Bluto is a
cruel, bearded, muscular ruffian who serves as Popeye's enemy and archrival for the love of
Olive Oyl. He usually uses brute force and/or trickery to accomplish his various goals. His voice is very loud, harsh and deep, with an incomprehensible bear-like
growl between words and sentences. This voice, as well as the dark beard, crooked teeth, and bulk, was similar to that of the villain Red Flack, well known at the time, played by
Tyrone Power Sr. in the 1930 film,
The Big Trail. Bluto, like Popeye, is enamored of Olive Oyl, and he often attempts to kidnap her. However, with the help of some
spinach, Popeye usually ends up defeating him. Some cartoons portray Popeye and Bluto as Navy buddies, although in these episodes Bluto usually turns on Popeye when an object of interest (usually Olive) is put between them. Bluto's strength is portrayed inconsistently. In some episodes, he is weaker than Popeye and resorts to underhanded trickery to accomplish his goals. At other times, Popeye stands no chance against Bluto in a fight until he eats his spinach. In yet other cartoons, the two characters are closely matched, with Bluto eventually gaining the upper hand before Popeye eats his spinach and defeats Bluto. In some shorts, Bluto is a match for Popeye even after he has eaten his spinach. Bluto is sometimes portrayed as having a
glass jaw. He has, on occasion, been knocked out by Olive Oyl and even by Popeye's infant ward
Swee'Pea. On rare occasions, Bluto tries to
sabotage Popeye before confronting him, such as when he tried to thwart his own defeat by using a forklift to steal Popeye's store of spinach cans and disposing of them in a garbage dump. In one case, Popeye forces a defeated Bluto to consume spinach, after which Bluto easily beats up Popeye, resulting in Olive pitying him and choosing him over Bluto. '' comic strip, September 12, 1932 (last panel) In most cases, the name "Bluto" is used as a first name. In cartoons where Bluto portrays alternate characters, or "roles," the name can be used as a surname, as with lumberjack "Pierre Bluto" in the cartoon
Axe Me Another and etiquette teacher "Professor Bluteau" in
Learn Polikeness. ==Bluto vs. Brutus==