Sometimes The Dark Side Is Just Too Tempting
When it comes to love and lust in the world of superhero comics, things aren’t always so clear cut. There are times when two individuals on opposite sides of the battlefield find themselves wrestling with feelings of desire. In the case of these five pairings, they ended up acting upon them…for better or worse.
#5: Sue Storm & Doctor Doom
That devious Doctor Doom, not only is he a criminal mastermind and dictator… he also insists on complicating matters of the heart. As part of the Secret Wars storyline, which saw him effectively become the god and designer of a collaged reality, Sue Storm is his wife – or rather Susan Von Doom. Well… that’s one way to give the middle finger to your arch nemesis, Reed Richards. In this reality, not only have Sue Storm and Victor Von Doom fallen in love and gotten married, but they also have two children together – Franklin and Valeria. Of course, this isn’t the only morally gray character Sue has gotten intimate with – she and Namor also have a history.
#4: Wolverine & Mystique
Wolverine is known to be the best at what he does, and that’s heavily implied to be tracking, fighting and killing, but based on his romantic track record, he also appears to excel at being a shameless womanizer – and that extends to both sides of the battlefield. As explored in the Wolverine arc “Get Mystique†from 2008, Logan and Raven Darkholme go way back, as does their love-hate relationship. They’ve clearly always rubbed each other the wrong way, while simultaneously taking regular breaks to rub each other the right way… if you know what we mean.
#3: Spider-Man & Black Cat
Whereas many contemporary superheroes operate within shades of gray, Peter Parker has long been held up as one of Marvel’s more clear-cut do-gooders. Sure, he tackles plenty of megalomaniacs and freaks looking to end the world, but he’s also just as committed to stopping more everyday crimes, like burglary. So it’s admittedly rather problematic that he, of all people, could become romantically involved with a crook like Black Cat. Something tells us that he doesn’t take time to flirt and fool around with the other burglars he encounters on the rooftops of NYC. Of course, they’ve done more than hook up – they’ve actually been in a relationship more than once.
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#2: Daredevil & Elektra
Speaking of NYC-based superheroes and the femme fatales they love, how about the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen and his assassin of a flame? Elektra’s introductory arc in Frank Miller’s critically acclaimed run of Daredevil in the early ‘80s delivered a complex love story that saw the off-panel old lovebirds reunited. Though they would work together and rekindle old passions, they also frequently came to blows and continued to be at odds, as their respective philosophies made them fundamentally different. Elektra would even wind up working for crime boss Kingpin. A tragic love story, Elektra’s initial arc would end with her death at the hands of Daredevil’s nemesis, Bullseye… but she would return
#1: Batman & Talia Al Ghul
Batman’s most popular flame might be Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, but honestly, she’s been an ally for so long now that her cat burglarizing feels like more of a side hustle. And besides, Batman’s relationship with the more overtly villainous Talia Al Ghul is far more troubling. Honestly, their night of passion has been recontextualized so many times, we don’t know what the truth is. But at some point, Bruce Wayne was either seduced or drugged into having an affair with the daughter of his enemy, Ra’s Al Ghul, an act of copulation that resulted in a son. Regardless, these two are clearly both interested, as exemplified by their frequent flirtation and multiple trysts.
Be sure to check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 Couples in DC Comics.
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