Bad Romance? Comic Book Love on the Big Screen

Watching all the movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe, I’ve noticed one disturbing thing: the love affairs in the movies all seem to be platonic. The one exception is the relationship between Wade Wilson and Vanessa Geraldine Carlysle in Deadpool… then again, Deadpool was an R-rated movie, loosely connected to the X-Men universe. (By the way, Vanessa herself is a shape-shifting mutant in the comics, going by the stage name “Copycat”). Tony Stark does live with Pepper, Thor does introduce his earthling love interest Jane Foster to his parents. Not to mention Peter Parker’s ongoing crush on the redhead beauty MJ… Only two movies dared to venture a bit deeper into how the carnal love of superheroes looks like – “Hancock” and “My Super Ex Girlfriend”, both comedies. Which is a pity, since it could really add a further dimension – and a lot of “humanity” to these characters on the big screen.

There is some hope for DC fans to dive deeper into the carnal aspect of their favorite villains, though. As a gift for Joker and Harley Quinn fans in Jared Leto and Margot Robbie’s depiction, can expect to see a movie dedicated just to them. Actually, there are two Joker flicks under development: Martin Scorsese will produce a yet untitled Joker origin story with Leonardo DiCaprio rumored to take on the title role, and “Harley Quinn Vs. The Joker”, a spinoff of the spinoff “Suicide Squad” focused on the two.

Another – very platonic – comic book love affair goes down between Logan aka Wolverine and Jean Grey, married to fellow X-man Cyclops (Scott Summers). The two are constantly circling around each other in the comics and the subsequent animated series – Wolverine clearly has feelings for the pretty and powerful mutant in the movies, too. But Logan didn’t appear in X-Men: Apocalypse, aside from a brief scene in the film, brutal and enraged, barely human. His mind is touched by Jean, who restores a bit of his memory, and he wanders off in the sunset. Jean says “Hope that’s the last we see of that guy”.

This year’s Logan was Hugh Jackman’s last time as the adamantium-boned mutant, and it was the last time we saw Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor X as well. For the latter part, we already have James McAvoy – who will, if anyone, take on the role of the almost immortal Wolverine? Could this mean the end of one of the most beautiful platonic romances in the comic books world?

Last but not least, let us take a look at the funny wildling of the MCU: Guardians of the Galaxy. Starlord said it well: there was something “unspoken” going on between him and Gamora, that she felt reluctant to admit. Could the third chapter of the series – rumored to be released in 2020 – finally see the two admit the “unspoken” thing between them? And maybe go on a double date with Drax and Mantis? That would be fun, don’t you think?

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