Valentines Day has come and gone, and love is lingering in the air like a stale fart. While most people spent their Valentines with loved ones, I spent mine brewing up an awesome list for everyone. Most fanatic comic readers, like myself, constantly make lists in their heads of Top 10 “whatevers” in comics. So I figured I’d make a list of my top ten comic couples.
Relationships in comics can be either a good thing or a bad thing for a character. In 2007, Marvel published a story called “Spider-Man: One More Day” which saw Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson’s relationship retconned through a pact Peter made with Mephisto, which in turn saved May Parker’s life from a gunshot wound that was due to Peter’s public unmasking in Marvel’s Civil War story arc. Fans everywhere reacted negatively, saying they felt cheated and thought Marvel only made those moves because they wanted Spider-Man to be easier to relate to for kids. One More Day was easily one of the worst reviewed comics in 2007. That being said, publishers everywhere should be weary of decisions they make to the following relationships.
Hank Pym (Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket) and Janet Van Dyne (Wasp)
Publisher – Marvel Comics
So, this is a couple that has had some ups and downs. In the Ultimate Marvel Universe, Hank Pym went as far as to sick a group of ants on Wasp while she was shrunk down and hiding after he got a little abusive. While there’ll be a movie coming out soon entitled Ant-Man, chances are we won’t see this side of Pym since he’ll be played by the aged Michael Douglas. As for Janet Van Dyne, we haven’t had any specific actresses pinned down for the part, but there are rumors that make it seem like it may be either Rashida Jones or Evangeline Lilly, and if those theories are to be believed, then we may see Scott Lang (the 2nd Ant-Man, played by Paul Rudd) in a relationship with Van Dyne instead of Pym.
Where are they now? Hank Pym can be seen alongside a slew of artificial intelligence over in Avengers A.I., while Wasp can be seen in Uncanny Avengers, alongside both past members of Avengers and X-Men.
Joker and Harley Quinn
Publisher - DC Comics
Ever since Harley Quinn was introduced in Batman: The Animated Series, there has been a solid fan base for the character who is usually seen alongside her puddin’, Mr. J (as in Joker). In the comics, however, it seems like DC Comics is trying to keep the two separated in the New 52. When Joker makes his first appearance in the New 52, there’s no Harley Quinn in sight. That is, until we find out that she’s being used by the Joker, dressed as the Red Hood, as bait to lure-in Batman. When Batman finally confronts her, she takes off her mask to reveal she’s weeping and tells Batman that Joker isn’t “her Joker” anymore.
Where are they now? The Joker was last seen in the Batman arc “Death of the Family”, but I suggest looking into “Joker” by Lee Bermejo and Brian Azzarello. Harley Quinn can be seen in her own solo series.
Amelia Mintz and Tony Chu
Publisher – Image Comics
While there are a ton of things to love about Chew, one thing that’s worth mentioning is the relationship between Amelia and Tony. Not only are they both incredibly crafted characters, but they are one of my favorite current comic couples. For those of you who are uninformed about Chew, Tony is a Cibopath (someone who can see the past of anything they ingest) and Amelia is a Saboscrivner (someone who can write about food so well, that the reader actually tastes the food she writes about). While both of those abilities sound pretty farfetched and ridiculous, it makes sense in a world where chicken is banned because of the bird flu, and the USDA and FDA are major organizations akin to the FBI or CIA. Not only are they gifted with some extraordinarily clever culinary powers, but their relationship has remained strong through both Tony’s coma, which Amelia spent next to his hospital bed, and the loss of Tony’s sister, Toni, at the hands of the series major villain- who is a vampire/ Cibopath.
Where are they now? They can be found in Chew, which is written by John Layman and drawn by Rob Guillory. It was also recently reported that there will be a crossover between Chew and another Image Comics publication, Revival, which is set to hit shelves in May.
Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Jean Grey
Publisher – Marvel Comics
What is there to be said about Cyclops and Jean’s relationship? Well… a lot. This relationship has endured quite a lot, even death, and it still remains one of the strongest relationships in Marvel Comics. Nearly two years ago we saw the crossover Avengers Vs. X-Men which pinned the two teams against each other for control of the Phoenix, which makes it’s return after taking Jean Grey’s life a while back. Around the midway mark of that series, 5 members of the X-Men are granted the powers of the Phoenix because of an oopsy by Tony Stark. One of them, and the last Phoenix left after several brutal battles, is Scott Summers. Scott goes nuts with the power behind him and eventually kills Professor X. Shortly after that, Jean comes to him in visions, and he is eventually defeated by Hope and Scarlet Witch, who destroy the Phoenix and restore the number of mutants on Earth. Even though Scott has had quite a number of telepathic lovers, Jean Grey will forever be the one who got away… (or died).
Where are they now? Cyclops can be seen in Uncanny X-Men, while younger versions of the two from the past, can be found in All New X-Men. The younger version of Cyclops will be getting his own ongoing series which will see him team up with his father, Corsair, in May.
Marv and Goldie
Publisher – Dark Horse Comics
This relationship’s one of the best in comics, not for it’s longevity, but for it’s passion. While Marv and Goldie are only together for one night, Marv is willing to risk his life for revenge when he wakes in the morning to find her dead. That leads to one of my favorite collection of panels in comic books (), and spawns one of the greatest comic book/ movie adaptations ever. I wouldn’t say Mickey Rourke was born to play Marv, but a lifetime full of drugs and ugliness definitely helps prep for the character (and of course, some effects and makeup). Aside from The Hard Goodbye, Marv has been in quite a few other Sin City tales as well, like Silent Night, Just Another Saturday Night, and a supporting role in A Dame To Kill For, which sees him team up with the man in red Converse shoes, Dwight (played by Clive Owen in the movie).
Where are they now? Well Goldie is dead. Marv can be seen in the couple of Sin City books I listed above, and will probably be in the sequel to the first Sin City movie, which is based off of A Dame To Kill For and is set to hit theaters August 22nd, 2014.
Vision and Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch)
Publisher – Marvel Comics
This relationship is a weird one. First off, let me start by telling those of you who aren’t familiar with these two Avengers, that Vision is an android created by Ultron and Scarlet Witch is the daughter of the X-Men’s villain-turned-ally, Magneto. The relationship was pretty strong up until the events of Avengers Disassembled, where Vision flies a Quinjet into Avengers Mansion, apologizes, then releases a few Ultron robots on all of the present Avengers. Shortly after the Ultrons are defeated by the Avengers and Vision is torn in half by an enraged She-Hulk, Dr. Strange shows up and explains that he senses an abuse of magic to be behind all of these acts. It is revealed that Scarlet Witch has snapped after losing her children, which happened to be magical constructs created by her subconsciously years ago. After Scarlet Witch is put into a coma by Dr. Strange’s Eye of Agamotto, Magneto comes and takes her to Genosha where he and Professor X could attempt to help her. The shockwaves from these events are still felt in modern Marvel Comics. In Avengers Vs. X-Men #0, Scarlet Witch is invited to Avengers Mansion by Spider-Woman and Ms. Marvel, but is shunned when she reaches the doorstep by a rebuilt and angry Vision.
Where are they now? Scarlet Witch can be seen as a member of Uncanny Avengers and Vision can be seen in the pages of Avengers A.I. The couple will be played by Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen in Avengers: Age of Ultron which is set to hit theaters on May 1st, 2015.
Buddy and Ellen Baker
Publisher – DC Comics/ Vertigo Comics
Unlike most comic characters who have on again, off again relationships, you can’t write a good Animal Man story without involving Buddy Baker’s family. Usually geared towards more mature readers, Animal Man became a critical hit when it was reintroduced using DC Comics’ New 52 reboot. Although not too long after that, the family dynamic started dwindling when it was revealed that Maxine, Buddy and Ellen’s daughter, was the avatar of the Red and not Buddy, who was always thought to be the Avatar up until that point. It is found out that the only reason Buddy has powers of his own is so he could protect Maxine until she is strong enough to protect herself. Eventually, the whole family goes on the run once the Rot emerges to try to destroy the Red. Buddy and Ellen’s son, Cliff, is killed by the Rot and it tears the family apart. Buddy and Ellen are separated and Maxine spends most of her time looking for Cliff in the Red so she can reanimate him.
