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CONTENT WARNING: This article contains mentions of incest and sexual assault.
In the world of Marvel Comics, plenty of superheroes have found themselves pursuing romances when they aren’t out fighting crime. Some romances have become iconic in pop culture, such as that of Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson, while others are better off being left in the past, as they’ve become more controversial over the years.
From villains who manipulate the good guys into relationships to heroes who simply find themselves in toxic romances, this list compiles the most problematic couples in Marvel’s history.
Marvel’s heroes are no stranger to love, and that love doesn’t always manifest in the healthiest ways. From villains who manipulate the good guys into relationships to heroes who simply find themselves in toxic romances, this list compiles the most problematic couples in Marvel’s history. These 8 comic romances definitely couldn’t have begun in today’s world, and it’s shocking that Marvel ever let them slide.
8
Havok and Madelyne Pryor
Cyclops’ Ex-Wife Rebounded With His Own Brother
The first couple on this list requires a bit of explanation for those who aren’t familiar with X-Men lore. Madelyne Pryor is originally the wife of Cyclops, until he leaves her once he found out that Jean Grey had been brought back to life somehow. Later on, she begins a relationship with Havok, the brother of Cyclops. While the fact that she rebounds with her ex’s brother is bizarre enough, the situation worsens when she brings mind control into the picture.
There’s no justification for manipulating someone’s mind in order to sustain a romance with them. Madelyne may have been victimized by Scott Summers, but Alex doesn’t deserve to be mistreated by a partner and enter a relationship on unequal terms just because his brother left his wife and infant son.
7
Invisible Woman and Namor
Sue Storm Betrayed Her Husband to Romance the Sub-Mariner
Invisible Woman is happily married to Reed Richards and has been for decades, but that hasn’t stopped Namor from making moves on her. Namor’s feelings for Sue have been a consistent aspect of his character since they first crossed paths back in the 1960s, and he still hasn’t entirely given up on pursuing her, even if it makes her uncomfortable due to her marital status.
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Believe it or not, though, Sue and Namor’s relationship has been reciprocated in certain alternate continuities. Most famously, in Fantastic Four: 1234 by Grant Morrison and Jae Lee, Invisible Woman cheats on Reed by kissing Namor. There’s no universe where this relationship is anything but problematic for Sue, as it involves scandal in one way or another.
6
Rogue and Magneto
Rogue Can Touch Magneto, But His Age Raises Major Questions
Rogue’s marriage to fellow X-Man Gambit has cemented itself as the best relationship that she’s been a part of in Marvel lore, but he isn’t the only man who has been the subject of her affections. Most notably, Rogue and Magneto have had a relationship with one another during their time in the Savage Land, though this romance isn’t one that many readers recall fondly.
The reason that Rogue feels drawn to Magneto at all is due to his ability to negate the effects of her power-draining touch, which allows them to be physically intimate with one another in a way that she can’t with most people. That said, Magneto is decades older than Rogue, which makes their relationship come off as unnerving.
5
Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne
Ant-Man Ruined His Marriage (And His Reputation) by Abusing the Wasp
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Hank Pym’s Ant-Man has made his way onto a list of problematic relationships, since he’s become an increasingly disliked figure over the years. His marriage to Janet Van Dyne is far from idyllic, as evidenced by his mistreatment of her, which results in their relationship being among Marvel’s most upsetting.
Hank may have loved Janet in a healthy way at the start of their romance, but once he hit her, their marriage fell apart. His abuse of his wife has soured his reputation despite his role as a founding Avenger alongside his wife, and he has yet to be fully redeemed even after decades have gone by. Ant-Man and the Wasp’s romance could have been great, but his horrible treatment of her has spoiled it.
4
Kitty Pryde and Colossus
This X-Men Couple’s Age Gap Gave Them a Weird Foundation
The X-Men franchise is full of love stories, with some being healthier than others, and the relationship between Colossus and Kitty Pryde has stood the test of time compared to those around them. With that being said, that isn’t entirely a good thing, as this romance has one key problem that prevents many from enjoying it. When they first met, Colossus was 19 years old, whereas Kitty was only 14.
Despite the creepy age gap, this relationship remained a part of their stories, and they nearly got married in X-Men Gold #30. However, Kitty underwent a change of heart and realized she didn’t want to marry Colossus, so their relationship has been put on an indefinite hiatus that could hopefully become permanent.
3
Gwen Stacy and Green Goblin
Norman Osborn Slept With Spider-Man’s Girlfriend (Yes, Really)
Gwen Stacy is widely known for being the girlfriend of Spider-Man prior to her tragic death at the hands of the Green Goblin, but one story offers a dark reason as to why Norman targets her to begin with, introducing a new relationship for her. Though it’s widely believed that he killed her to get back at Spider-Man, in Spider-Man: Sins Past, the grudge he has against Gwen is much more personal.
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Norman Osborn has an affair with Gwen Stacy in this story, which is problematic on many counts. For starters, Norman is Gwen’s boss, and he’s also much older than her. Naturally, this plot point isn’t considered to be a canon part of Marvel lore, but it still sheds light on a truly troubling romance.
2
Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver
Wanda and Pietro Maximoff Shared an Incestuous Relationship
Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver may be nothing more than ordinary siblings in Marvel’s main continuity, but in the former Ultimate Universe, they took their relationship to a horrifying level. In Ultimates #3 by Jeph Loeb and Joe Madureira, it was revealed that the brother and sister had developed “a kind of love that no one in this room can really understand”.
It should go without saying that the incestuous implications of Scarlet Witch’s relationship with Quicksilver are uncomfortable. Even in the alternate Ultimate Universe, there’s no reason for Marvel to have had two siblings be so intimate with one another, and it is absolutely for the best that this relationship has been laid to rest.
1
Ms. Marvel and Marcus Immortus
Marvel’s Most Problematic Romance Is Better Off Forgotten
Anyone who’s familiar with Marvel history definitely knew that this unbelievable pair would be at the top of this list. The Avengers #200 has gone down in history as one of Marvel’s most controversial comics to date, and for a very good reason, as it features a deeply disturbing romantic entanglement that never should have happened at all.
In this story, Carol Danvers suddenly gets pregnant and gives birth to a child named Marcus. This child then grows up to sexually assault Carol, impregnating her with himself. Marvel has rightfully confessed to regretting this story, and it has thankfully been forgotten as time has gone on. Still, Ms. Marvel and Marcus’ creepy love story is indisputably the worst romance that has ever graced Marvel Comics‘ continuity.
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