Both Marvel and DC Comics fans love a good romance. Romance is one of the more relatable elements to introduce into a storyline. In most cases, people often search for love in their own lives or are currently experiencing love, so readers connect with it strongly in the stories they follow. As a result, many Marvel and DC Comics storylines center around superhero couples.

On the page, it's hard not to resonate when the lavish pages of Marvel and DC Comics know how to dazzle readers. That being said, some relationships have some questionable optics, no matter how many readers love them. Readers love a good drama in their stories, but that same drama looks unappealing in real relationships. If audiences saw real-life couples partake in some of the worst habits shared by on- couples, they'd call for them to breakup. These are some of the fans' most lovable, but problematic romances.

10 Spider-Man and Mary-Jane Watson Are Too Far Gone to Return

Fans Want Them Back Together, But Marvel Has Made It Impossible

Mary-Jane Watson and Peter Parker once made up the average reader's favorite couple out of any comic book. They weren't always perfect, and moments like Peter accidentally hitting her in Spectacular Spider-Man #226 reflect their tumultuous times. However, what made them so likable is that fans got to see every pitfall and every triumph of their journey together in their marriage across decades. Then, "One More Day" had Mephisto take that marriage away, turning their dynamic on its head.

They remain friends and date other people, yet there's still always a tease of a will-they-won't-they situation, even to each other. It's as if Peter and MJ are dangling a carrot in front of each other as much as Marvel does its readers teasing their reunion. Just as it's not fair to Peter or MJ, it's not fair to readers to hold out hope for something that died long ago.

9 Harley Quinn and The Joker Was Toxic From the Start

It Remains a Cosplay Fan-Favorite

Sometimes, a couple is intentionally supposed to be toxic, but some fans miss the point of that. Harley Quinn and The Joker is a prime example. From the moment she debuted in Batman: The Animated Series and slowly transitioned into DC's comic book lore, Harley was portrayed as carrying a fiery, ionate love for Mista J. Yet, it was always clear to everyone else that he was just using her as a pawn in her schemes, something that she'd eventually become savvy to before leaving him to become a superhero.

While DC acknowledges how harmful and abusive Joker was to Harley, some fans don't. Harley and Joker still remain a fan-favorite option for couples costumes and cosplays. A cosplay doesn't necessarily mark an endorsement for the relationship, but it's certainly problematic.

8 Thanos and Death Reflects the Mad Titan's Obsession

Marvel's Most One-Sided Affair

Thanos and Death are the very definition of a one-sided relationship. More than that, both parties merely use each other for personal gain. For Death, she's found herself resurrecting Thanos in hopes of using him to do her bidding. Meanwhile, Thanos seems to carry an undying love for Death, but an argument can be made that he uses her as a source of inspiration to boost his ego. When she doesn't look in his direction or speak to him, that only fuels him to commit even more heinous actions just to prove he can get her to acknowledge him.

Given their history, audiences are hoping for Thanos to return now that Death has officially made her MCU debut. However, even if that were possible, a romance between Thanos and Death isn't something worth cheering for or campaigning for in any medium.

7 Batman and Talia al Ghul are Nothing Like the Animated Series

Fans Would Be Shocked to See Their Comics History

Much of the love for Batman and Talia al Ghul as a couple largely stems from their appearances in Batman: The Animated Series, where Talia, despite sharing her father's mission, opposes the evil methods of Ra's. Her personal sense of duty, justice, and family matches Batman, making them starcrossed lovers. In the comics, though, Talia is just as ruthless as Ra's is, if not more so. Her depiction especially takes more of an evil turn in storylines of the past decade or so.

She finds herself emotionally and physically abusive to not only Bruce Wayne, but their son, Damian. More infamously, it's been depicted that Talia drugged Batman in order to conceive Damian (which has since been retconned into Damian being a processed clone from Bruce's DNA). There are too many problematic layers of their relationship to keep them together.

6 Colossus and Kitty Pryde Has a Questionable Age Gap

X-Men Fans Have a Hard Time Justifying This One

There was a time when Colossus and Kitty Pryde were the X-Men's premiere couple. Everyone loved them together and some still want to see their union flourish. Many fans are still devastated that their nuptials ended with Shadowcat getting cold feet at their wedding. As a result, the two are not together and, honestly, that might be for the best. While the nature of their coupling itself and how they treat each other isn't the worst, they have a startling age gap that forces many fans to view the pairing with a more skewered eye.

