History

In the golden age of superheroes, marriages were relatively infrequent among the main characters. As most stories were serialized (there was little continuity between individual issues) other factors became more important in the presentation of characters. For many the underlying romantic tension was far more important than seeing a resolution to that tension. Additionally in the early years of comics, a common theme was a character being loved as a hero but ignored as their secret identity (which they still had to struggle to maintain.) This made it such that marriages were not presented often in comics. Additionally due to the serialized nature of comics it was unlikely to have a wedding issue which ended with two characters actually being married (though weddings were often used as a plot device.) Regardless the underlying desire for marriage was still a strong driving factor for many characters. For instance, the golden age Wonder Woman said that she would finally marry Steve Trevor once she had eradicated crime forever.

The 1960s and the beginning of the silver age saw a different interpretation of marriage, though still similar to the golden age. By this point superheroes were no longer dominating the format as other genres such as romance became more popular. Marriages and weddings were a common theme in romance comics, but they were shown still as in the golden age either as a plot device where a wedding wouldn't happen, or as the resolution to a self-contained story in a romance setting. With the development of the medium in the silver age to be one more geared towards adults, the presentation of relationships changed. Now notable characters such as Hawkman and Hawkwoman, the Elongated Man and Sue Dibny, and Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman were all displayed as being in long term marriages.

Since the 1980s, comic book weddings have tended to become minor company events with the marriage serving as a vehicle to join both heroes and villains together. Generally, the more popular the hero, the bigger the events. They often are standalone issues as well separate from the main series. One of the highest profile weddings in the continuity of comics as well as from a contextual standpoint was the wedding of Peter Parker to Mary Jane Watson in the Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 in 1987. While this ended almost two decades of romantic pursuit between the two characters, it also set the precedent which many wedding issues have followed since (to incorporate at least in some way the appearance of villains who aim to foil the wedding, either deliberately or unintentionally).

‘Til Death Do Us Part

Although the subject of Divorce seems to be something comic industry publishers avoid with their major characters It has occurred with a few.

The first time divorce was depicted in comics it was in the pages of the Avengers. Hank Pym, who was having another psychological breakdown, physically assaulted the Wasp. The Wasp announced her intention of divorcing Hank in #214 and confirmed that she received the divorce in the Dominican Republic in 1981’s #217. The two were divorced while Hank was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.

Famous Divorces in Comics

The Wasp announced her intention of divorcing Hank Pym in Avengers #214 . After leaving the Wasp and begging for forgiveness for brutally assaulting she continued wit the proceedings. The divorce finalized in 1981’s Avengers #217.

The Atom and his wife Jean Loring during the run of 1984’s “Sword of the Atom Special” #1 confirmed the end of their marriage.

Donna Troy married her college professor Terry Long in 1985. After a long but difficult marriage due to Donna's super heroics they split up sometime after the “Team Titans” series ended in 1994. Terry and Donna’s son would later die in a car accident in “Wonder Woman” #12.

The Inhuman Crystal and her marriage to Quicksilver was effectively over after a long and drawn out difficult marriage. Their official divorce was handled off-panel at some point in the late 1990s.

The Black Panther married his childhood sweetheart the X-Man known as Storm, in 2006.informed her in “Avengers vs. X-Men” #9 that the High Priest of the Panther Clan had annulled their marriage.

Hawkeye and Mockingbird seemed headed for divorce after he discovered she let Phantom Rider die without aiding him. They would briefly reconcile, however soon afterwards Mockingbird was killed in 1993’s “Avengers West Coast” #100.

Patsy “Hellcat” Walker was once married at a young age to her high school sweetheart Buzz Baxter, who would later become the villain Maddog. Patsy divorced her husband before assuming the mantel of Hellcat. She would later remarry the Damion Hellstrom, although she would go mad, die, and be resurrected before also divorcing Hellstrom.

