The Lady's Wizdom: Love & Marriage In Comic Book Team-Ups

Love & Marriage In Comic Book Team-Ups

If there is one thing that the four-color medium’s top comic book power couples have taught us, it’s that it takes far more than super-strength or the power of flight to foster a successful marriage. The “super-powers” needed for this mighty feat include love, understanding, humor, and mutual respect, among others. In honor of that most romantic of holidays, Valentine’s Day, we present for your perusal a rundown of Previews’ top five comic book couples and why their marriages work… and the five comic book marriages that seemed doomed from the start. Ain’t love grand?

Five Comic Book Marriages that ENDURE

Here’s five power couples who, through good times and bad, keep it together and make it look easy…

1. Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman
For decades, the successful marriage of Reed and Susan Richards has been the measuring stick for most comic book relationships. Putting the “family” into Marvel Comics’ Fantastic Four, Reed and Sue’s relationship plays a central role in the lives of their teammates (Ben “The Thing” Grimm and Johnny “Human Torch“ Storm) and their children (Franklin and Valeria Richards). One of the many reasons for the success of their marriage is the couple’s mutual understanding for each other and their individual passions. For example, Sue gives Reed — whose love for science is no secret to anyone — the freedom to follow his passion for investigating the universe. At the same time, Reed takes into account Sue’s passion for family with every experiment he considers.

It’s that mutual respect — that give-and-take — which will give the Richards a chance to enjoy a happy marriage for many years to come.

2. Superman and Lois Lane
Let’s face it: It was no surprise to anyone that Clark Kent — better known to comic book readers as Superman — and Lois Lane finally tied the knot. Longtime comics fans know that their eventual wedding was almost predetermined by the marriage of their older Earth-2 counterparts. But destiny has very little to do with the continuing success of their marriage. The predominant love interest in Superman’s life, Lois came into their relationship as the Man of Steel’s equal, and was willing to share his complicated life and secret. On the other hand, Superman’s Midwestern upbringing by kindly Jonathan and Marth Kent, taught him how best to treat a woman — and nurture a marriage. The rest is history!

3. Mister Miracle and Big Barda
Mark Evanier, writer and former assistant to Jack Kirby, went on record in his website’s The Jack F.A.Q. section that “the characterization between Scott ‘Mister Miracle’ Free and [Big] Barda was based largely — though with tongue-in-cheek — on the interplay betwixt Jack and his wife Roz.” It comes as no surprise that Scott and Barda were based on the Kirbys — one of the comic book industry’s premier couples. Nor does it come as a surprise that their marriage should be any less successful.

Besides being very protective of each other, Scott and Barda — like Reed and Sue Richards — enjoyed a mutual understanding with one another. Barda knew that Scott was only truly alive when he was performing his death-defying stunts. At the same time, Scott greatly appreciated the fact that Barda sought more normality in their lives. It was their loving conviction for each other that made this comic book power couple into one of comicdom’s favorites.

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4. Luke Cage and Jessica Jones
Sweet Christmas! Mutual respect is the engine that drives this comic book power couple. Boasting a love affair that began as a firmly grounded friendship, hero-for-hire Luke Cage, a.k.a. Power Man, and former private investigator Jessica Jones, view their marriage as a team — and a successful one at that. For example, when the Marvel Universe’s “Civil War” began — in order to keep her and Luke’s daughter, Danielle, safe — Jessica traveled with the baby to Canada, while Luke stayed to protect their home in Harlem. Although neither liked being apart from the other, they worked together and put their family first. It’s that same conviction that will put their marriage first, as well.

5. Ronin and Mockingbird
The relationship between Clint Barton and Barbara “Bobbi” Morse-Barton was a whirlwind romance to say the least — but it’s been strong enough to survive separation beyond the Earthly plane and across the stars. Brought together to fight the super-villain Crossfire and his cohorts, there was immediate chemistry between Mockingbird and Ronin — the hero formerly known as Hawkeye — that lasts to this day. Case in point: When Mockingbird tearfully reunited with Ronin towards the end days of the Marvel Universe’s Secret Invasion, they were tears of joy. Whatever spark began their true romance all those many years ago continues to ignite it.

Five Comic Book Marriages That Were Doomed

Not all comic book marriages have a happy ending. Here are the four-color pair-ups that seemed doomed from the start...

