10 Controversial Comics Couples That Fans Hated, Ranked

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As a longtime comic fan, I’ve seen a lot of relationships come and go in the Marvel and DC worlds – Superman and Lois, Rogue and Gambit, even Green Arrow and Black Canary, despite all their ups and downs. It’s tough because everyone has their favorite pairings, and getting fans to agree is nearly impossible! But there are some couples that are just… universally disliked. I’m not talking about relationships that simply fizzled out, but ones that were problematic from the very beginning.

Comic book relationships often get shaken up with surprising twists. For example, Marvel once suggested Spider-Man’s father had a relationship with Aunt May, and DC’s Donna Troy had a short-lived, confusing marriage. While some of these changes are more shocking than others, certain pairings, like Superman and Wonder Woman, have always felt a bit off to many fans. Ultimately, some comic book couples are simply known for being controversial. Here are 10 examples from Marvel and DC that have caused a stir.

10. Stargirl and Shazam

The Justice Society of America was largely made up of veteran heroes, so it was natural that the newer heroes would gravitate towards each other. This happened with Stargirl and Captain Marvel. While most people wouldn’t have questioned their connection, Billy Batson (Captain Marvel) was much older than Courtney Whitmore (Stargirl), and his romantic interest in her appeared inappropriate to those unaware of his true age. Rather than reveal his secret, Billy ended the relationship, which was unfortunate because they genuinely connected.

9. Aunt May and Richard Parker

The early 2000s Marvel miniseries Trouble featured young versions of Spider-Man’s family – his parents, Richard and Mary, and Aunt May and Uncle Ben. The story revealed a summer affair between Richard and May, resulting in May becoming pregnant with Peter. She then gave Peter up to be raised by Richard and Mary, a plot point that was widely disliked by fans. Fortunately, this storyline isn’t considered official canon in the main Marvel universe (Earth-616), so it remains a separate, alternate reality for that particular Spider-Man family drama.

8. Star Sapphire and Green Lantern

If you know the Green Lantern comics, you might wonder what’s unusual about Carol Ferris and a Green Lantern being together, since Hal Jordan and Star Sapphire (Carol) are often a couple. However, this story focuses on Kyle Rayner, not Hal. After a breakup in the New 52 series, Carol ended up with Kyle, which felt strange because they didn’t have a strong connection. That relationship ended around the time of the ‘Rebirth’ storyline, and it’s rarely mentioned now. This is probably good news for fans who prefer to see Carol with Hal.

7. Mary Jane and Paul Rabin

I hadn’t been keeping up with Spider-Man much, but even I could tell how much fans disliked Paul Rabin, Mary Jane’s ex-boyfriend. They’d spent years together on a ruined Earth, building a life and raising their adopted children, Owen and Stephanie. The negative reaction to Paul was incredibly strong. Most fans saw him as the main thing preventing Mary Jane and Spider-Man from reuniting. However, with the recent “Death Spiral” storyline, Paul is now gone, and this divisive period in Spider-Man’s story appears to be finished.

6. Donna Troy and Terry Long

Donna Troy’s marriage to Terry Long is still criticized by many comic book fans, and understandably so – it was a disturbing storyline. Terry was presented as a man in his late twenties who quickly pursued a relationship with Donna after his divorce. Despite a significant age gap – he was about ten years older than her – they married, but the marriage quickly failed and ended in divorce. Tragically, both Terry and their son, Robert, later died in a car accident. Most fans agree it’s a story best left in the past.

5. Magneto and Rogue

It’s pretty common in stories for heroes and villains to form unexpected connections, and X-Men fans have seen this happen with Rogue and Magneto many times. While Rogue’s true love is often considered to be Gambit, she consistently feels a strong pull towards Magneto. They’ve had relationships of varying lengths, and it always surprises viewers when they reconnect. Fans would probably like to see Rogue find lasting love, but with Magneto still around, the possibility of a renewed romance between them always exists.

4. Supergirl and Lex Luthor

It’s understandable to be confused about Lex Luthor and Supergirl’s relationship, but it’s not what it seems. This Supergirl isn’t Kara, Superman’s cousin. Instead, it’s Matrix, an alien created by Lex who can change her shape. She eventually took on the appearance of Supergirl, and the two of them started dating. It’s a bizarre storyline, and hopefully, DC Comics will continue to overlook this part of Superman’s history, as they have for the past twenty years.

3. Ultimate Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver

Marvel’s early attempts with the Ultimate Universe are well-known for several reasons, but the way they portrayed Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver remains particularly controversial. The story depicted a very close, almost obsessive, relationship between the two siblings. It was later revealed that their bond wasn’t just familial, but romantic. This shocking development was cut short when Ultron killed Wanda, who felt just as strongly about her brother. To this day, comic book fans are still surprised that this storyline was ever approved.

2. Superman and Wonder Woman

This pairing might not be the most shocking on the list, but it definitely felt off to many fans when it was first introduced in the New 52 era. DC Comics tried to establish them as a major couple, and while there was some logic to the idea, those who loved Superman and Lois Lane’s relationship just couldn’t get behind it. Luckily, the storyline was later changed, resolving the issue.

1. Ms. Marvel and Marcus Immortus

It’s hard to imagine a more upsetting story in Marvel’s history than Avengers #200. This comic is infamous for being shockingly disturbing, featuring a sudden and incredibly fast-paced pregnancy and birth for Carol Danvers, resulting in a son named Marcus. The story then takes a bizarre turn: Marcus rapidly ages and attacks Ms. Marvel, resulting in her becoming pregnant with him. Marvel faced intense criticism for this storyline and ultimately apologized, acknowledging it as arguably the most appalling pairing ever depicted in a comic book.

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2026-05-04 22:44