Love is in the Air:

My last post made me realize that I'd like to post on some of my favorite couples and relationships in comics. Guy and Ice is pretty much done, down there, and in my why-I-love-Guy post. But there are other couples that appeal a lot as well.

I'm not much for romance in general, stereotypes of my gender, and jokingly slashing characters aside, so if a couple interests me, there's got to be something that particularly amuses/interests me about it. So I guess I'll share!

Reed Richards/Sue Storm (F4): In everything but the movie, they're awesome. A great match. I actually fell in love with the Ultimate version of the couple first, as 616's Sue always seemed a bit long-sufferingly passive aggressive to my taste. Always complaining about Reed being in the lab. Whereas Ultimate-Sue would go down there and friggin' tackle him. But then I read that issue where Franklin made the living program obsessed with Reed, and he had to put himself into computer code. And her fond smile when defending herself and others, when he asks quickly "Can I carry a tune?" "Not really, dear." And then I stopped, because for all the ridiculousness about the situation...that set of dialogue right there felt *real* to me. At that moment, I felt like I could see that she loved him so much, knew all of his flaws and loved him even more for them. And him too, he's more closed off, distracted about it, but the fact that he knew immediately that she knew him better than he knew himself, that the most brilliant mind in the Marvel Universe trusted his wife to answer the questions that he could not. That feels like love to me.

After that, I reread everything I had and I could see/feel it. It's quiet, not as melodramatic as Scott Summers and Jean Grey, but all the more pure for it.

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Snow White/Bigby Wolf (Fables): Now they were fun. From their first interactions in the Rose Red Murder Case, I knew I wanted them to get together. The best male and the best female of an entire cast of breathtakingly awesome characters. From the beginning, they seemed to balance perfectly, and he's the exact opposite of her ex-husband. Attractive in a Bogart-esque way, gruff, uncivilized, unflinchingly honest and loyal. And on her part, she's as strong and forceful as he is and will never be afraid of them. When he told her how she was the only person he could never ignore, I melted. Every bit of dialogue between them sparked like electricity. Please, Mr. Willingham, let them come back to each other soon!
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Ted Grant/Hippolyta (WW): Best couple I never would have *ever* thought of. Seriously. Hippolyta and Wildcat. That's really all I need to say. Wildcat was totally whipped. And loved every minute. Sucks that she's dead.
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Helena Sandsmark/Jason Blood (WW): Just the idea is mindbogglingly awesome, but it actually happened. It didn't work out of course, and that doesn't bother me, because it really doesn't make sense long term. But still. It's awesome. Helena went to Hell, essentially, to save his life. Helena's underrated and Blood's always awesome.
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Jay and Joan Garrick (Flash/JSA): Of all the old timer relationships, this one really feels like forever. Yeah, he looks a lot younger than she does, and they can't always talk about *everything*. But whenever they're in the scene together, all that love, all that *history* just pours off the page. It's the sort of timeless love that deep down, everyone hopes to find someday, I think. The kind where you're 80, sitting in rockers side-by-side, bitching about the neighbor kids tossing baseballs in your lawn and fighting over the remote control...or maybe that's just me.
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Apollo/Midnighter (The Authority): I'm not a huge fan of the Authority and Wildstorm (though I've always liked WildCATS...Spartan's nifty), it always seems like they're trying too hard to be edgy and risk-taking and shocking. But I did like these guys. The relationship is wonderfully low key, never emasculating either man in the process. The "revelation" of their relationship was very well done (though I'm not sure why it was necessary, considering that their first ever appearance in Stormwatch had them sheltering in a warehouse, both unclothed...though I guess, fanboy denial can be an amazing thing: "They're not gay! They're just hiding out...naked...")
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And some runner ups:

Ted Kord/Barbara Gordon (Birds of Prey): Even without ever crossing over into actual romance, they were perfect in my opinion. From their first meeting, and figuring out of each other's identities (I loved that he was only a little slower to figure it out than she was, with a lot less to go on), to the date on the Bug where they simultaneously ask to be just friends, to the heart condition, and everything else...

Clearly Barbara has a type: acrobatic, attractive, with horrid fashion sense. I think Ted would have suited her more (less needy, when she needs space she could just send him to invent something bizarre or go play with Booster or something. And they've common interests). Regardless, I loved the parallels of Dick being jealous of Ted in BoP, and Ted being jealous of Dick in Countdown. (Especially since I think both guys would be incredibly shocked by it). Damn I miss Ted. *sighs wistfully*
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Dinah Lance/Pieter Cross (JSA): Their relationship started out so interestingly. He's quietly very attractive and attentive and not half the jerk Ollie is. Ollie's return made it impossible, (damnit. I like Ollie, but damnit). Missed opportunities...
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Grace Choi/Anissa (I can't recall her last name just now) from Outsiders. Yeah they're not a couple. But they seem to have a bit of flirting going on to *me*. And it'd be hot. :-) (I'm an equal opportunity perv. :-))