Is Popeye's Relationship Less Romantic Than Spinach?

By: E&P Staff Who's the least romantic comics couple of all time? Popeye and Olive Oyl.

That's according to Comixology's Shaenon K. Garrity, who wrote yesterday: "Superman and Lois, Li'l Abner and Daisy Mae, Krazy and Ignatz, Calvin and Susie Derkins ? comics are rife with heroes who inexplicably run screaming from romantic advances....

"The exception is Popeye and Olive Oyl, in that the lack of mutual attraction is pretty darn explicable. I mean, she's Olive, a shrill beanpole forever plagued by obscure disorders ... a woman whose first words to her chosen soulmate were, 'Aw, shut up, you bilge rat!'

Garrity added: "The real mystery is why Olive is hung up on a grizzled, elderly, one-eyed sailor who doesn't like her and really doesn't have much going for him beyond punching ability...."

The "Popeye" comic is distributed by King Features Syndicate.

Garrity's piece -- which can be seen here -- was linked today on Dirk Deppey's "Journalista: The Comics Journal Weblog."