Swee'Pea

Swee'Pea (alternatively spelled Sweapea) is a character in E.C. Segar's comic strip Thimble Theatre and in the cartoon series derived from it. His name refers to the flower known as the Sweet Pea. Before his addition to the animated shorts, the name "Sweet Pea" was a term of affection used by main character Popeye. In the cartoon We Aim to Please, at one point he addressed girlfriend Olive Oyl that way.

History
In the comics, Swee'Pea is a baby found on Popeye's doorstep (actually delivered to him in a box), in a 1933 strip. Popeye adopts and raises him as his son. Initially Swee'Pea's speech consisted entirely of the sound "glop". As the years went on, Swee'Pea apparently aged enough to speak normally, and could throw punches if he had to; however, his appearance remained that of a crawling baby. In the strip for August 17, 1933, Popeye christens Swee'Pea as "Scooner Seawell Georgia Washenting Christiffer Columbia Daniel Boom." Although Swee'Pea remains his most common name, he is occasionally referred to as Scooner by Popeye and others in various later strips.

In the animated Popeye cartoons produced by Max Fleischer and later by Famous Studios, Swee'Pea was portrayed as being in the care of Olive Oyl, although it was unclear whether he was her own child. In the King Features cartoons of the early sixties, it is implied that Swee'Pea is Popeye's nephew). In the feature film version, Swee'pea is found on the doorstep of the Oyl Family home where Popeye lives as a boarder. Popeye proposes the name Swee'pea for the child; Olive objects, he retorts "Well, what were you going to call him? Baby Oyl?" In other accounts Swee'pea is depicted as royalty. After Swee'pea's birth father is killed, Swee'pea was made the Crown Prince of Demonia. As he was of royal birth, he needed protection from an evil uncle who wanted to eliminate him and take control of the country. Swee'pea's mother left him on the doorstep of the Oyl home knowing the trustworthy sailor would protect him. Alice the Goon, originally depicted as a slave of the Sea Hag, reappeared in a flower dress and hat and officially became Swee'pea's babysitter after protests by parents who said the hairy monster frightened children.