Random Marvel Superhero Relationships That Are Way Healthier Than They Seem (14 items)

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  (#1) Wolverine And Mystique

  At around 120 years old, Wolverine has had more than enough time to get busy with numerous ladies (and at least one dude). His relationship with Storm, for instance, spans multiple timelines with only their age difference and her marriage to Black Panther keeping them apart. The relationship deserving the most reconsideration, however, is the one he shared with Mystique during House of M.

  Wolverine and Mystique, two of the oldest and deadliest X-Men characters, are more compatible than one might assume. Mystique's anti-aging abilities makes her one of Wolverine's few realistic prospects for a long-term partner, and his immunity to her powers thanks to his keen sense of smell suppresses her manipulative tendencies. Plus, Wolverine is already super-tight with her son, Nightcrawler. 
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  (#2) Hulk And Red She-Hulk

  The Hulk and Red She-Hulk (Bruce Banner and Betty Ross) are one of the longest established "destined" couples in Marvel alongside Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson. No matter how much gamma radiation, angry military fathers, and Hulk rage comes between them, you know it's only a matter of time before fate pulls them back together. 

  Even death can't keep them apart. When Betty is thought to have died in Incredible Hulk #466 from radiation poisoning after prolonged exposure to Bruce, their romance could have been forever marred by tragedy. Since Betty's resurrection as the formidable Red She-Hulk, their shared plight only made them more star-crossed.
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  (#3) Gambit And Rogue

  Is there a better "bad boy" type than Gambit (Remy LeBeau) in Marvel comics? Not if you ask Rogue, fellow X-Men member and recurring love interest. This pair has been dancing around each other for decades in an on-again, off-again courtship as unpredictable as Rogue's mood. Despite their difficulties, it's hard to picture either of them with anyone else in the long run.

  Raised by the notorious Thieves Guild, Gambit isn't always wholly heroic or honest. Then again, Rogue was first introduced as a minion for villain Mystique. While the idea of a non-physical relationship thanks to her uncontrollable abilities would put most men off, the Ragin' Cajun is always surprisingly respectful of her boundaries and compassionate in her despairing moments. 
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  (#4) Mister Fantastic And Invisible Woman

  It's certainly not easy being married to the man who might be the brightest mind in the Marvel universe. Invisible Woman (Sue Storm) has had to put up with Mister Fantastic's (Reed Richards's) cold, logical decisions to create a "better" world on many occasions, including the creation of a murderous robo-Thor during Civil War after the God of Thunder's death. In turn, Reed has to deal with Sue being kidnaped every now and again by a jealous (and shirtless) Namor.

  Their long-suffering marriage survives because both make up for the other's shortcomings. Reed's incredible intellect combined with his familial devotion helped Sue birth their first child, Franklin, against the odds of her unstable condition. Meanwhile, Sue is often the only one able to make Reed see the ethical errors of his methods - even if it means temporarily leaving him.
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  (#5) Iron Man And Pepper Potts

  In the comics, Pepper Potts was married to and divorced from Happy Hogan after a brief flirtation with her boss, Tony Stark. In the MCU, their flirtation was fleshed out into a serious relationship, enduring many highs and lows from the pressures of Tony's dual identities.

  Arguably, the alcoholic egomaniac side of Tony is a far bigger problem in their relationship than his superhero responsibilities. Yet, their partnership has grown and survived. Tony nourishes Pepper's leadership qualities and proves uncharacteristically selfless enough to give her space after Iron Man 3. In Spiderman: Homecoming, we learn they're now more committed to one another than ever before.   
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  (#6) Winter Soldier And Black Widow

  Though Black Widow's past has barely been touched upon in the MCU and MCAU, the long, storied history of Natasha Romanova's turn from villainy to (mainly) heroism is told in-depth in several Marvel comics. This makes her a logical match for the Winter Soldier (James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes), who shares a similarly shady past and career path.

  While Steve Rogers knows Bucky Barnes better than anyone, Natasha knows his time as the Winter Soldier better than him. As a brainwashed KGB agent, James (as Natasha calls him) actually helped train her, which formed a lifelong bond between them. Their mutual respect is so strong James chooses not to restore Natasha's memories when they are erased during Winter Soldier (the comic), sacrificing their relationship to spare her recalling her traumatic past.
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  (#7) Deadpool And Lady Death

  The moment the Merc With A Mouth fell for Marvel's physical embodiment of death was undoubtedly one of the weirdest pairings in all of comics. Unsurprisingly, they didn't exactly run into each other in a coffee shop. While being mercilessly tortured at a Weapon X base in Dead, Deadpool (Wade Wilson) found himself so close to the brink of death he started to see the Grim Reaper. Strangely enough, he liked what he saw.

  A romantic relationship with a cosmic entity seems wildly improbable. Yet, there's something fittingly poetic about a near-immortal lunatic falling in love with someone who represents mortality - the one thing he's always chasing. Sadly, their romance was ruined soon after. Thanos can be a jealous ex, which was proven when he cursed Deadpool with actual immortality and stole his girl in Deadpool vs. Thanos. 
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  (#8) Havok And Polaris

  Sometimes referred to as The Other Summers Brother, Havoc (Alex Summers) is living confirmation of the Summers family having a weirdly specific thing for psychic girls with brightly colored hair. Polaris (Lorna Dane) also comes with some complicated family history of her own - she's one of Magneto's estranged kids.

