History Main / SuperheroesStaySingle

* The ComicBook/IncredibleHulk ran on this for decades. Even after he was married in the early 1980s, most of the time he was estranged/separated from his wife (and then she died). But now he's got a whole family of Hulks.
* Averted in ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': barring the occasional character [[ComicBookDeath death]], Reed and Sue have been more-or-less HappilyMarried for quite a long time.

* Terry Bogard in the OVA and movie adaptations of the ''VideoGame/FatalFury'' series get this UpToEleven as they all end in the overly dramatic death of his love interest after he just gets over the deaths of the previous one. This is notable because the video games have him in a happy stable relationship with Blue Mary with no sign of his dead lovers.

** Peter and MJ are still married in the daily comic strip, and the alternate universe of ComicBook/RenewYourVows.

** Last, [[ComicBook/XMenGold after re-joining the X-Men]], she found herself, once again, working with her ex-boyfriend, [[ComicBook/{{Colossus}} Piotr Rasputin]]. At first, she found herself quite at peace with the fact they could only be friends. However, Piotr kept pushing her to give their relationship a new chance, until Kitty decided they needed to talk about this openly. Right there, Piotr confessed he also believed their relationship didn't make sense anymore unless they took it to the next level, proposing to her right there. Kitty asked for more time to think about it. However, after some more adventures, she accepted her feelings for him, and in turn asked him to marry her (he said 'yes'). All pointed out that this time Kitty would finally tie the knot as no shacking event designed to separated them occured until one day before the wedding. Nevertheless, the catastrophic event would occur in the form of ComicBook/IllyanaRasputin, best friend of Kitty and Piotr's brother, who, in a drunk rant, would tell Kitty about her doubts of her and Piotr being able to hold a happy marriage. These doubts then pushed Kitty to re-think again what she was doing, eventually leading her to leave Piotr on the altar. Much later she confessed they might never marry because the history between them was too messy and love wasn't enough. Piotr left after this, breaking their engagement and relationship for good.

** Played straight with Johnny Storm and Alicia Masters, until their marriage was undone (''seven years'' later!) by having Alicia [[{{Retcon}} retconned]] to be a Skrull spy who pulled a HeelFaceTurn. This was likely due to backlash from fans who saw Alicia and Ben Grimm as the more canonical pairing (after all, after he became the Thing, she was the first person to see him - sorry - for what he truly is, not for what he looks like); the real Alicia was rescued from suspended animation shortly after.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'': This trope is not only parodied in "Chindred Spirits", but also eventually becomes a main plot point when Timmy, fed up with his [[ShowWithinAShow favorite comic book series]] now mostly consisting of mushy romance between the superhero Crimson Chin and his new love interest (a ComicBook/WonderWoman {{Expy}} with blonde PrehensileHair named Goldie Locks) instead of the action he came for, deliberately [[YankTheDogsChain ruins Crimson Chin's happiest moment of his life]] by wishing for Goldie Locks to suddenly undergo a FaceHeelTurn just to give Crimson Chin another villain to fight. Prior to this, Crimson Chin spent many consecutive issues doing nothing but wallow in depression brought by his crippling loneliness while drowning his sorrows in [[HeartbreakAndIceCream ice cream]], which Timmy tried to alleviate by wishing Goldie Locks into the comic series for the same reason listed above.

* Superman's cousin ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' has never had a stable, long-lasting relationship. Her love interests usually are: cheaters; assholes; creeps; stalkers; manipulative bastards who are using her; or actual nice guys who break up with her and are put on a bus shortly after meeting her.

* Averted in ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': barring the occasional character [[ComicBookDeath death]], Reed & Sue have been more-or-less happily married for quite a long time.

* Comicbook/{{Cyclops}}:

* Comicbook/KittyPryde:

* Creator/GrantMorrison {{deconstructed}} this in Comicbook/AnimalMan, killing the titular character's family for drama only to bring them back at the end of the story.
* ''[[Comicbook/WonderGirl Donna Troy]]'''s husband and child were murdered in a car wreck, arguably for this trope to be justified.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** He was first married to Madelyne Pryor, and their marriage went down the toilet as soon as Jea nGrey came back from the dead (the first time) and later Madelyne revealed to be evil all along.

