Romance is dead in comic books. And I’m not just talking about the lack of actual ‘romance’ comics, like they had in the mid-20th century. I mean the classic, long-standing, popular romances that used to define comics are long gone! Through reboots, retcons, death or simple break-ups, the classic couples are no more — especially the ones that were highlighted in the most recent comic book movies.

But don’t worry, all hope is not lost! Newer couples, with a few remaining classics, are proving that even superheroes can still fall in love.

The DC Comics New 52 reboot basically took a scythe to romance in comics. On the chopping block: Superman and Lois Lane, the Flash and Iris Allen, Nightwing and  Batgirl, Nightwing and Starfire, the Joker and Harley Quinn, Green Arrow and Black Canary, Apollo and Midnighter, and many more. Longtime Marvel couples are also kaput. Spider-Man and Mary Jane, Jean Grey and Cyclops, Jean Grey and Wolveirne, Hulk and Betty Ross, Thor and Jane Foster, Rogue and Gambit, Shadowcat and Colossus; the list goes on. Heck, some of the comic book movie relationships, like Iron Man and Pepper Potts, don’t even really exist in the comics. Batman’s ‘true love’, Rachel Dawes, only exists in the Chris Nolan movies.

Fortunately, romance always makes for good drama, so there are still some superheroes shacking up and knocking boots. In honor of Valentine’s Day, here  are the Top 6 Current Superhero Relationships in comics.

6. Batman and Catwoman

Kisses by moonlight are the best kisses

One of the few ‘classic’ DC Comics relationships to survive the reboot, the cat and mouse game between superhero Batman and expert thief Catwoman has nonetheless been greatly altered. Nowadays they have been reduced to just sex buddies, and only in Catwoman’s series. Batman hasn’t exactly had time to even acknowledge Catwoman in his own books. But I guess the pair get up to some frisky boot knockin’ a couple of times in the pages of Catwoman. They also no longer know each other’s secret identity, or at least Catwoman doesn’t know that Batman is Bruce Wayne. Still, the relationship has lasted decades between Batman and someone he should be apprehending, with some people considering Catwoman his one true love.

 I’ve always been a fan of this relationship, especially it’s classic form. The idea that Batman is attracted to a charismatic and beautiful thief is very relatable. He’s only human, after all. Why not live a little? And Catwoman can’t help but be attracted to the studly, badass hunk of man-meat that is Batman. They shared a delicate intimacy, with neither one built for an actual relationship or settling down. Or at least that’s how it used to be. The new version with the booty calls seems a little skeezy.

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5. Batwoman and Maggie Sawyer

Love is complicated

A very new relationship, this one has been building slowly ever since Batwoman had a starring run in the pages of Detective Comics a few years ago. Kate Kane is a rich, socialite outsider (and the vigilante Batwoman) who once dated a Gotham City Police Officer. Then she later met that officer’s boss, Detective Maggie Sawyer of the GCPD. Just because Batman solves all the crimes in Gotham City does not mean they don’t still have a police force that tries to solve them. Flirtation and mutual attraction eventually led to Kate and Maggie going on a few dates. The relationship survived the reboot completely in tact, and has only gotten more serious. Maggie is a strong woman and has been happy to stay by Kate’s side as she deals with the various pressures in her superhero life. Although Maggie has no clue that the beautiful Kate is also the mysterious Batwoman. That’s going to be an awkward conversation someday.

I’m a big fan of this relationship. Batwoman has been one of the absolute best comics coming out of the New 52 reboot, and the writers have handled this courtship with class and style. It’s a couple of adult women dating in the modern world, and dealing with the kind of stress and worry that real new couples have – if one of them is a secret superhero I can only hope this is the beginning of another classic relationship. Though I did prefer Kate Kane with her ex, Renee Montoya. At least they were both superheroes.

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4. Wiccan and  Hulkling

Ah, young love. It’s good to know that even amidst all of the craziness that comics can throw at its characters, two young men can meet and fall in love. Even when one of them is the hybrid son of a Skrull princess and Captain Mar-Vel, a Kree soldier; and the other is the reincarnated soul of an imaginary child born of a mutant and an android. That last sentence isn’t going to make a lot of sense to a lot of readers, but damn it’s a fun sentence! Wiccan and Hulkling started out as just two normal guys, until a teenage version of a time-traveling super-villain recruited them to join the Young Avengers. After that they discovered their powers and discovered their rather insane origins. Then as they went on more and more adventures, the cute glances and flirty comments eventually led to a real relationship.

