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Throughout comic history, romance has consistently been a major catalyst for storytelling. Comics have showcased hundreds of couples, however only a handful of those pairs have become legendary romances for the ages. (( Isaac, Christopher. 2016. “20 Best Comic Book Couples Ever | ScreenRant.” ScreenRant. Screen Rant. September 27, 2016. )) Over the decades, these wildly popular couples have remained deeply adored by fans.
So the question is, which couples made the final cut? The winners are Batman and Catwoman, Cyclops and Phoenix, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, Black Canary and Green Arrow, and Spider-Man and Mary Jane. It’s time to take a look at each couple’s first kiss. It’s also imperative to delve into the leading ladies of such pop culture icons. Let’s go back in time and revisit the exact pivotal moment where these lovers decided to take their relationship to the next level!
You’re Catnip To A Girl Like Me!
It only makes sense to begin with a vintage and cherished love affair. On their own, Batman and Catwoman are already enormous icons in the comic universe. So what happens when these two fiercely powerful forces fall for one another? Intense passion and drama erupted, which sent Gotham into a whirlwind of relationship turbulence. Selina Kyle, better known as Catwoman, was first introduced in Batman #1 (1940). Catwoman was referred to as “The Cat” and was known as a sharp and savvy thief, acrobat, martial arts expert, brilliant con artist, and queen of the cats. Born an orphan who was forced to grow up quite quickly, Catwoman, surprisingly, often exhibited her humanity and sympathetic nature.
These qualities made it difficult for readers to define her as a true villain. (( “Catwoman.” 2020. Batman Wiki. 2020. )) Not only were fans conflicted about her character, but it became evident that Batman was considerably torn as well. The pair’s romance started right off the bat (too cheesy?), in Batman #1, as the issue displayed energetic flirtation between the two powerhouses.
It did not take long for Batman and Catwoman to take their relationship to the next stage. (( Cronin, Brian. 2016. “Comic Book Questions Answered: When Did Batman and Catwoman First Kiss?” CBR. CBR. April 28, 2016. )) In Batman #3 (1940), their affection towards one another finally peaked and the two shared their first kiss on the page. The strip sets the tone for their entire relationship, but how so? After Catwoman embraced Batman, she pushed him back and made a run for it. Her yearning for him was immense, but she was too focused on her evil image to leave the dark side for her love. Likewise, as all-consuming as his adoration was for Catwoman, Batman refused to lessen his concrete morals in order to fully pursue the relationship.
Batman and Catwoman’s storyline included being enemies, occasional co-workers, and, finally, lovers. In Batman #615 (2003), Batman shockingly revealed his true identity as Bruce Wayne to Catwoman, which revealed his trust in her. As the king of Gotham, Batman could still only go as far as occasionally entertaining the love affair from time to time. It wasn’t until Tom King’s Batman #50 (2018) that the pair decided to wed. Catwoman ultimately realized that their marriage would never work, as her lover’s pain was what lit the fire within him.
By marrying Bruce, Selina would have softened his heart, therefore removing the bitterness that drives Batman’s agenda. Ah, forbidden love… they truly are the DC “Romeo and Juliet.”
With All My Heart!
Enter Cyclops and Phoenix’s great love story. Let’s just say that if these two had a Facebook relationship status, it would definitely have been, “It’s complicated.” Summers, who mainly went by his superhero name “Cyclops,” was already an exceedingly puzzling character prior to the relationship. He fell madly in love with Phoenix, originally called Jean Grey. The pair became close over time, as they basically grew up together, but there were many reasons why Cyclops felt that they could never be a romantic couple.
Cyclops was terrified that he would injure Phoenix with his optic blasts, on top of feeling that he could never compete with Angel, a teammate who also had emotions for his leading lady. Meanwhile, Phoenix had similar romantic feelings for Cyclops all along. The insecurities of such powerful characters, such as Cyclops and Phoenix, reminded readers that despite their superhuman abilities, they were still people.
Jean Grey was first introduced in The X-Men #1 (1963) as a mutant born with telekinetic and telepathic powers. Her character transformed throughout the series from “Marvel Girl,” to “Phoenix,” and eventually, “Dark Phoenix.” Phoenix was a pretty great fit for Cyclops, although neither of them saw their complementary nature for a long time. Cyclops was not exactly the type to speak on his feelings, which is why Phoenix’s telepathy was so suitable. In turn, Cyclops had the ability to continuously bring Phoenix back to reality when her powers overwhelmed her. (( Harth, David. 2020. “5 Reasons Jean Grey Is Perfect For Cyclops (& 5 Other Characters She’d Be Better With).” CBR. CBR. June 6, 2020. ))
The couple could never quite get on the same page since their timing was always off. Despite all the complications, they were destined to end up together, as they eventually did. Their first kiss was an imperative moment, as it evoked much anticipation from readers who had been awaiting this scene since the beginning of their friendship. The kiss came right before Jean left the X-Men to try and live a normal life. The two finally admitted their love for one another right away as one of them decided to explore normality; see? Such impeccable timing! (( “Ex-Men: The Top Five Pre-Phoenix Scott and Jean Moments – WWAC.” 2015. WWAC. September 27, 2015. ))
I’m Crazy, Too
Who doesn’t adore it when a great friendship leads to true love? Poison Ivy, originally, Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley, was first introduced in Batman #181 (1966). It wasn’t until Secret Origins #36 (1988) that Ivy met Harley Quinn, who was in horrific shape after almost being killed by the Joker. Ivy took Harley under her care and the rest was pretty much history. To say that Harley upgraded would be an utter understatement. Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy had a closer bond than most couples in the comic universe. The two women have always had each other’s backs, even before their relationship turned romantic.