As such, superheroes afflicted with this trope are never, under ''any'' circumstances, allowed to settle down with anyone. ([[AlternateReedRichardsIsAwesome At least, not in the main canon]].) Unlike the CelibateHero, they may actually date, but expect them to say "ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies," and other excuses of varying plausibility. If they actually do show signs of planning to settle down with someone, expect the CartwrightCurse to rear its ugly head, resulting in the love interest getting killed off, PutOnABus or otherwise removed from the hero's life before story's end or somewhere further down the line. If both do survive and stay together long enough to marry or even have their own kids in the main timeline, the work may even go as far as to smash the ResetButton, CosmicRetcon it into oblivion, make it AllJustADream, or inflict some other form of DiabolusExMachina to undo everything and appease the [[StatusQuoIsGod almighty Status Quo]].

As such, superheroes afflicted with this trope are never, under ''any'' circumstances, allowed to settle down with anyone. ([[AlternateUniverse At least, not in the main canon]].) Unlike the CelibateHero, they may actually date, but expect them to say "ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies," and other excuses of varying plausibility. If they actually do show signs of planning to settle down with someone, expect the CartwrightCurse to rear its ugly head, resulting in the love interest getting killed off, PutOnABus or otherwise removed from the hero's life before story's end or somewhere further down the line. If both do survive and stay together long enough to marry or even have their own kids, it will almost always be limited to [[AlternateUniverseReedRichardsIsAwesome a non-canon alternate continuity]]; if this takes place in the main one, the work may even go as far as to smash the ResetButton, put in a CosmicRetcon, [[AllJustADream make it a dream]], or inflict some other form of DiabolusExMachina to undo everything and appease the [[StatusQuoIsGod almighty Status Quo]].

** On Earth-2, Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor married, resulting in their child [[ComicBook/InfinityInc Lyta Trevor (Fury)]].

* ComicBook/DCRebirth lampshades and deconstructs this, calling out the New 52 on the throwing out of old relationships and marriages. It begins steps towards mending this by having ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} propose to his pre-Flashpoint wife Mera, and bringing [[ComicBook/GreenArrow Oliver Queen]] and [[ComicBook/BlackCanary Dinah Lance]] back together. Also, the (married) Pre-Flashpoint Superman is now the main one. [[spoiler:Wally West is still getting the short end of the stick, though, [[ComicBook/HeroesInCrisis with]] a freaking CrisisCrossover revolving around his inability to let go of his missing-because-of-RetGone family even when the rest of the universe is telling him to man up and forget about them, and the many deaths that this ends up causing.]][[/folder]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'': This trope is not only parodied in "Chindred Spirits", but also eventually becomes a main plot point when Timmy, fed up with his [[ShowWithinAShow favorite comic book series]] now mostly consisting of mushy romance between the superhero Crimson Chin and his new love interest (a ComicBook/WonderWoman {{Expy}} with blonde PrehensileHair named Goldie Locks) instead of the action he came for, deliberately [[YankTheDogsChain ruins Crimson Chin's happiest moment of his life]] by wishing for Goldie Locks to suddenly undergo a FaceHeelTurn just to give Crimson Chin another villain to fight. Prior to this, Crimson Chin spent many consecutive issues doing nothing but wallow in depression brought by his crippling loneliness while drowning his sorrows in [[HeartbreakAndIceCream ice cream]], which Timmy tries to alleviate by wishing Goldie Locks into the comic series for the same reason listed above.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' episode "Chindred Spirits" parodies ''the living hell'' out of comic books' tendency to adhere to this trope; Timmy's favorite comic book superhero -- Crimson Chin -- is struggling with crippling loneliness, and spends entire issues crying while [[HeartbreakAndIceCream eating several bowls of ice cream]]. So [[AudienceSurrogate Timmy]], wanting the comics to get back to the usual HotBlooded crime-fighting, wishes for a potential love interest who can meet Crimson Chin's needs: a blonde, beautiful ComicBook/WonderWoman {{Expy}} with PrehensileHair named Goldie Locks, whom the Chin falls in love with. But when a future issue now involves CC and Goldie on mushy, romantic dates instead of the action Timmy was expecting, he then resorts to [[YankTheDogsChain ruining Chin's happiest moment]] by wishing for Goldie to [[FaceHeelTurn suddenly turn evil]] for no reason. [[JerkassRealization He regrets it later]].

