The 45th day of the year is once again upon us and with it brings promises of love, chocolate hearts and passionate kisses. Saint Valentine and stories of his martyrdom have persevered since the days of the Roman Empire. It wasn’t until the 1300’s, courtesy of author and poet Geoffrey Chaucer and friends, that the idea of Valentine became associated with love. Ever since, tales have been told of love both unrequited and deeply reciprocated. The idea of love has transcended all forms of artistic media from song, prose to poetry and dance, from movies to theater to comic books. Yes, comic books.
So today, with Valentine’s Day here, I bring to you another ComicBooked list, a list of love and marriage, expressed through comic book art. I am going to show you 28. Why 28? 2/14 is the date we’re discussing and 2 x 14 = 28. Plus, I couldn’t find 30 and I had too many for a cool 25.
- First let’s look at Spider-man’s alter ego Peter Parker and his marriage to Mary Jane Watson. The wedding between these two iconic characters is something that still reverberates through the Marvel Universe today, namely the “Renew Your Vows” title currently ongoing. Annual # 21 was released in June of 1987. The story arc “One More Day” directly relates to the wedding of Parker and Watson.
- In March of 1994, the world was treated to the wedding of Cyclops and Jean Grey. The wedding image graced the cover of X-Men vol. 2 # 30 and featured a wrap-around cover depicting many of the X-Men roster, even ones such as Captain Britain who were not supposed to be there due to stories happening in their own titles.
3. Superman and Lois Lane have, for as long as their has been a Superman story, been in love. Decades of flirting and courtship and dating teased fans with the inevitable but it was until 1996 when we finally got to see Kent and Lane tie the knot. DC Comics released a one-shot at the end of 1996 called “The Wedding Issue” that featured their marriage. This time was chosen to coincide with an episode of Lois and Clark that also depicted their marriage.
4. Another pair of X-Men whose dating period resulted in a marriage proposal is Storm (Ororo Monroe and Forge. Sadly, a broken hearted Forge rescinded his proposal, though Scott Lobdell and the team continued to touch on their relationship, even in to 2014’s Storm solo title. Sadly, despite their love, they weren’t able to forge a lasting relationship. Ah! see what I did there?
5. Another famous power couple is Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. In Brian Michael Bendis’ New Avengers Annual # 1, the two finally married, with a minister looking an awful like Stan “The Man” Lee. 
6. Felicia Hardy, otherwise called the Black Cat, has crossed Spider-man’s path on numerous occasions. Ever the tease, the two have long had an on-again, off-again “thing”, with Black Cat some times trying to tempt Parker away from Mary Jane. 
7. In fact, a marriage between Spider-man and Black Cat was explored in the pages of “What If”. What if Spider-man had married the Black Cat was the name of the two part story. The cover art homages the Spider-man/Mary Jane cover that I listed for number one. 
8. Another cat that has long tempted a protagonist is that of Selina Kyle – Catwoman – and her storied attempts at seducing Batman. Their moral and ideological differences have proven, time and again, that they can never be together. In the opening issue of the now classic Hush story, Batman and Catwoman kiss. The kiss was recreated as a collectible statue. 
9. The Sensational Wedding of Reed Richards and Sue Storm took place in the pages of 1965’s Fantastic Four King Size Annual # 3 
10. Green Arrow and the Black Canary got their own one-shot wedding special in 2007. It was Amanda Conner who drew the artwork for this special issue.
11. In X-Factor #45 the long-brewing relationship between Shatterstar and Rictor is realized by writer Peter David. Speculation and debate had been shared for years prior to the issue’s release. 
12. Gambit and Rogue, another pair of X-Men, have long been attracted to each other. Their passion was clearly seen on the cover of X-Men # 24.
13. Star Wars fans might like this one. When Dark Horse Comics was published Star Wars titles, they put out a mini series in 1999 called Star Wars: Union that told the story of Luke Skywalker and Mara’s wedding.
14. Wonder Woman once married a monster though, in reading the bubbles on the cover, doesn’t seem like she realizes it. The Mike Esposito cover for Wonder Woman # 155 hit newsstands in 1965. She was later seen (decades later) making out with Superman. 
15. Here is Superman and Wonder Woman, wrapped up in passion and a lasso. I don’t think Lois Lane would approve.
16. It was during the Silver Age of comic books that the Wet Wedding happened under the sea. Aquaman married Mera in Aquaman #18. If you look at the cover, Robin Batman Green Arrow and some other heros who can’t breathe underwater attended the Atlantean nuptials. Their dive helps look rather :ahem: primitive.
17. Even the regenerating degenerate himself tied the knot. Deadpool’s wedding issue is issue 27 and featured a massive lineup of Marvel Comics heroes and anti-heroes, including his bride Shiklah. Apparently, this is the most important 27th issue of all time. It was important enough, it seems, for The Watcher to show up.
18. Spider-man arrived at the church just before Doctor Octopus was to wed Aunt May. This is Amazing Spider-man # 131. Also, Aunt May faints a lot in this issue.
19. The Avengers # 60, from 1969, revolved around the wedding of Wasp and Yellowjacket. Hawkeye gets pissed off that she married someone who killed her previous love interest. Also, Captain America is surprised by this pairing. Then the circus attacks.
20. I bet you didn’t expect this one to be one this list (or any list for that matter). I give you the wedding of The Sensational She-Hulk and Mole Man. I know, but read the issue to find out what happens with “Mole & Wife”.
21. There have been a few gay kisses depicted in Marvel Comics but this is the first wedding. It is told in the pages of Astonishing X-Men # 51 and is written by Marjorie Liu. Here we are given the story of Northstar and Kyle’s wedding.
22. Sue Storm and Reed Richards have long been in love and, in fact, married in the issue listed above. Shockingly, though, there was an issue where Sue and Victor (Dr Doom) were to marry. The story is entitled “Say — What?” Very appropriate.
23. How about Bruce Banner and Betty Ross? They got married too. Here is Incredible Hulk # 319. Bruce looks surprised, doesn’t he? Wonder what it is…
24. Iris West almost married the wrong man but The Flash put a stop to that. She thought it was Barry but turned out to be Zoom. Good thing Flash got there in time.
25. Wolverine and Mariko had plans to tie their knot in Uncanny X-men # 172. In this story, the X-Men head to Japan for the marriage. Of course, it wouldn’t be an X-Men story without something going awry.
26. 1975’s Giant-Size Avengers # 4 features the marriage of Scarlet Witch to Vision. This is the time that the witch married the android, something you don’t see every day. Throw in some Space Phantom, Dormammu and Limbo and you have all the trappings for a VERY unique wedding.
27. What about the time when Quicksilver was to marry Crystal? Ultron got in the way. The two-part story began in Avengers issue # 127 and concluded in Fantastic Four # 150, seen here.
28. At the opening of this article, I hope you caught my reference and even thought to yourself “Heh! he said Love And Marriage – that sounds like Married With Children!” Well, I did that on purpose. No Marriage list can be complete without the inclusion of Married With Children. For this last entry, enjoy this Star Wars homage of (now defunct) Now Comics’ Married With Children comic book.
Well, that’s all folks! Another list here at ComicBooked. Go out and enjoy Valentine’s Day with your loved ones. Kiss, eat chocolate but avoid super villains and dark dimensions like these folks had to.
