Save Your Tears for the 5 Most Tragic DC Love Stories

Happy endings in a comic book are never guaranteed, and you only have to look as far as DC’s love stories to see for yourself. Whether it’s with a super hero or a super-villain, love has just as many pitfalls on the page as it does in real life. The stakes might be (a little) more unrealistic but the effect is just as wrenching. Matters of the heart are dangerous.

Many of these stories take place in Gotham City while others begin in ancient kingdoms or the depths of insanity. Each one is its own study in despair and longing. And on that note, grab a tissue box and get ready for the five most tragic DC love stories. It’s gonna be a rollercoaster of tears, turmoil, and toxicity. Yay!

---

Mr. Freeze & Nora Fries

Love has the power to transform — even a super-villain. From a storytelling standpoint, giving Mr. Freeze a wife brought new depth to his character. His now-canon backstory was first introduced on Batman: The Animated Series. Before this retelling, Dr. Victor Fries was just another weirdo Gotham City villain with a special interest. But “Heart of Ice” elevated Freeze to his legendary place among the Rogues Gallery.

As the story goes, Victor sought a cure for his wife Nora, who was suspended in cryogenic sleep until his research proved successful. Yet the accident that forced him to become Mr. Freeze also disrupted her fragile state. Since then, Freeze has pursued vengeance against his former employer and even Batman for their attempts to keep him from reviving his wife. However, all of the repeated attempts on restoring Nora left her shattered and broken in more ways than one. When she was cast into a Lazarus Pit, she emerged as Lazara, a being capable of wielding flame and reanimating the dead. This wasn’t quite what Mr. Freeze wanted for his wife so he put her back into cryostasis. Perhaps it’s time these two give each other the cold shoulder.

---

Harley Quinn & The Joker

Behind all the laughs and gags, this comedic duo of criminal clowns is actually unbearably sad. It’s no secret that The Joker is an agent of chaos whose silly persona is only a front for true insanity. But when Harley Quinn rolled in, making her first appearance in Batman: The Animated Series, everybody thought maybe Joker had finally found his equal. Except these two were never equal in his eyes.

While technically Dr. Harleen Quinzel had the upper hand, as an accomplished psychiatrist treating The Joker at Arkham Asylum, he manipulated her. Slowly she transformed from Harleen to Harley. And at first it really was all fun and games. She squealed with glee at his murders and he had a doting audience. Harley was the only one who could match Joker’s freak. Over time, however, it became clear that this was an abusive relationship, both emotionally and physically. Sure, it’s cute the way Harley says puddin, but if you listen closely, there are endless layers of hurt beneath. You can’t seek comfort from your own source of pain. Fortunately, Harley Quinn left The Joker and is in a healthily evil relationship with Poison Ivy. We love a toxic upgrade.

---

Batman & Talia al Ghul

For a sharp-minded detective like Batman, it takes someone truly special to keep up with him. Catwoman is perhaps the Dark Knight’s most famous on-again off-again love interest but Selina Kyle isn’t the only woman to have stolen Bruce Wayne’s heart … not by a long shot. In fact, Talia al Ghul holds a very special place in Bruce’s heart. Not only is she the mother of his son Damian Wayne but she’s also the daughter of one of his most formidable enemies, Ra’s al Ghul. Family can be so complicated.

Poor Bruce, he’ll never beat those masochistic allegations. It’s one thing to fall in love with a frenemy but the heir to a horrific Rogues Gallery member? That’s next level tortured romance. And Talia really puts Batman through the wringer. Their relationship began as a tool to further Ra’s criminal empire through multiple failed marriages and seduction plots. Talia’s singular soft spot is her son Damian but even Robin has never stopped Talia from finding ways to wear down the Bat. Over the years, Talia has taken down LexCorp, brought Jason Todd back from the dead, and double-crossed more people than anyone could count — including her beloved, Batman. She can never be trusted and the attraction between Talia and Bruce is as deadly as the League of Assassins.

---

Black Adam & Isis

Admittedly, Black Adam already struggles to carry the weight of his immense power. In defending his home country of Kahndaq, he often takes it too far and brings devastation down upon any who oppose him. Not exactly the kind of leader you want to air your grievances with. But when Adrianna Tomaz, a Kahndaqi activist who wants her country to succeed, captures Teth-Adam’s attention, she proves to be a powerfully positive influence on him. Sounds like a good deal, right? Nothing good lasts forever.

Much like Harley Quinn, Isis made her DC debut on television. She first appeared in The Secrets of Isis (1975), a companion series to the Shazam! TV show. The following year she was brought to comic books. As Black Adam’s love interest, she is equally as powerful as the Kahndaqi defender. The tragedy of their love is that she is always taken away from him, through very violent means. As soon as he finds a way to create a family with Isis, that home is threatened somehow. Her compassion inspires Black Adam to be a better ruler but her deaths, in turn, cause his wrath to be unleashed without restraint. It’s a sad, vicious cycle.

---

Batwoman & Maggie Sawyer

In previous decades, queer characters were forced toward the margins. Their true relationships and identities were hidden in subtext, but those who knew picked up on the clues. For Kate Kane, AKA Batwoman, her reclaimed sexuality is especially revolutionary since she was originally introduced as a rumor-dispelling love interest for Batman. But Kate’s own sapphic troubles would soon provide plenty of Gotham gossip of their own.

Many know that Batwoman was romantically involved with Renee Montoya, but before Renee, there was Maggie Sawyer. She first appeared in Superman comics in 1986 amid a custody battle for her daughter. Within the panels, it was hinted that her abusive ex-husband wanted custody of their daughter because Maggie is a lesbian. Throughout Maggie’s career, she faced hurdle after hurdle due to her sexuality. Then, finally, she found peace with Batwoman and the hero even divulged all her secrets to Maggie. They became engaged but the wedding was later written off, inciting waves of backlash.

Sadly this reality persists today. In a recent issue of Nightwing, Dick Grayson questions Batwoman why things are so awkward between her and Maggie — and why they never actually married. Kate responds with, “A mixture of stubbornness, stupidity, and fear.” Even the bravest among us fall victim to a fear of love.

---

Who is your favorite DC pair to drown your sorrows with? Many other doomed lovers like John Constantine and Zatanna, and even monstrous figures like Swamp Thing and Darkseid, get in on the pains of romance. Turns out there’s somebody for everybody.

Join the conversation with other DC fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!