The Young Avengers is a fun series, and this is a cute couple. They may be gay, but they  hardly rub it in anyone’s face, especially not the reader’s. It’s just a cute story of a cute couple told in the background of some pretty wild superheroics. Unfortunately, the Young Avengers writer kind of has a monopoly on using the characters, and he is rarely around to write the book, so they don’t get used very much.

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3. Scott Summers and Emma Frost

The couple that superheroes together stays together

Cyclops, leader of the X-Men, has been sharing his bed and his heart with former villain the White Queen for years now, firmly established as the power couple in the X-Men these days. Which, to many fans, is a bad thing, considering their relationship started as a telepathic affair between X-rookie Emma Frost and not-so-happily married Scott Summers. His wife Jean Grey even found out about the affair – but then she was killed, and Scott was free to shack up with blonde, big-chested Emma guilt-free. Since then, they have led the X-Men together through some of the most difficult times, standing by each other’s side even though everyone and their brother either has a history with Emma or wants to get into her gravity-defying white underwear. Get lost, Namor! She’s in love!

I’m going to come right out and say it: I prefer Cyclops with Emma over Cyclops with Jean Grey. The White Queen is one of my favorite X-Men characters. She’s just so wicked and haughty, with an acerbic wit and a hidden tender side.I love that this Grade-A bitch has fallen head over heels for the boy scout Cyclops, and is willing to stick by his side no matter who or what tries to come between them. Cyclops is also a fun character when he’s with Emma, simultaneously rolling his eyes and nodding his head to her weirder personality quirks. Those quirks are worth dealing with for such a total comic book hottie.

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2. Luke Cage and Jessica Jones

The happy family

Spider-Man’s marriage may have been cruelly taken away by the head editors at Marvel, but the marriage of Luke Cage (the street-smart Power Man) and Jessica Jones (former superhero turned tortured private detective) is proof that marriage doesn’t ruin a character. And not only are they married, but they have a daughter as well! And they’re still both prominent Avengers. It helps that the writer that brought the two of them together has also been the writer of the Avengers, making sure that the relationship he created stays solid. Which readers probably couldn’t have predicted when the two of them started out as an anal sex joke in the pages of Alias all those years ago. It was only after the writer brought them into the much-more family-friendly New Avengers that he had Luke pop the question, with a good old-fashioned superhero wedding!

There was nothing wrong with Spider-Man’s marriage to Mary Jane. It worked, it was cute, and both characters were better because of it. Just look at Luke and Jessica. Neither character had much to do on their own before writer Brian Michael Bendis put them together as a couple. Though, granted, Bendis created Jones and almost immediately hooked her up with longtime character Luke Cage. Still, Cage was less than nothing before Bendis turned him into an Avenger, a husband, a father and an all-around damn good character. These two are making marriage work! Plus their baby is adorable!

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1.Reed Richards and Sue Storm

The key to any good relationship is being able to stretch any part of your body

The first couple of comics is still together, and they couldn’t be stronger. DC may have broken up Superman and Lois Lane, but Marvel would have to be crazy to break up Reed and Sue Richards. They have survived Galactus, Malice, Namor (him again?), and especially Reed’s inability to put down his latest science project. Better known to the world as Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, Reed and Sue are the heart of the Fantastic Four. They have decades of history between them, but they always come back to one another. Most recently, Reed was invited to join the Council of Reeds, a collection of alternate reality Reed Richardses who have banded together to use their vast intellects to make the entire multiverse a better place. The price of membership is giving up your personal life to work for the greater good. Give up Sue? Reed told the Council to get lost – with disastrous results, of course!

Meanwhile, Sue was made a diplomat to a long-lost Atlantean kingdom hidden beneath Antarctica…or something.

And let’s not forget they have given birth to two of the most adorable children in comics: Franklin and Valeria Richards! One is an omni-powerful boy who can warp reality with but a whim. The other is a hyper-intelligent girl prone to making deals with Doctor Doom. Both are a ton of fun.

If only all children were this awesome

Who doesn’t love Reed and Sue Richards? They are a shining example that love, romance and marriage can survive in the harshest odds. Yes, they’re fictional, but wouldn’t you like to think that you and your significant other could withstand having to face down an alien invasion or two? Personally, I’ve never been a big fan of the Fantastic Four. But the times I have read their book, Reed and Sue are often the best part. Of course the Thing is bombastic, and the Human Torch is funny, but writing a witty, clever and likable Reed and Sue is a true sign of successful writing. They’re the heart of Marvel’s first family for a reason.

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Who do you think are the best couples in modern comics? Did I miss anybody? Are you a fan of Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris’ warmed over romance in the rebooted Green Lantern? Spider-Man just got dumped, so I didn’t include him. But there’s always Spidey and the Black Cat! Let me know about your favorite superhero couples in the comments!