Popeye and Business and Office Careers #1 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Writer Joe Gill and artist Tony Tallarico led the young readers of 1973 through the growing field of office management. Your guides are Popeye the Sailor Man and his infant ward, Swee'Pea. 

Many jobs explored, such as office manager, secretary, and stenographer, had been around for decades. But with the growing use of computers to compute complex algorithms, data processing and scheduling and payroll, new positions and roles were being added to office setting. 

The argument has always been that computers are going to take human jobs. We see this more today with the controversial role of artificial intelligence. But in 1973, the job field was actually growing thanks to computers. That's because of how primitive they were back then!

The average computer used in offices in the 1970s were the size of several of our current xerox machines put together. They could fill an entire room, based on the size of the business. The standard personal computer is several years away from being offered to businesses. These computers also lacked the internal data processing features like spreadsheets. Yes, this is a world without Microsoft Office.

Popeye explains that to program a computer, you would need a team of employees; from technicians who would fine tool the machine on a regular, almost daily basis to punch card operators who tabulated the cardstock paper inserts that fed data into the computer for analysis.

Published by King Features Syndicate, the art and distribution studio that put Popeye and friends in dozens of newspapers nationwide, Popeye and Business and Office Careers was one of 15 other educational comic books starring the sailor. Other career pathways explored by Popeye and friends were in healthcare, communications, transportation and agri-business as part of King's Career Educational Series.

Cover by George Wildman.

Completing this review completes Task #5 (An educational comic) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 102

    I know I've not been around very much the past week or so. I didn't mean to be away but some things at my work got really, really serious and not in a good way. Playing on my anxiety disorder heavily, the events at work have taken it's toll. I've been afraid of my shadow- but I've also been working to get out of the situation as well. 

   In some ways, it has sparked a sort of mid-life crisis. 

   Last year, I got my dream job as a culinary instructor. Right now, I can only teach part-time but with some certifications and more education, I can increase the number of hours I can be a chef instructor. Well, I am convinced after the troubles I have been having at work and the meeting I had a couple of days later when the dean of culinary, that God is telling me it's time to focus on the ultimate goal- teaching full-time.

    In 2 weeks, I will be free from my current full-time position. But the fear and anxiety still linger there. Oddly enough, the thought of going part-time, becoming a house-husband, and going back to some sort of schooling doesn't add to it. I hope I will be able to post again daily (not just A Madman Turns 40 but my reviews of books and other things geek.) But it's also been hard not to want to hide under a rock. But today's post is a start.

   I'll be back soon...

   Until next time.