after which his long-time partner Bud Sagendorf took over Thimble Theatre for the next two years.

The National Cartoonist Society honoured Segar's legacy in 1971 when they created the Elize Segar Award which "was presented to a person who has made a unique and outstanding contribution to the profession of cartooning" until the award was discontinued in 1999. Honourees of the Elzie Segar Award include  Bil Keane, Al Capp, Bill Gallo and Mort Walker, and Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts.