Popeye the sailor could soon be flexing his spinach-fuelled muscles in new adventures when the copyright on the iconic cartoon character expires on New Year’s Day.

He is set to be joined by ace reporter Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy whose 95-year intellectual properties run out on January 1, and they legally enter the public domain. A raft of Hollywood studios are reported to be looking to relaunch the characters.

Popeye, who also inspired a hit 1980 live action musical comedy film…