Marriages in Comics

DC Comics

• Kal-El/Clark Kent (Superman) & Lois Lane
• Kal-L/Clark Kent (Superman) & Diana (Wonder Woman)
• Orin/Arthur Curry (Aquaman) & Mera
• Katar Hol (Hawkman) & Shayera Hol (Hawkwoman)
• Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) & Dinah Laurel Lance (Black Canary)
• Scott Free (Mister Miracle) & Barda (Big Barda)
• Wally West (The Flash) & Linda Park
• Tempest & Dolphin
• Donna Troy & Terry Long
• Alan Scott (Green Lantern) & Molly Maynne
• Jay Garrick (Flash) & Joan Garrick
• Elongated Man & Sue Dibny
• Barry Allen (The Flash) & Iris West
• Victor Fries (Mr. Freeze) & Nora Fries
• Wonder Woman & Mr. Monster
• Wonder Woman & Steve Trevor
• Ray Palmer (The Atom) & Jean Loring
• John Stewart (Green Lantern) & Katma Tui
• Dru-Zod (General Zod) & Ursa

Marvel Comics

• Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) & Sue Storm (Invisible Girl/Invisible Woman)
• Frank Castle (Punisher) & Maria Castle
• Peter Parker (Spider-Man) & Mary Jane-Watson
• Scott Summers (Cyclops) & Jean Grey
• Remy LeBeau (Gambit) & Anna Marie (Rogue)
• T'Challa (Black Panther) & Ororo Munroe (Storm)
• Bruce Banner (The Hulk) & Betty Ross
• Hulk & Caiera
• Luke Cage & Jessica Jones
• Vision & Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch)
• Hank Pym (Ant-Man/Giant Man) & Janet Van Dyne (Wasp)
• Rick Jones & Marlo Chandler
• Namor the Sub-Mariner & Dorma
• Namor the Sub-Mariner & Marrina
• Pietro Django Maximoff (Quicksilver) & Crystalia Amaquelin (Crystal)
• Johnny Storm (Human Torch) & Alicia Masters
• Scott Summers (Cyclops) & Madelyne Pryor
• Clint Barton (Hawkeye) & Bobbi Morse (Mockingbird)
• Brian Braddock (Captain Britain) & Meggan Puceanu
• Jean-Paul Beaubier (Northstar) & Kyle Jinadu
• Wade Wilson (Deadpool) & Orksa
• Wade Wilson (Deadpool) & Shiklah
• Dracula & Domini
• Dracula & Shiklah
• John Jameson Jr. & Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk)
• Ned Leeds & Betty Brant
• J. Jonah Jameson & Marla Madison
• J. Jonah Jameson, Sr. & May Reily Parker (Aunt May)
• Daimon Hellstrom (Hellstorm) & Patsy Walker (Hellcat)
• Jacques Duquesne (Swordsman) & Mantis
• Bill Nelson & Greer Grant (Tigra)
• Blackagar Boltagon (Black Bolt) & Medusalith Amaquelin (Medussa)
• Johnny Storm (Human Torch) & Lyja
• Carl Creel (Absorbing Man) & Mary MacPherran (Titania)
• James MacDonald Hudson (Guardian) & Heather McNeil (Vindicator)
• Brian Braddock (Captain Marvel) & Meggan Puceanu

Other Comics

• John Carter & Dejah Thoris
• Conan (The Barbarian) & Zenobia
• Kit Walker (The Phantom) & Diana Palmer
• Dick Tracy & Tess Trueheart
• James Bond (007) & Tracy Bond
• Ogami Itto (Lone Wolf) & Azami
• Han Solo & Leia Organa-Solo
• Luke Skywalker & Mara Jade
• Casey Jones & April O'Neil
• Yō Hinomura (Crying Freeman) & Emu Hino
• Jackie Estacado (The Darkness) & Jenny Romano
• Jen & Kira
• Joshua Zane (The Crow) & Maudie
• Michael Korby (The Crow) & Jan
• Asukai Shiro & Yoshiko