Where are they now? The Baker’s can be found in Animal Man, which is currently running through DC Comics. You can also find pre-New 52 trade volumes of the Bakers, as well.
Glenn and Maggie
Publisher – Image Comics
If there was a power couple of The Walking Dead, it would most definitely be Glenn and Maggie. Not only did the two find love and eventually marry each other after the zombie apocalypse, but they took it upon themselves to adopt an orphaned Sophia as well. The two have faced hordes (or herds) of zombies together and have even endured great loss together. After the events of the prison, and the death of Hershel, Maggie attempts to hang herself and fails miserably, but the two move past that and remain stronger than ever and even find out they will be having a child of their own. Sadly, this relationship was brought to an end at the cruel hands of the current Walking Dead antagonist known as Negan, by using his bat that he calls Lucille to murder Glenn. Maggie is devastated at her loss, and tells Rick to not let Negan get away with what he did before moving to the Hilltop Colony, where she eventually becomes their leader in the battle against Negan.
Where are they now? Glenn is buried in a grave at the Hilltop Colony and Maggie’s adventures as group leader can be seen in the current arc of The Walking Dead, entitled All Out War. Oh, there’s also a television show, in case you didn’t know.
Alana and Marko
Publisher – Image Comics
A modern day Romeo and Juliet, but from separate worlds that are at war with each other. Alana’s world is Landfall, where the indigenous people have wings are technologically advanced. Marko’s home planet is actually the moon of Landfall and it’s called Wreath, where the natives have horns and use magic. In the beginning of their relationship, Marko was actually a prisoner assigned to Alana’s watch. One day Alana reads a book called A Night Time Smoke by D. Oswald Heist to Marko, which has changed her outlook on life. The pair eventually fall in love and renounce the war and both alliances, get married, and have a child named Hazel. While Hazel is still young, it is unclear if she can wield magic, but she does have horns like her father, and wings like her mother. Wanted by both sides of the war, they embark on an adventure through space (inside an organic rocketship that looks like a tree) to avoid conflict with the mercenaries who hunt them for their desertion.
Where are they now? You can find Alana and Marko in Saga, which is available in trade paperback format, as well as single issues. Saga just released their 18th issue and will be on break until March, so they can keep the current creative team while giving them a breather.
Clark Kent (Superman) and Lois Lane
Publisher – DC Comics
This is easily the most well known relationship in comic book history. There has even been a TV show based off of their relationship (Lois and Clark). There’s been hundreds and hundreds of writers with different takes on their relationship and different adventures for them to embark on. There’s not much to say about this relationship, that’s not common sense amongst comic fans, but I’d be an idiot not to mention them in this article, so here they are. HOWEVER, in DC Comics’ New 52 series of comics, Superman spends his time cuddling up to Wonder Woman and not Lois Lane. While I don’t read enough of the new Superman/ Action Comics to know if they were together in the past or not, I can pretty much say that when Superman/ Wonder Woman sales start dwindling, I’d expect DC to break them up and bring back the Lois/ Clark relationship.
Where are they now? You can find Superman (and Lois as a supporting character) in Superman Unchained, Batman/ Superman, Action Comics, Superman, Superman/ Wonder Woman, and Justice League. You can also find them on digital comics like Adventures of Superman and Injustice Year Two. I suggest reading Injustice Year Two, as well as the first story arc, as they depict what happens after the events of the video game Injustice: Gods Among Us, where Joker tricks Superman into killing Lois Lane and turns Superman into a murdering, bullying dickhead that Batman must bring down.
