Battles, fights, deaths, and end-of-the-world events mostly define comic books. However, within all the super powered insanity, love does find a way. It’s not always easy, but even those dedicated to justice need somebody. As V-Day rockets towards us, we here at Crave Online thought it would be a nice idea to look back at some top-notch superhero dalliances. We call it Ten Epic Superhero Romances. Perhaps you can use this to get your significant other into comics?
Okay. Who are some of your favorite comic book couples?
10 Epic Comic Book Romances
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10. RAMONA FLOWERS & SCOTT PILGRIM
Creator: Bryan Lee O’Malley
Let’s Meet Our Couple: Scott Pilgrim is the long-suffering dork that just can’t seem to find the one. Ramona is a hot girl with a cool hair, great style, and a mysterious past. From the day he saw her, Scott was hooked. Their romance was so powerful it took a small indie series to the top of the bestseller list. Even Hollywood took notice, producing a movie version starring Michael Cera & Mary Elizabeth Winsted
Why The Romance Is Epic: Scott Pilgrim fought seven of Romona’s evil ex-boyfriends, some of whom were lesbian ninjas. His entire existence was dedicated to fighting for this girl he loved. That’s pretty epic.
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9. THANOS & DEATH
Creators: Jim Starlin, Mike Freidrich
Lets Meet Our Couple: Thanos is an evil tyrant, a horrific dictator who has brought nothing but pain and terror to the universe. Death is, well, Death. A universal force that is necessary to balance all of life.
Why The Romance Is Epic: Kind of hard not to step into an epic arena when the universe’s most feared supervillain is unleashing genocide to impress his boo. Instead of the normal flowers and candy route, Thanos obliterates his home planet and tries to end most of the life in the universe with the Infinity Gauntlet. Even when he taps a little Death ass, they end up giving birth to the Rot, a force so awful they have to destroy it themselves. If this doesn’t say epic, I don’t know what does.
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8. SWAMP THING & ABIGAIL ARCANE
Creators: Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, Alan Moore,
Lets Meet Our Couple: He’s Alec Holland, the former scientist now turned avatar for the Green. Not only is he made of the Earth, he can talk to it, connect with it and move through it. Abigail Arcane is a woman in love with him. She also happens to be the niece of his most hated enemy Anton Arcane.
Why The Romance Is Epic: Well, first off, Abigail is locking lips with the spiritual embodiment of the Earth. The relationship is all kinds of weird. Abigail married Swamp Thing hunter Matthew Cable just to get close to her green lover. At one point, her Uncle Anton possessed Cable, raped Abigail and then murdered her via magic. Only a massive effort from Swamp Thing and a few other magical creatures saves her. Cue John Constantine, who allows Swamp Thing to possess him so he can impregnate her. Even in the New 52 their romance is insane. Currently, Abigail is the avatar of The Rot, and can never see Swamp Thing again. Yep. Epic.
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7. SUE & REED RICHARDS
Creator: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
Lets Meet Our Couple: He’s one of the smartest men in the world. She’s the ultimate super powered MILF. Outside of that, they are the leaders of one of the longest-running super hero teams in all of comics. Bickering, death, and multiple kids with insane powers are the glue that keeps these two together.
Why The Romance Is Epic: After five decades, are one of the longest married couples in all of comic books. The Richards have also seen their fair share of marriage woes. Prince Namor always trying to steal Sue away. Multiple deaths, kids with powers they can’t control, plus the constant arguing of Thing and Johnny Storm. The fact these crazy kids are still together is epic within itself.
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6. SCARLET WITCH & VISION
Creators: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas, John Buscema
Lets Meet Our Couple: She’s the emotionally unstable, incredibly high-powered daughter of Magneto. He’s an android who cries a lot and seems overly sensitive. He’s like the Morrissey of comic book robots.
