Comic Couples We Love: Batman Edition

As you may have noticed with our Comic Couples We Love feature throughout the week, a major hero — probably the most major hero — has been completely unrepresented all week. Well, that’s because Batman probably has a gallery of love interests as large as his rogues gallery. It’s one aspect of his life where Bruce Wayne’s playboy personality isn’t just an act.

So, we took a deep dive into Bruce’s long long list of love interests and picked out the six most interesting and enduring loves of the Batman.

Talia al Ghul

Probably considered by fans to be the love interest dueling for the top spot, Talia al Ghul is by far one of the most interesting paramours of Bruce Wayne. The daughter of one of his greatest enemies, Talia had an epic romance with Bruce, perhaps the pairing that fits the “star-crossed lovers” trope of all of his loves best. They never really had a stable romance, but she did give birth to his son, Damian. It’s unlikely that the two would ever reconnect — she’s taken a hard turn towards villainy from her previous grey morality — but she’s still one of the great loves in his life.

Vicki Vale

Though she’s fallen from prominence in the last few years — from what I can best tell, she last appeared a decade ago — there’s no denying her importance in the Bat mythos. I mean, when Batman was finally adapted for the big screen, his love interest was none other than Vicki. A photojournalist, Vicki is a smart and capable match for Bruce Wayne, able to keep up with the billionaire’s lifestyle. Best of all, she was more of a love interest for Bruce than the Batman, helping the character have a stronger balance between civilian life and his mask than we often see today. It’s a shame she’s fallen by the wayside so much, as she’d offer Bruce a lot, perhaps while being drawn into a love triangle? You can’t tell me the thought of Bruce dating Vicki, while Batman dates Catwoman wouldn’t be a fun story.

Sasha Bordeaux

When I say that Vicki Vale has fallen from prominence, at least she’s had a storyline since 2011. Sasha Bordeaux is one of the most interesting, yet often forgotten, romantic prospects Batman has ever had. Originally hired by the board of Wayne Enterprises to be a bodyguard of Bruce Wayne, Sasha quickly realized there was something up with her boss. She figured out his secret just in time for Bruce to be accused of murdering one of his other love interests, Vesper Fairchild. Her relationship with Bruce was more one of tension but she straddled the line between Bruce and Batman in a very interesting way that never sufficiently got explored.

Diana of Themyscira

They make up two thirds of the DC Universe’s trinity. Frankly, they’re a remarkably interesting pairing, but in the end, it’s probably best they didn’t go there. However, Bruce and Diana are a much more interesting pairing than you might think. Building the relationship from one of mutual respect and friendship, into something flirty and perhaps more is actually extremely realistic, despite the fact she’s an immortal princess and he’s a billionaire in a Dracula costume. While it shouldn’t be a long term relationship, it’s one that hasn’t been explored enough.

Julie Madison

Julie is the ultimate “what could have been” for Bruce Wayne, and that’s what makes her interesting. The character has unfortunately never been developed sufficiently to make her a viable, long-term love interest. Nevertheless, she is a completely normal woman who doesn’t get dragged into the superhero life. She’s stable, mentally balanced, and represents what Bruce could have if it wasn’t for the immortal eco-terrorists, split personality murder-lawyers, and psychopathic clowns in his life.

Selina Kyle

Yes, this is who you’ve been waiting for. Since 2002’s “Hush” (yeah it’s been that long), Selina Kyle has been Batman’s primary love interest, and there’s no denying why. The forbidden connection between Batman and Catwoman, a tension between two star-crossed lovers is appealing on its own. Seeing Selina actually grow into a stronger character through her relationship with Bruce has been a bonus. She’s no longer the one-note villain or the 1990s bad girl. She’s now one of the strongest women in the DC Universe.

For Bruce though, she offers a thrill, a bit of a forbidden fruit. But as they bond more, it’s clear that despite their vastly different backgrounds, it’s a partnership of equals. She’s just as skilled and capable as he is, but with a completely different skillset. And she grounds him, helps him look outside the mission and the war. She’s a calming and centering influence.

Though I understand the story reasons for it, there’s no denying both Batman and Catwoman would have been better for it if their wedding in Batman #50 had actually happened. I hope editorial realizes that they’re just better together, and that’s a great story on its own.