Superhero Girlfriends...Couldn't they do better?

[Andrew Tom]

I'm tired of bitching about Tom Brevoort, low comic sales, the never-ending event, creators who get arrested, etc.  Let's talk about something completely geek-related, which I've always wondered about
 

So...I've been re-listening to Tom vs. the Flash (one episode per workday, and changing my desktop wallpaper to match).  It's pretty clear that Iris was sort of a nagging bitch that always put Barry down in the early days of The Flash.

This got me thinking...

When Peter was dating Mary Jane and she'd always flirt with all of these preppy jerk-offs in the clubs, why didn't Peter just broom her?

Why did Barry put up with Iris' bitching and nagging?

Bruce Banner's in-laws were obviously a huge pain in the ass...Why didn't he walk away from that?

Heck, Daredevil is my favorite Marvel character and Karen Page is my least favorite of his many girlfriends.  Why is he still pining for her?

Apparently Batman is the only hero that has enough sense to terminate a bad relationship.  So I ask...  What's the reason that our heroes maintain all of these clearly flawed relationships?

 

--Andy

[Derek G]

Maybe they just have to settle for what they can get.

I say that because I've always imagined it would be terrible to date a superhero. For one thing they must reek! Imagine Matt Murdock on his way to a date ... The Owl starts some shit ... Matt strips down to his suit and starts flipping around the roof tops of Hell's Kitchen for a few hours ... After drop kicking The Owl he then he has to slap on his civilian wear and meet up with his date. EEEEEEEEEEWWW! He must constantly smell like a gym towel. I've actually thought about that with Batman. He must find a way to combat his BO because what good is mastering the silent approach if a criminal barfs in your breeze?

[Christopher Stark]

Obviously a good donkey punch off panel is the answer

 

[scoundrel3000]

I've always agreed with Frank Miller.  Superheroes should date Superheroines.  I've never liked anyone's "civillian" girlfriend.  I mean who are the hottest babes of every universe?  The superheroines! 

You had the perfect example with Daredevil.     

 Elektra=Assassin Hot
 Black Widow=Superspy with a sexy accent Hot
 Typhoid Mary= Crazy in the head Hot (They do the freakiest stuff, but you pay for it later)
Karen=Couldn't hack it as a secretary turned pornstar  junkie Hot ?  No, I don't think so.

Matt always like unavailable women. 

[mguy1977]

I like Kingdom Come for the fact that Superman gets it on w/ Wonder Woman.  I agree Superheroes & superheroines make a better match but I guess in their "off time" they  dont want someone to "talk shop" all the time so I can see it both ways. 

Matthew 

[AztecLos]

I like Kingdom Come for the fact that Superman gets it on w/ Wonder Woman.  I agree Superheroes & superheroines make a better match but I guess in their "off time" they  dont want someone to "talk shop" all the time so I can see it both ways. 

Matthew 

Yeah I remember an issue or one shot of The Authority that had The Engineer just seeing all superhero people hook up but she wanted a normal man. So she goes and meets some regular Mexican guy who was all pudgy and such. Then I think when her powers activated he freaked out and left her. She was all heart broken. I think that dating within the community would be the best thing to do.

[evaD]

Simple answer? Because that's how the writers want it. More drama. Makes the character more human. It's not like real people don't make the same types of bad relationship decisions.

[lugaru]

Gawd, for some reason I thought this was a thread about "why cant comic writers write believable love interests (or women in general)?" not that most comic fans would notice.

Superheroes get what they deserve, I mean the whole drama of the superhero is that either she does not know and he is lying or she does know and he is unavailable half the time and worrying her sick. Would you (and you is probably a dude) put up with that arangement? The super secretive girlfriend or the one that is never there and always in danger? I dated a girl who looked after mentally challenged teenagers who could get violent, which is both heroic and dangerous. I felt proud of her, and my heart sank every time she got hit or scratched or had her hair pulled.

Side question: how often do you see a female hero dating a regular joe? It is part of what I liked about recent She-Hulk comics, although that book was too fanservice heavy for my tastes (in terms of goofy comics references).

