There’s a commercial out for Summer’s Eve that I’ve seen in the theatre. In it, it shows various battles while in the
background, there’s a voice over explaining that “Men have fought for it, killed and died for it.” While that ends up being a little humorous at the end, it does point out something. Guys will often do anything for love (or is it lust)?
Take Olive Oyl as a case in point. I know, it’s off the wall and weird with all of the Hotties that have graced the Shattered Lens (and I could get myself kicked for all this), but hear me out. I made something of a fun dare with Arleigh that I could write this – despite the shame that may come from it – and am getting it out there.
That red shirt.
Her Leia-like hairdo, complete with the ponytail.
And those sexy boots.
It’s Olive’s apparent flaws that make her beautiful, at least to two men.
Ms. Oyl, the love of Popeye the Sailor, manages throughout to always attract the attention of both Popeye and his rival, Bluto (or Brutus, in some stories). Like the characters in Twilight, the two men are always at each other to defend her honor over the years in Max Fleischer’s serials. While she may be petite by today’s standards, Olive brings a sense of vitality and clumsiness that adds to her allure, not to mention her bright smile. She’s all woman.
Olive Oyl is also a resourceful girl, whether it’s by helping her man sneak into a Rodeo or even putting up a fight for him (she once at the spinach and beat up a girl), she shows she’s not one to always wait to be saved (note that I say always – she does have her times where she needs help). Imagine how she’d be if she were written differently, with a darker tone. Perhaps she’d be like Catherine Trammell, Sharon Stone’s character in Basic Instinct, dancing between but never being “owned” by either suitor. As long as Bluto has an interest in her, Popeye will run to her defense. Thus, she owns all the cards. A wise one, that cutie.
Through the Shattered Lens 
LOL, you actually accepted the dare and followed through. 😀
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lol, Thanks. 🙂
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I must say, I enjoyed this article. You make a pretty strong case for your premise. Olive is kind of hot, in her own way. I had always thought that she was simply charmingly clumsy. But maybe she was shrewdly working it all along.
Perhaps next you could explore the sociological ramifications of the sexually-ambiguous undertones of Bugs Bunny. (Oh, come on – What’s more phallic than a carrot? Plunging in and out of those holes in the ground? “What’s up, Doc?” Please. How could they make it any clearer? Seriously.)
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Thanks. 🙂 Glad you liked it. I’m not sure about doing Bugs Bunny (the Hotties have been exclusive to women, though I suppose anything’s possible), but there could be something to other fictional femmes out there. I think Arleigh does it better with the real ones, though. 🙂
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Yes. well, to clarify – I wasn’t thinking of Bugs as a “Hottie”, per se (but I’m not judging anyone who does – hey, man – whatever you’re into is cool with me, as long as no one gets hurt), just as another animated cultural icon to explore. Any analysis of him should probably appear in some other corner of the Shattered Lens site. But you are correct – there certainly are some other cartoon cuties you could feature.
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Ah! 🙂 Sorry I misread you there. In that sense, Bugs could definitely work. On the other fictional girl front, I was thinking some of Michael Turner’s girls (Witchblade, Fathom), or Rogue, Dawn, Storm. The list could just go on and on, really.
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Indeed. Considering that the artist can render his creation in a thoroughly idealized form (what was Jessica Rabbit’s line – “I’m not bad. I’m just drawn that way.”?), there is no shortage of fine fictitious females. (None of whom are as hot as Ms. Bowman, of course.)
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I’m way hotter than Olive Oyl. Just sayin’.
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I don’t think anyone in their right mind will ever dispute that, but you might be ineligible for the Hottie of the Day as you already work here. 🙂 Don’t know what the rules are on that.
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