It’s no secret that prior to her relationship with Ivy, Harley was wrapped up in a horrifically abusive affair with the Joker. Ivy helped Harley out of an extremely difficult time and weaned her off of her addiction to toxicity. As this partnership goes both ways, Quinn helped Ivy to develop a deeper bond with humanity. Harley and Ivy could fully rely on one another as they depicted a relationship that was about much more than solely the sexual aspect. (( “The 5 Most Romantic Harley Quinn + Poison Ivy Moments in Comic Books.” 2020. DCUniverse. 2020. ))
DC Comics: Bombshells #42 (2016) illustrated the first kiss between Harley and Ivy in a DC publication. In this scene, Harley unwittingly calls herself Ivy’s “girl.” After Harley became red-faced and realized that she had possibly misspoke, Ivy comforted her by calling her, “Cherie.” Under the moonlight and snowfall, Ivy and Harley shared a sweet and tender first kiss. The love between these two was genuine and natural. The relationship carried on throughout several issues and depicted a realistic love. It’s evident that due to Harley’s past, her heart was quite fragile and closed off. It took a special person to break down such high walls; that person just happened to end up being Harley’s best friend.
The historical aspect of this relationship is certainly a factor to acknowledge as well. DC has not often openly depicted a queer couple and it was about damn time that they did! The best part about Ivy and Harley’s relationship was that there was no need to acknowledge that they were two women in love. The point of their romance was not that they were queer, but that two people who were so divergent could develop such a loving and pure connection.
I’ve Missed You, Pretty Bird
If there’s one word to describe Black Canary and Green Arrow’s love affair, it’s… intricate. While there was a great deal of love between these two characters, they certainly had their fair share of ups and downs. It all started when Dinah Laurel Lance, who was first introduced in Flash Comics #86 (1947), decided to join the Justice League of America. Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) also happened to be a member of the organization, which jump-started the longtime relationship between the two. Oliver and Dinah developed a close friendship, which included several flirtatious moments over the course of many issues.
Despite Oliver and Dinah’s horrifically hidden attraction to one another, this rollercoaster romance did not take off right from the get-go. Queen had eventually expressed his feelings towards Dinah but was rejected, as she was not sure if she wanted to take their friendship to the next level. (( Cronin, Brian. 2016. “Green Arrow and Black Canary: A Rocky Love Affair | CBR.” CBR. CBR. June 19, 2016. )) Later on, when Arrow was going on other missions, Dinah had time to finally realize her strong feelings towards him. Distance really does make the heart grow fonder! In Green Lantern/Green Arrow #78 (1970), Arrow tried to get Dinah’s memory back after she had been brainwashed into joining a cult. How ever would he do that?! Oh, right, a kiss would do the trick!
Not only did Black Canary and Green Arrow’s first kiss bring her memory back, but this scene also included flashbacks of never before seen occurrences. The most unseen event that shocked readers was when the pair had actually fallen in love and began dating. After the issue, the couple went down a pretty rocky road, breaking up and getting back together several times.
The two eventually wed, but after a great deal of tragedy, ended their marriage. While it was quite a bumpy relationship, the lovers remained a fan favorite duo. There’s no denying that these two were madly in love, as they could never commit to staying away from one another. The couple taught readers that some people are meant to fall in love, just not stay in love.
You Hit The Jackpot, Tiger!
Peter Parker and Mary Jane “MJ” Watson truly depict young love at its finest. While Spider-Man’s first love was Gwen Stacy, MJ continued to be his leading love interest in comics and adaptations for decades to come. MJ was first formally introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man #42 (1963), where Aunt May had set her and her nephew up on a blind date. Parker had a short-lived romance with MJ but came to the conclusion that she was too focused on her “party girl” lifestyle. (( “Mary Jane Watson (Earth-616).” 2012. Spider-Man Wiki. 2012. )) Parker monetarily moved on to Gwen and was left shattered after her death. MJ and Peter formed a close connection over his grief.
It became clear that MJ was no longer the superficial girl he once knew. The change caught Parker’s attention and sparked the pair’s romance back up. Once Peter and MJ fell madly in love, there was no turning back. Over the years, Mary Jane became the most famous mortal in the MCU, and eventually, Mrs. Parker. It makes sense that being the leading lady of one of the most well-known superheroes in comic history would make a character pretty popular among fans.
MJ and Peter’s love affair was relatable for younger fans who were experiencing their first love as well as older fans who felt nostalgic over the storyline. After discovering Peter’s double life as Spider-Man early on, MJ became Parker’s right hand. She was constantly there: patching up his wounds, providing advice and comfort, and reminding him of his kind nature. (( Ginocchio, Mark. 2013. “The French Kiss and Amazing Spider-Man #143.” Chasing Amazing. April 8, 2013. )) In the comic strip from Amazing Spider-Man #143 (1963), Peter was at the airport on his way to Paris for a mission. As his flight was called, a worried MJ told him to take care of himself and called him by her widely known nickname, “Tiger.” When Peter asked about the nickname, MJ replied,
“Oh, Petey… I call you Tiger ’cause you’re not!”
Peter then pulled MJ in for their first on-page smooch. This scene depicted MJ and Peter’s young and playful nature, as Peter was not offended by MJ’s comment. Instead, Parker left MJ after their special moment and headed to Paris. MJ was thrown off by Peter’s confidence, which revealed the flirtatious power play between the two.
Swoon!
In order to fully appreciate these first kiss moments, it’s crucial to understand the development of each of these couples. These romances did not become the most significant loves in comic record for no reason. Like every relationship, these couples had their good times and bad times.
It’s the fact that each duo was able to persevere through their rough patches and overcome such tremendous obstacles: that is why fans idolize these true comic loves. Let’s face it, everyone’s a sucker for romance when it comes down to it. Who wouldn’t love someone swinging from building to building to save your life and then proceed to kiss you upside-down?