Four Color #113: The Golden Age Popeye Key Every Collector Should Be Watching

Four Color #113 (1946) marks a major moment in comic history: the very first Popeye comic featuring original content. In an era where nostalgic icons are resurfacing across film, animation, and streaming, it feels like only a matter of time before Popeye sails back into the cultural spotlight. He’s one of those rare generational characters—instantly recognizable, universally loved, and forever tied to a specific era of American pop culture.

What’s fascinating is how the internet has already been doing the heavy lifting. Modern reinterpretations of Popeye—whether beautifully illustrated redesigns or fan‑made cinematic homage trailers—show just how easily this character could thrive today. All it takes is one sharp script and a visionary director to remind the world why the spinach‑powered sailor became a household name in the first place.

From a speculative standpoint, Four Color #113 is a Golden Age gem hiding in plain sight. The CGC census lists only 37 total graded copies, with the highest sitting at 9.4—and only two copies exist at that level. Recent sales tell an interesting story: an 8.5 moved for $575, while a 7.0 surprisingly climbed higher at $800. The numbers aren’t lining up in a traditional way, but that’s exactly where opportunity tends to live. When a character has this much cultural weight, the long‑term upside becomes hard to ignore.

There are a few raw copies floating around on eBay right now, and at these prices, the entry point is appealing for collectors who understand the long game. Popeye isn’t just a character—he’s a piece of Americana, and books like this don’t stay quiet forever.

At InvestComics, we always remind readers: “Speculation isn’t about hype, it’s about awareness.” And this book is absolutely worth being aware of.

-Jay Katz