When Kitty first developed a crush on Piotr Rasputin, she was 14 while Piotr was about 19. By the time they actually get together, she's still in her early teens with Colossus being a full-grown adult. It's also worth noting that Colossus once cheated on Kitty, and they still got back together.

5 Superman and Wonder Woman Isn't as Cute as Fans May Think

Injustice Warped an Absolute Dream Pairing

While this doesn't take place in DC's main continuity, it does reflect a romance that fans have dreamed about for years. Some readers would hear that Wonder Woman and Superman are together and call it a dream come true. In the world of Injustice, that dream is a nightmare. When readers talk about the alternate reality first seen in the Gods Among Us video games, it's easy to point to Supes losing his wife and city as a reason for turning evil. The comics, though, showcase that Wonder Woman was the true catalyst of it all.

From behind the scenes, Wonder Woman would manipulate sweet nothing's into his ear like a devil on his shoulder, ultimately creating a monster dictator. It may not make sense for her to be written like this, but it's nonetheless how DC depicts her.

4 Mockingbird and Hawkeye are Messy in More Ways than One

One Questionable Writing Decision Changed Them Forever

Throughout their time as a couple and with the West Coast Avengers, Clint Barton and Bobbi Morse always seemed to be on the same page. Then, the Phantom Rider came into the picture, someone who brainwashes Mockingbird into forgetting her life in favor of thinking that she is in love with him. When she regains control of her body and mind, she uses her newfound freedom to kill Phantom Rider. Rather than console his wife over the trauma she experiences, he chastises her and is disturbed by her actions.

This would probably fall under some form of gaslighting, and Marvel agrees, hence why they tried to retcon this the best they could. Now, their history includes a Skrull impostor. As confusing as the retconning makes their history, Honestly, Clint's real reaction to Skrull Bobbi's actions still isn't a healthy one.

3 Green Lantern and Star Sapphire Always Seem to Have Problems

From Enemies to Lovers and Back Again Every Time

Since Hal Jordan first put on the Green Lantern ring in Showcase #22, he and Carol Fenris have been romantically linked together. However, in that time, both their relationship and Carol herself had morphed dramatically in every way imaginable. When she gained powers of her own, Star Sapphire became a Lantern-killing supervillain, though, like with Hal's affliction to Parallax, Carol's villain era was retconned with having a parasite called Predator to blame.

Still, even as a hero, their dynamic has been questionable. They continue to circle around each other despite Carol having slept with fellow Green Lantern, Kyle Rayner. Worse, their will-they-won't-they relationship flips constantly between Carol and Hal either being madly in love or at each other's throats.

2 Some Fans Still Want Ant-Man and The Wasp Back Together

Hank Pym Hitting Janet van Dyne Remains a Big Elephant in the Room Keeping Them Apart

The domestic abuse between The Wasp and Ant-Man feels like an elephant in the room that's hard not to address either for readers or characters in the Marvel Universe. One misunderstanding between the creative team changed the course of Marvel history forever, as Hank Pym was once depicted as outright striking Janet van Dyne in the face. Superheroes in the past have made uncharacteristic decisions in the past, like when Peter Parker struck Mary-Jane Watson during the "Clone Saga" event, but this is different. This one singular moment went on to define both Hank as a character and his marriage.

It didn't help that the 2000s Ultimate Universe's depiction of Ant-Man painted him as a repeat ab to Janet. There are fans of both Hank and his pre-abuse romance with Janet, but because it's hard to talk about either without talking about him hitting her, Marvel keeps the two separate.

1 Batman and Catwoman May Not Be Perfect for Each Other After All

Selina Kyle Leaving Bruce Wayne at the Altar Completely Re-Shaped the Optics of their Relationship

Batman and Catwoman have always had their ups and downs, but they always seem to persevere, even despite their contrast as a femme fatale thief and a crime-fighting detective. Tom King's Batman run seemed to finally allow their romance to grow maturely, even building toward a marriage. However, Catwoman ultimately leaves Batman at the altar, initially because she deemed Batman better alone than with a happy ending, but this proved to be a ruse orchestrated by Bane and Thomas Wayne.

Yet, they have yet to rekindle their romance properly and modern stories steer their dynamic into more toxic territory. The two continue pining for each other despite dating other people and DC still treats them as endgame. If this was a real relationship, it'd be called what it is: toxic. After years of progression, Batman and Catwoman are going backwards, worse than any other Marvel or DC Comics couple.