When Love Stories Go Off The Rails
Not every comic book romance is the stuff of fairy tales. Some are so awkward, toxic, or downright bizarre that they leave fans groaning instead of swooning. Maybe it's an unsettling power imbalance or a romance that drags down an otherwise great character. Opinions may differ, but one thing's for sure—these 20 comic book romances have more than earned their fair share of side-eye.
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1. Hal Jordan And Arisia Rrab (Green Lantern)
Does aging yourself just to date your childhood crush sound weird? Well, that’s exactly what Arisia Rrab did with her power ring to pursue Hal Jordan. What should have been a clear ethical dilemma was mostly ignored, leaving fans with an unsettling romance that felt wildly inappropriate.
Arisia - Scenes | Green Lantern: Emerald Knights by Lady TV Scenes
2. Batman And Batgirl (Batman)
Mentor. Mentee. Crime-fighting partners. And then… lovers? The Batman and Batgirl romance, especially in “The Killing Joke" adaptation, felt forced and uncomfortable. With Barbara’s history as Grayson’s love interest, this pairing reeked of unnecessary drama and an odd creative decision from DC’s writers.
Batman kisses Batwoman | Injustice Movie by ArgusOnly
3. Aunt May And Doc Ock (The Amazing Spider-Man)
Aunt May almost marrying Doc Ock? That was pure comic book cringe. The sweet old lady fell for a villain with metal arms—who only wanted her uranium-rich island! Watching Otto play the charming suitor while Peter freaked out was bizarre, but the wedding? Pure chaos. If love is blind, this one needs glasses.
4. Superman And Wonder Woman (New 52)
On paper, the most powerful hero and heroine in DC Comics sound like a perfect match. In practice? Not so much. Their New 52 romance lacked emotional depth, feeling more like a marketing gimmick than a natural evolution. Readers quickly noticed—and rejected—the hollow storytelling.
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5. Namor The Submariner And The Invisible Woman (Fantastic Four)
Namor's relentless pursuit of the Invisible Woman was equally dramatic and uncomfortable. He wasn't just flirting—he was obsessing over a married woman, constantly tempting Sue Storm to leave Reed Richards for his underwater kingdom. His bad-boy act had its moments, but watching Sue entertain the idea while still with Reed? Cringe.
6. Green Arrow And Black Canary (DC Comics)
Infidelity, manipulation, and constant breakups—this relationship is a trainwreck. While they’re often seen as DC’s power couple, their romantic history is riddled with betrayals. Canary even nearly killed Oliver at one point. That’s not exactly what you’d call “relationship goals.”
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7. Spider-Man And Gwen Stacy’s Clone (Spider-Man)
The Clone Saga remains one of Marvel’s most infamous storylines, and Peter Parker’s relationship with a clone of Gwen Stacy only made things worse. Instead of closure, this twist dragged Peter into a bizarre, emotionally confusing love triangle that fans still debate decades later.
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8. Magneto And Rogue (X-Men)
Magneto and Rogue’s romance was awkward on so many levels. The massive age gap alone made things weird—he was a battle-hardened war survivor while she was still figuring out her life. Their connection felt more like a power imbalance than true love, with Magneto’s brooding intensity clashing with Rogue’s youthful uncertainty.
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9. Wolverine And Jean Grey (X-Men)
ClipsJean and Logan’s will-they-won’t-they dynamic has dragged on for decades. While Cyclops had his flaws, Jean constantly entertaining Logan’s advances despite being in a committed relationship made their interactions feel uncomfortable. Instead of passion, it just came off as emotionally messy.
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10. Cyclops And Madelyne Pryor (X-Men)
What happens when you marry a woman who looks exactly like your deceased ex? Scott Summers found out the hard way with Madelyne Pryor. This bizarre relationship, fueled by manipulation and later demonic possession, became one of the most unsettling storylines in “X-Men” history.
Madelyn Pryor Kisses Cyclops with Her Blood as Lipstick X Men 97' Episode 3 by HDClips Mania
11. Beast Boy And Terra (Teen Titans)
Young love can be tragic, but this one was outright disturbing. Terra manipulated Beast Boy’s feelings while secretly working with Deathstroke. Watching him pine for someone who saw him as a pawn made their romance one of the most heartbreaking—and cringeworthy—dynamics in “Teen Titans” history.
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12. Superman And Lois Lane (Silver Age Superman)
Few things age worse than 1950s comic book romances. The Silver Age Superman treated Lois like a gullible fool, constantly humiliating her with elaborate pranks. Marrying her out of pity, Lois Lane only solidified this relationship's place in cringeworthy history.
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13. Hulk And Red She-Hulk (Hulk)
Bruce Banner and Betty Ross had a complicated relationship. But once Betty became the Red She-Hulk, their romance became plain weird. Watching a gamma-powered married couple beat each other up while supposedly being in love? Not exactly a healthy dynamic.
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14. Captain America And Sharon Carter (Captain America)
Steve Rogers falling for Sharon Carter, the niece of his former love Peggy Carter, has always been a little uncomfortable. Factor in the time jumps and Steve's eventual aging, and this relationship's odd dynamic only worsened. It's one of those pairings that never fully resonated with fans.
15. Quicksilver And Crystal (X-Men)
Quicksilver’s relationship with Inhuman Princess Crystal was doomed from the start. His arrogance and paranoia clashed with her more free-spirited nature, and his controlling behavior drove her away. When your romance requires Black Bolt’s intervention, it’s clear things are beyond saving.
16. Batman And Talia al Ghul (Batman Universe)
Being manipulated into fatherhood? That’s Batman’s reality with Talia al Ghul. Their romance, filled with betrayals and deception, resulted in Damian Wayne’s birth. Love shouldn’t involve coercion, secret pregnancies, or mind games, but this relationship somehow checked all those boxes.
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17. Ant-Man I And The Wasp I (Ant-Man And The Wasp)
Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne’s relationship had all the makings of a classic superhero romance—until it didn’t. What started as mentor and protégé turned into a rollercoaster of questionable decisions. Between Hank’s constant identity crises and Janet trying to hold things together, their love story often felt more awkward than aspirational.
Marvel Studios' Ant-Man and The Wasp - Official Trailer #2 by Marvel Entertainment
18. Hawkeye And Scarlet Witch (Avengers)
One of Marvel’s most forgettable pairings, Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch, had a brief and awkward romance. With Wanda's heart clearly set on Vision, this relationship felt entirely pointless. It's baffling why Marvel even went there—it had zero narrative weight or emotional impact.
19. Thor And Jane Foster (Thor)
Unlike the MCU, the comic book romance between Thor and Jane Foster never truly clicked. The god-mortal dynamic created an awkward imbalance, and their love stories often felt forced. When your love interest literally can’t exist in your world, it’s probably not meant to be.
Thor And Jane Break Up Story | Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) by Movie Scenes
20. Joker And Harley Quinn (Batman Universe)
Nothing about this relationship is cute. Between Joker’s mind games and Harley’s desperate attempts to win his twisted love, their dynamic was less “mad love” and more pure cringe. Thankfully, modern comics have given Harley the agency to move on. But for decades, this romance was the definition of cringe and toxic love.
