Overview: Romantic Elements within Comics

I remember recently going to Comic Swap, the local comic book store in downtown State College, and seeing an advertisement promoting Valentine’s Day. The store was focusing on specific comic stories geared specifically toward romance. As many college comic book fans know, romance is an aspect often toned down in different series. One of the major stereotypes about superheroes such as Batman or Superman is that they are often too busy to date. However, I am here to tell you that romance actually can be a very effective aspect in comic books. Romantic situations are often incorporated into them to build character and personalities among the protagonists.

The romance between Superman and Lois Lane

One of the most common misconceptions I get from non comic book fans is the idea that Superman and Wonder Woman are either a romantic couple are should be together. While I do see the many similarities between Superman and Wonder Woman, such as their super strength, speed, and moralistic tendencies, I personally do not romantically pair them together. This is because Superman’s original, and most famous lover is Lois Lane. Lois Lane is Superman’s original girlfriend who does not know that Clark Kent is actually the world’s most powerful superhero. I personally see Lois Lane as a perfect match for Superman because she is intelligent, thinks on her feet, and is compassionate. One of her greatest aspects is her kindness for others, which is shared very much by her lover Superman. Furthermore, unlike Wonder Woman, another aspect about Lois Lane’s romantic entanglements with Superman is that she is naïve to his superhuman abilities. One of the longest running gags in the comics is that Superman never reveals that he Clark Kent in real life.

 

The Romance between Spiderman and Gwen Stacy

Similar to Superman and Lois Lane, another romantic pairing that I personally view as strong is the dynamic between Spiderman and Gwen Stacy. As with Superman, another common misconception is that Spiderman’s only girlfriend is fan favorite Mary Jane. However, long before Mary Jane was introduced in the comics was Gwen Stacy. Gwen Stacy is Spiderman’s original girlfriend who at first is also unaware that her boyfriend, Peter Parker, is a superhero in disguise. However, as the comics and film series progressed, she naturally became aware of her boyfriend’s hidden identity, which in turn demonstrates Gwen’s personality. Unlike most women that date superheroes in comics, Gwen discovers Spiderman’s identity without him telling her. Furthermore, another important aspect of Gwen is her tragic death. As Spiderman an Gwen grow closer, Spiderman’s nefarious enemy the Green Goblin murders Gwen. This leaves Spiderman mentally shattered but also gives him inner strength to fight against the Goblin’s schemes.

 

The Romance/Flirtations between Batman and Cat Woman

One of my absolute favorite romantic pairings is an unusual one between Batman and Cat Woman. As many fans of Batman know, one of his most estranged colleges (and enemies at times) is Cat Woman, widely known under her surname Selena Kyle. In this romantic pairing, the comics often depict Batman as attempting to get Cat Woman to see the errors in being a criminal. One of the most notable aspects of Cat Woman is her ability to be seductive and manipulative in romance. She is often able to trick Batman into believing that she is helping him against villains, like the Joker, when she is secretly working with them for her own benefit. This in turn causes Batman to fight against her, as Cat Woman’s schemes often interferes with the romantic feelings he occasionally holds for her. Another interesting aspect about their romantic flirtations is that both Batman and Cat Woman deal with pain throughout their series. The Joker murdered batman’s parents when he was young while Cat Woman’s parents disowned her in childhood. Pain allows Batman and Cat Woman to develop feelings of attraction between them.

 

Conclusion

Romance is often an element that is overlooked in Comics. As a longtime comic book fan, I can tell you that one of the most important aspects of romance are that it develops character. Whether a fan is reading stories about Batman, Superman, or Spiderman, their romantic partners almost represent their counterparts. Romance allows comic book characters to see both their inner strengths as well as their flaws.

 

Images Works Cited:

Edelman, Scott. “Something I Can’t Quite Figure out about Romance Cover Art ‹ Scott Edelman.” Scott Edelman Something I Cant Quite Figure out about Romance Cover Art Comments. 16 Feb. 2013. Web. 1 Mar. 2015. <http://www.scottedelman.com/2013/02/16/something-i-cant-quite-figure-out-about-romance-cover-art/>.

 

“Dark Superman Fan Fic!” Dark Superman Fan Fic! 19 Nov. 2013. Web. 1 Mar. 2015. <http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/HAL/news/?a=90260>.

 

“Deviant Art.” TRDL. 1 Oct. 2012. Web. 1 Mar. 2015. <http://trdlcomics.deviantart.com/art/TRDL-Spider-Man-and-Gwen-Stacy-Film-Version-330828982>.

 

“Batman and Cat Woman vs Black Panther and Storm.” – Battles. 1 June 2011. Web. 1 Mar. 2015. <http://www.comicvine.com/forums/battles-7/batman-and-cat-woman-vs-black-panther-and-storm-620066/>.