Friday Night Fights: It's all in the forearms

The respite is over, and Bahlactus hungers for more beatdowns in the blogosphere.

For the first round, EDILW turns to the prince of panel-bound pugilism: Popeye. Shh, I think the announcer's about to get things started...

"In this corner, in the red shorts, weighing in at 140 pounds give or take a couple pounds, is the challenger, the Demon of the Docks, the Thug From Thimble Theater, the Captain of the Good Ship Punchyouintheface, Pop-e-e-e-e-e-y-e the Sailor!

"And in this corner, in the green shorts, weighin in at 215 pounds, is the champion, the King of Conking, the Vizier of Violence, the Count of Monte Fist-o, K-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-id (>inhale!<) J-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-olt!

"Gentleman, go to your corners and when you hear the bell, come out swinging..."





DING DING DING!





"It's a surprise right hook right to the kisser!"




"Followed by some antiquated trash talk, and a devastating, leaping uppercut! And, well blow me down... it looks like we have a new champion!"



(Stargirl image from short story "The Ropes" by David Goyer, James Robinson, David Ross and Andrew Hennessy, part of of 1999's All Star Comics 80-Page Giant #1, published by DC Comics. The Popeye vs. Kid Jolt panels are by E. C. Segar and are taken from 2006's Popeye Vol. 1: I Yam What I Yam collection, published by Fantagraphics Books. Be sure to buy a copy; I'm hoping that thing sells well enough to guarantee the rest of Segar's strip gets likewise collected.)