As such, superheroes afflicted with this trope are never, under ''any'' circumstances, allowed to settle down with anyone. ([[AlternateUniverse At least, not in the main canon]].) Unlike the CelibateHero, they may actually date, but expect them to say "ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies," and other excuses of varying plausibility. If they actually do show signs of planning to settle down with someone, expect the CartwrightCurse to rear its ugly head, resulting in the love interest getting killed off, PutOnABus or otherwise removed from the hero's life before story's end or somewhere further down the line. If both do survive and stay together long enough to marry or even have their own kids, it will almost always be limited to [[AlternateUniverseReedRichardsIsAwesome an alternate continuity]]; if this takes place in the main one, the work may even go as far as to smash the ResetButton, put in a CosmicRetcon, [[AllJustADream make it a dream]], or inflict some other form of DiabolusExMachina to undo everything and appease the [[StatusQuoIsGod almighty Status Quo]].

As such, superheroes afflicted with this trope are never, under ''any'' circumstances, allowed to settle down with anyone. ([[AlternateUniverse At least, not in the main canon]].) Unlike the CelibateHero, they may actually date, but expect them to say "ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies," and other excuses of varying plausibility. If they actually do show signs of planning to settle down with someone, expect the CartwrightCurse to rear its ugly head, resulting in the love interest getting killed off, PutOnABus or otherwise removed from the hero's life before story's end or somewhere further down the line. If both do survive and stay together long enough to marry or even have their own kids, it will always be limited to [[AlternateUniverseReedRichardsIsAwesome an alternate continuity]]; if this takes place in the main one, the work may even go as far as to smash the ResetButton, put in a CosmicRetcon, [[AllJustADream make it a dream]], or inflict some other form of DiabolusExMachina to undo everything and appease the [[StatusQuoIsGod almighty Status Quo]].

As such, superheroes afflicted with this trope are never, under ''any'' circumstances, allowed to settle down with anyone. ([[AlternateUniverse At least, not in the main canon]].) Unlike the CelibateHero, they may actually date, but expect them to say "ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies," and other excuses of varying plausibility. If they actually do show signs of planning to settle down with someone, expect the CartwrightCurse to rear its ugly head, resulting in the love interest getting killed off, PutOnABus or otherwise removed from the hero's life before story's end or somewhere further down the line. If both do survive and stay together long enough to marry or even have their own kids, the work may even go as far as to smash the ResetButton, put in a CosmicRetcon, [[AllJustADream make it a dream]], or inflict some other form of DiabolusExMachina to undo everything and appease the [[StatusQuoIsGod almighty Status Quo]].

** Diana and Steve Trevor dated steadily from the GoldenAge until the 70's. He then spent the next 15 years getting killed or PutOnABus, and then [[TheBusCameBack brought back,]] repeatedly. After the [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths Crisis,]] George Perez retconned away their relationship completely and married Steve off to supporting castmember Etta Candy.

* The only main hero in the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]] who's married is ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}. [[Film/AntMan Scott Lang]] is the only other one who is a parent. The InUniverse reason given for them not being in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' is as parents they took a deal to be on house arrest rather than go on the run like the rest of Team Cap after ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar''. At least pre- [[spoiler: TimeSkip in ''Film/AvengersEndgame''. Tony and Pepper got married and had a daughter in the interim and Cap ends the movie by going back in time and marrying Peggy. ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' episode "Chindred Spirits" parodies ''the living hell'' out of comic books' tendency to adhere to this trope; Timmy's favorite comic book superhero -- Crimson Chin -- is struggling with crippling loneliness, and spends entire issues crying while [[HeartbreakAndIceCream eating several bowls of ice cream]]. So [[AudienceSurrogate Timmy]], wanting the comics to get back to the usual HotBlooded crime-fighting, wishes for a potential love interest who can meet Crimson Chin's needs: a blonde, beautiful Wonder Woman {{Expy}} with PrehensileHair named Goldie Locks whom the Chin falls in love with. But when a future issue now involves CC and Goldie on mushy, romantic dates instead of the action Timmy was expecting, he then resorts to [[YankTheDogsChain ruining Chin's happiest moment]] by wishing for Goldie to [[FaceHeelTurn suddenly turn evil]] for no reason. [[JerkassRealization He regrets it later]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparent'' episode "Chindred Spirits" parodies ''the living hell'' out of comic books' tendency to adhere to this trope; Timmy's favorite comic book superhero -- Crimson Chin -- is struggling with crippling loneliness, and spends entire issues crying while [[HearbreakAndIceCream eating several bowls of ice cream]]. So [[AudienceSurrogate Timmy]], wanting the comics to get back to the usual HotBlooded crime-fighting, wishes for a potential love interest who can meet Crimson Chin's needs: a blonde, beautiful Wonder Woman {{Expy}} with PrehensileHair named Goldie Locks whom the Chin falls in love with. But when a future issue now involves CC and Goldie on mushy, romantic dates instead of the action Timmy was expecting, he then resorts to [[YankTheDogsChain ruining Chin's happiest moment]] by wishing for Goldie to [[FaceHeelTurn suddenly turn evil]] for no reason. [[JerkassRealization He regrets it later]].