Why They Romance Is Epic: Let’s follow some of the family linage here. Ultron, who was created by Hank Pym, created Vision. So the most sensitive robot in the universe is the grandchild of a wife-beater and the son of a machine who has tried to destroy mankind many times. Scarlet Witch used her powers to give birth to children, so now the robot can have kids. The children were actually illusions created by pieces of the Devil’s soul. Turns out Vision and Scarlet Witch fell in love due to a hex from Immortus, who wanted to keep her from having kids. So, you tell me. Epic?
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5. BATMAN & CATWOMAN
Creators: Bill Finger, Bob Kane
Lets Meet Our Couple: He’s the ultimate crime fighter; she’s the ultimate criminal. How could you keep these two apart?
Why The Romance Is Epic: It’s not easy to ruffle Batman’s feathers, which is exactly what Catwoman does. Talk about unresolved sexual tension. These two have been prancing around each other for thirty years or more. Have they committed bat-on-cat love? Some say yes (like the New 52), some say no. Batman’s even stretched and bent the law to keep Catwoman safe. How many ladies can say they got Batman to look the other way?
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4. HARLEY QUINN & THE JOKER
Creators: Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Paul Dini
Lets Meet Our Couple: He’s the clown prince of crime, the absolute greatest villain in the entire DCU. As homicidally insane as the Joker is, he managed to find a soul mate in Harley Quinn, a former psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum who went crackers for the white-faced man with green hair. Since their union, they have made Batman’s life very difficult. They have also inspired all of us to believe there is somebody out there for everybody.
Why The Romance Is Epic: When Paul Dini created Harley Quinn for Batman: The Animated Series, there was a slim chance anybody would buy Joker falling in love. Harley Quinn was so awesome that not only did we buy it; we forced it into the canon of the actual comic book. Since then, they've rarely been apart, becoming the DCU version of Bonnie and Clyde.
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3. MIDNIGHTER & APOLLO
Creators: Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch
Lets Meet Our Couple: From the Stormwatch series comes Apollo, a thinly-veiled Superman-style action hero, and Midnighter, a thinly-veiled Batman-esque type. Together, they became one of the first gay superhero couples, eventually marrying.
Why The Romance Is Epic: This was one of the first times comics dipped their toe into the idea of gay characters. Not only did these two marry, but they also adopted Jenny Quantum. While most focus on the marriage of Northstar and Kyle in Astonishing X-Men, Apollo and Midnighter broke down the initial barriers.
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2. LOIS LANE & SUPERMAN
Creators: Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster
Lets Meet Our Couple: The very first superhero and one of the very first feminist female characters. Lois and Superman are pretty much the ultimate power couple in comics. After years of tension, the married, remaining a happy, if haunted couple, until DC’s the New 52 obliterated their entire relationship.
Why The Romance Is Epic: Uh, well, it went on for seventy three years, and in all that time, the greatest reporter in the free world, Lois Lane, never could tell that Clark Kent was Superman behind those glasses. The two have battled everything, including Superman’s death and resurrection. Few relationships even come close.
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1. MARY JANE WATSON, GWEN STACY & PETER PARKER
Creators: Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, John Romita Sr.
Lets Meet Our Couple: Spider-Man is easily one of the greatest and most beloved characters of all time. While the accolades came as hero, often alter ego Peter Parker could get no loving. When he did step into the ring, he went big. Gwen Stacy, gorgeous daughter of a cop and often thought to be Peter’s one true love. Mary Jane Watson, the fiery redhead who not only figures out Peter’s secret on her own, but marries the man and becomes a world famous super model.
Why The Romance Is Epic: The tragic themes are unlike any other romance in comics. Gwen was hurled off a bridge at the hands of the Green Goblin. Spider-Man thought he’d saved her, only to have her die in his arms. It’s a moment that has informed every single thing that’s happened to Spider-Man since. Cue Mary Jane Watson. After great strides to be together, Peter and Mary Jane were incredibly in love. They had to have that love stripped away in order to save Aunt May. At the hands of Mephisto, an entire portion of their lives was re-written, and in it they were never married. That kind of tragedy can only be executed on an epic scale.