  The couple has certainly been tested and even broken up several times over the years due to circumstances such as Polaris becoming violently unstable and Havok jilting her for a woman he met telepathically while in a coma in Uncanny X-Men #425. Through thick and thin, their shared loyalty to their teammates continually draws them back together, and Havok has supported the powerful "Mistress of Magnetism" through every trauma.
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  (#9) Hawkeye And Mockingbird

  Though they're irrevocably separated by the big and small screen in the MCU, Hawkeye and Mockingbird were once a Marvel "Power Couple" in the comics after getting abruptly hitched at the end of the Hawkeye miniseries in 1983. After working together on the West Coast Avengers team and Mockingbird making a miraculous return from the grave, their marriage, sadly, didn't survive in the end.

  Breakups are an occupational hazard of superhero romances, usually because of extreme circumstances like mind control or murder. Clint and Bobbi's separation during their Hawkeye and Mockingbird team-up was a natural one - they simply grew apart. It happens. However, there have been hints they may end up crossing paths again in a healthy, yet unconventional way.
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  (#10) Nightcrawler And Amanda Sefton

  Admittedly, hooking up with your adopted sister isn't the best idea on the surface. Despite this awkward familial connection, Nightcrawler and Amanda (Kurt Wagner and Jimaine Szardos) make a great pair. For one thing, they have a lot of shared, unique history. Not everyone is raised in the circus, and few human women would be able to accept Kurt's demonic appearance so easily.

  Though she initially couldn't handle the stresses of a relationship with a superhero, Amanda became one in her own right. When she was forced to become the Guardian of Limbo in X-Men: Black Sun, she selflessly sacrificed rekindling their romance to keep the world safe. Though their responsibilities continue to keep them apart, the two maintain a stable and close friendship.
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  (#11) Angel And Psylocke

  Angel and Psylocke's (Warren Worthington III and Betsy Braddock's) relationship is the definition of tragic romance. After losing his wings and sinking into depression, Warren is promised a new set by Apocalypse in X-Factor #15. His vulnerable mental state makes him think this is a good idea. He is tortured to the brink of insanity, manifesting into a villainous alter ego, Archangel - the Horseman of Death. Betsy is eventually forced to kill him and their romance.

  Putting all the drama aside, they were a great couple once upon a time. Both came from wealthy families with ties to the Hellfire Club, and looked sophisticated together. Deeper than social status, both were in touch with their darker impulses and passionately devoted to one another. Without Apocalypse's interference, they could have stood the test of time.
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  (#12) Wiccan And Hulkling

  The Marvel universe mirrors most of the societal norms of our world. Hence, it's safe to assume being gay in Earth-616 (unfortunately) comes with the same stigmas as the real world. Add the complication of superpowers and - in Hulkling's case - looking distinctively non-human and there's plenty for two teen boys in love to deal with.

  Suitably, Wiccan and Hulkling's (Billy Kaplan and Teddy Altman's) relationship is constantly being tested by difficult heritages - human, alien, and "spiritual," in the case of Scarlet Witch. The pressures of their responsibilities and some interference from a teenage Loki during Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie's Young Avengers run don't help. Yet, their deep respect and understanding of one another shines through even when they amicably break up and reunite, making them relatable and healthy role models for younger readers.
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  (#13) Cyclops And Emma Frost

  After a tragic relationship with Jean Grey that put Romeo and Juliet to shame, a grieving Cyclops (Scott Summers) found love in an unlikely place. Shacking up with Emma Frost, reformed villain and former White Queen of the Hellfire Club, certainly seemed like a step in the wrong direction on paper.

  Scott psychically cheated on Jean when his relationship with Emma kicked off, so it wasn't a storybook romance at the start. However, both are the definition of "damaged goods," with their shared imperfections resulting in an enduring, mature relationship built on acknowledging each other's troubled pasts and flaws (an understatement after Scott's role in Avengers vs. X-Men and Secret Wars). Plus, Emma's playfulness paired with Scott's stoicism is endearing to watch.
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  (#14) Doctor Doom And Scarlet Witch

  Scarlet Witch's (Wanda Maximoff's) marriage to Vision was about as far from wedded bliss as you can get, making her brief engagement to Doctor Doom (Victor Von Doom) during Avengers: The Children's Crusade feel all the more... right? With Victor being one of Marvel's greatest supervillains, the relationship was always doomed to fail (excuse the pun). His reputation for enslaving superheroines left her teammates - and son, Wiccan - understandably suspicious.

  This wasn't helped by Wanda's memories going missing. When Wiccan, Magneto, and the Avengers invade Latveria to rescue her, Doom explains she is there of her own free will. After Doom and Maximoff's wedding is ruined, Doom laments his beloved fiance has been robbed of the chance to finally live a peaceful life free of the destructive powers and memories traumatizing her. He makes a compelling point.

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