1. The Kingpin and Vanessa Fisk
With all the trappings of a Greek tragedy, the marriage of Wilson Fisk — the self-styled “Kingpin of Crime” — to his wife Vanessa was doomed from the start. Based on an ever-growing relationship of lies, it’s a wonder these two made it as long as they did. When Vanessa first met her future husband, she thought he was nothing more than a generous, legitimate businessman. But when Vanessa finally discovered who the Kingpin really was and the true nature of his business dealings, she threatened to leave him if he did not give up his life of crime. This was the first of Vanessa’s many demands for the Kingpin to separate himself from his criminal empire. Loving his wife more than anyone, the Kingpin did as she asked and temporarily retired each and every time — but it was never too long before he was called back to the criminal element. In the meantime, Vanessa would be kidnapped by rival crime lords and suffer amnesia — both due to her affiliation with her husband. Vanessa would even kill her and Wilson’s only son, Richard, after he took up a life of crime and betrayed his father. Soon after, Vanessa allegedly died herself, leaving the Kingpin alone to mourn her death.

2. Wolverine and Viper
A loveless relationship doesn’t even begin to cover the marriage between Wolverine and the villainous Viper. It all began with Wolverine swearing a loyalty oath to Viper after their mutual mentor, Seraph, rescued him from Sabretooth. Years later, Viper reminded Wolverine of his old debt. Following his code of giri — or honorable debt — Wolverine agreed to marry Viper, who believed that Wolverine's credibility in Madripoor would allow her to seize the throne. She also used him, among others, to thwart both Hydra's and the Hand's attempts to control the island. Soon after, Viper was named princess of Madripoor. Later, at an illegal tournament in which Wolverine was a participant at Viper's request, Ogun — a demonic ninja spirit — attacked and possessed Viper. In order to exorcise the demon, Wolverine seriously wounded Viper — a blow that dissipated Ogun. In return for ensuring she received medical treatment, Wolverine made Viper agree to divorce him. Thankfully.

3. Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor
Scott Summers has always been considered one of the noblest to join the ranks of Professor Charles Xavier’s X-Men. But his marriage to Madelyne Pryor proved that he was not without his own failings. Having met in Alaska during a Summers family reunion, Scott and Madelyne were immediately drawn to one another. On Scott’s part, he couldn’t get over the fact that she resembled his dead love Jean Grey, and was obsessed with the idea that she was her reincarnation. Confronting Madelyne with his suspicions, Scott only succeeded in making her angry and hurt. She punched Scott — and thanks to Mastermind’s illusions and manipulations — seemingly transformed into the Dark Phoenix. After the fight, Scott believed he had come to terms with Jean Grey’s death and that Madelyne was not her. He also believed that he loved Madelyne all the same — and soon married her. Not long after, Madelyne gave birth to Nathan Summers — a child that would one day become Cable. Although Scott tried to live a normal family life as a husband and a father, he one day received a phone call from his former teammate, The Angel, that Jean Grey had miraculously been found alive. Scott abandoned Madelyne and their son to reunite with his lost love.

4. Spider-Man and Mary-Jane
It’s seemed to be a dream-come-true: perpetually down-on-his-luck Peter Parker marries red-headed super-model Mary-Jane Watson. Through a turbulent, on-again, off-again, relationship, this couple has endured more than most. At the top of his game as your friendly neighborhood web-slinger, he and Mary Jane have suffered through career changes, best friends turning out to be their worst enemies, ghosts of past relationships, even the loss of a child.

But the recent “One More Day” storyline finally tore this couple apart. Making a deal with the devil — Marvel Comics’ Mephisto — the young couple sacrificed their love to save the life of Peter’s beloved Aunt May.

5. Ernesto Klein-Hernandez and Ester Maria de la Cristo
From the pages of American Flagg! comes Chicago’s Brazilian Union of Americas representative Ernesto Klein-Hernandez and his cunning wife, Ester Maria de la Cristo. Coming to Chicago of 2031 with the intention of purchasing Illinois (and anything they wanted in Indiana), the couple’s mad real estate scheme was only stopped by Chicago Plexus Ranger Reuben Flagg, who literally turned their records into melted slag. That didn’t stop the couple from getting in any more trouble though. Making makeshift alliances and turning against each other, the pair slept with anyone that would further their goals. This continued until Ernesto was allegedly executed by some bloodthirsty thugs and Ester was accidentally killed by Peggy Krieger.

1 comments:

Anonymous said...: the mention of the whole "Peter makes deal with Satan" ruined my day!
LOL! just kidding, but that is NOT one of my favorite comicbook stories...
ignoring that, this was a great blog! love is cool!
^__^; February 14, 2009 at 4:25 AM