[jack239]

Apparently Batman is the only hero that has enough sense to terminate a bad relationship.  So I ask...  What's the reason that our heroes maintain all of these clearly flawed relationships?

at least one child out of wedlock (a psycho) and at least two bad on and off relationships. bat man is the worse one of the all. these women try to kill him or etc..

Superman married lois to stop her shenanigans  but he always running around having affairs with alien hotties and etc...

[Doug!]

I've always agreed with Frank Miller.  Superheroes should date Superheroines.  I've never liked anyone's "civillian" girlfriend.  I mean who are the hottest babes of every universe?  The superheroines! 

You had the perfect example with Daredevil.     

 Elektra=Assassin Hot
 Black Widow=Superspy with a sexy accent Hot
 Typhoid Mary= Crazy in the head Hot (They do the freakiest stuff, but you pay for it later)
Karen=Couldn't hack it as a secretary turned pornstar  junkie Hot ?  No, I don't think so.

Matt always like unavailable women. 

Ask Kyle Rayner how that worked out for him.  Donna Troy dumped him and Jade was killed in a space storm (and gave Kyle her powers which had to be awkward).

At least they didn't end up in refrigerators. 

[jack239]

that's different dating kyle Rayner has a 125% mortality rate.

[Doug!]

that's different dating kyle Rayner has a 125% mortality rate.

To be fair, it's his super-power.

[Jay Tomio]

Dick Gray, son.

Guy is a nice guy pimp. Wheelchairs, being pseudo-raped, aliens, the guy is kinky.

[Night (Travis) Nurse]

Dick Gray, son.

Guy is a nice guy pimp. Wheelchairs, being pseudo-raped, aliens, the guy is kinky.

Thats just awesome Jay!!

It's something about the writing that says Super Hero relationships have to be filled with strife. I think it's an easy subject to write, easier than writing a healthy, honest relationship. I've always wanted to read about a couple that held it down in moments of difficulty. A couple who was honest with each other and had each others back. I think that's why I like Luke and Jessica so much, there the closest thing to that in comics.

Travis

[Rebecca]

Superheroes get what they deserve, I mean the whole drama of the superhero is that either she does not know and he is lying or she does know and he is unavailable half the time and worrying her sick. Would you (and you is probably a dude) put up with that arangement? The super secretive girlfriend or the one that is never there and always in danger? I dated a girl who looked after mentally challenged teenagers who could get violent, which is both heroic and dangerous. I felt proud of her, and my heart sank every time she got hit or scratched or had her hair pulled.

Exactly. Any decent girlfriend they might have would dump them for lying, never being around and constantly showing up with unexplained injuries. And if she knows about it (& come on, she'd figure it out) it'd surely come down to - "you're going to get yourself killed. It's me or the cape".

And yeah, the writers like writing shitty relationships. Maybe they think their readers are too jaded to believe in one that's stable and healthy.

[john_k]

Dick Gray, son.

Guy is a nice guy pimp. Wheelchairs, being pseudo-raped, aliens, the guy is kinky.

totally. in the next Marvel / DC crossover he's busted picking up a MODOK hooker (a MODOF?)

spoiler!

[evaD]

Thats just awesome Jay!!

It's something about the writing that says Super Hero relationships have to be filled with strife. I think it's an easy subject to write, easier than writing a healthy, honest relationship. I've always wanted to read about a couple that held it down in moments of difficulty. A couple who was honest with each other and had each others back. I think that's why I like Luke and Jessica so much, there the closest thing to that in comics.

Travis

I think Superman and Lois kinda qualify, depending which part of their history you're lookin' at.

[scoundrel3000]

Exactly. Any decent girlfriend they might have would dump them for lying, never being around and constantly showing up with unexplained injuries. And if she knows about it (& come on, she'd figure it out) it'd surely come down to - "you're going to get yourself killed. It's me or the cape".
And yeah, the writers like writing shitty relationships. Maybe they think their readers are too jaded to believe in one that's stable and healthy.

I think a lot of girls, not all of them, would like the mystery, drama, and danger. 

[Derek G]

MODOF

 

[Doug!]

I think Superman and Lois kinda qualify, depending which part of their history you're lookin' at.

There's also Buddy and Ellen Baker.