As such, superheroes afflicted with this trope are never, under ''any'' circumstances, allowed to settle down with anyone. ([[AlternateUniverse At least, not in the main canon]].) Unlike the CelibateHero, they may actually date, but expect them to say "ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies," and other excuses of varying plausibility. If they actually do show signs of planning to settle down with someone, expect the CartwrightCurse to rear its ugly head, resulting in the love interest getting killed off, PutOnABus or otherwise removed from the hero's life before story's end or somewhere further down the line. If both do survive and stay together long enough to marry or even have their own kids, expect a CosmicRetcon or some other form of DiabolusExMachina to undo everything in order to appease the [[StatusQuoIsGod almighty Status Quo]], or for it to be AllJustADream.

As such, superheroes afflicted with this trope are never, under ''any'' circumstances, allowed to settle down with anyone. ([[AlternateUniverse At least, not in the main canon]].) Unlike the CelibateHero, they may actually date, but expect them to say "ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies," and other excuses of varying plausibility. If they actually do show signs of planning to settle down with someone, expect the CartwrightCurse to rear its ugly head, resulting in the love interest getting killed off, PutOnABus or otherwise removed from the hero's life before story's end or somewhere further down the line. If they do survive long enough to have their own kids, expect a CosmicRetcon above all else to undo everything in order to appease the [[StatusQuoIsGod Almighty Status Quo]], or for it to be AllJustADream.

As such, superheroes afflicted with this trope are never, under ''any'' circumstances, allowed to settle down with anyone. ([[AlternateUniverse At least, not in the main canon]].) Unlike the CelibateHero, they may actually date, but expect them to say "ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies," and other excuses of varying plausibility. If they actually do show signs of planning to settle down with someone, expect the CartwrightCurse to rear its ugly head, resulting in the love interest getting killed off, PutOnABus or otherwise removed from the hero's life before story's end or somewhere further down the line. If they do survive long enough to have their own kids, expect a CosmicRetcon above all else to undo everything in order to appease the [[StatusQuoIsGod Almighty Status Quo]], or for everything to be AllJustADream.

** This was the mentality behind the destruction of Peter and Mary Jane's relationship in ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay''. We'll just say this is one of the most iconic and well-known examples in the entire genre. [[FlameBait Please refrain from adding further commentary on the subject.]]

** Now averted in [[ComicBook/NickSpencersSpiderMan Nick Spencer's run]] where both Peter and MJ are back as a couple in Earth 616.

Related to TheMasqueradeWillKillYourDatingLife.

As such, superheroes afflicted with this trope are never, under ''any'' circumstances, allowed to settle down with anyone. ([[AlternateUniverse At least, not in the main canon]].) Unlike the CelibateHero, they may actually date, but expect them to say "ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies," and other excuses of varying plausibility. If they actually do show signs of planning to settle down with someone, expect the CartwrightCurse to rear its ugly head, resulting in the love interest getting killed off, PutOnABus or otherwise removed from the hero's life before story's end or somewhere further down the line. If they do survive long enough to have their own kids, expect a CosmicRetcon above all else to undo everything in order to appease the [[StatusQuoIsGod Almighty Status Quo]].

As such, superheroes afflicted with this trope are never, under ''any'' circumstances, allowed to settle down with anyone. ([[AlternateUniverse At least, not in the main canon]].) Unlike the CelibateHero, they may actually date, but expect them to say "ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies," and other excuses of varying plausibility. If they actually do show signs of planning to settle down with someone, expect the CartwrightCurse to rear its ugly head, resulting in the love interest getting killed off, PutOnABus or otherwise removed from the hero's life before story's end or somewhere further down the line.