mental_floss Blog » 5 Comic Superheroes Who Made a Real-World Difference.
In the 1930s, America was mired in the Great Depression, and the
government was looking for a way to promote iron-rich spinach as a meat
substitute. To help spread the word, they hired one of America’s
favorite celebrities,
Popeye the Sailor Man. It was a smart plan. In all of the comic strips
to that point, Popeye’s superhuman strength had never been explained.
But with the government’s campaign in place, Popeye was suddenly more
than willing to share the secret to his strength. Sure enough, soon
after Popeye took up spinach, American sales of the mighty veggie
increased by one-third. Better still, American children rated it their
third favorite food, right after turkey and ice cream.
government was looking for a way to promote iron-rich spinach as a meat
substitute. To help spread the word, they hired one of America’s
favorite celebrities,
Popeye the Sailor Man. It was a smart plan. In all of the comic strips
to that point, Popeye’s superhuman strength had never been explained.
But with the government’s campaign in place, Popeye was suddenly more
than willing to share the secret to his strength. Sure enough, soon
after Popeye took up spinach, American sales of the mighty veggie
increased by one-third. Better still, American children rated it their
third favorite food, right after turkey and ice cream.
Enjoy!
