5 Best (And 5 Worst) X-Men Romances Happening Right Now

Ever since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby gave fans a glimpse of Cyclops’s unrequited love for Jean Grey in 1963, romance has been an integral part of X-Men media, often shaping narratives and driving them. The franchise is at its best when it is a high-stakes sci-fi soap opera, where global catastrophes carry the same emotional weight as messy breakups.

After the island nation of Krakoa was burnt to the ground and mutantkind had been scattered across the globe, their love lives were turned upside down. The new status quo in the post-Krakoan era placed the X-Men in a fractured world with a radically different romantic landscape, forcing characters into proximity with unlikely allies and far from their soulmates.

These events have sparked inventive pairings and romantic developments, effectively capitalizing on this transition. They provide well-deserved character growth and fresh chemistry that revitalize overlooked pairings. Conversely, some couples come across as awkward and uninspired, reintroducing outdated dynamics and long-removed love triangles that should be forgotten. This article spotlights the top 5 best and worst X-Men romances currently unfolding.

Best Five:

10

Monet and Quicksilver

In Gail Simone’s Uncanny X-Men, the status quo shifts in the post-Krakoan From the Ashes era, with Monet St Croix and Quicksilver stepping into leadership roles, replacing Rogue and Gambit. After the Graymalkin Prison storyline, Monet and Pietro are responsible for managing the unstable mutant inmates during Rogue and Gambit’s temporary departure, serving as active caretakers and wardens.

This transition in power results from a chaotic, psychic-powered prison break in which Monet was undercover as an inmate, with Quicksilver serving as her lifeline on the outside. At the height of the Graymalkin prison break, Pietro rushed to aid Monet, prompting her to call him “my love” for the first time on panel.

Following this major milestone in their relationship and their rise to leadership, this couple has become one of the most talked-about, highly confident romances in current X-Men comics. Uncanny X-Men is set to delve into the dynamic between Monet and Pietro, exploring whether Pietro’s fiery temperament can be balanced by Monet’s perfectionism, potentially forming a perfect partnership.

9

Psylocke and John Greycrow

On paper, Psylocke and John Greycow seem an unlikely and dysfunctional pair, yet they have become one of the most compelling and functional romances in X-Men history. Elite assassin Psylocke is paired with a former mercenary who infamously killed innocent mutants during the 1980s Mutant Massacre. Yet, against all odds, these two damaged individuals have become relationship goals.

This romance’s charm lies in its departure from typical superhero relationships, emphasizing mutual healing. Kwannon (Psylocke) and John both share histories of being weaponized, manipulated, and treated as throwaway tools. They find comfort in each other, supporting one another through past traumas and growing stronger together.

Their relationship is surprisingly healthy, with a strong focus on accountability. John supports Kwannon without trying to control her, and finds comfort in running a diner far from the battlefield. These two are a couple that have endured from the Krakoan era into the current From the Ashes era. They exemplify that two flawed people can choose to heal together.

8

Nightcrawler and MacKenzie DeNeer

Gail Simone’s Uncanny X-Men has revamped Kurt Wagner’s (Nightcrawler) love life, giving his romance with MacKenzie Deneer, a human ally living in New Orleans, a much-needed breath of fresh air. Their romance began adorably in Issue #6, when Nightcrawler saved MacKenzie’s young daughter from a runaway truck, earning him a kiss on the cheek, setting the slow-burn dynamic in motion.

Amidst X-Men stories rife with existential dread and strained human-mutant relations, this relationship offers a fresh, grounded look at a positive mutant-human bond built on mutual appreciation. As the X-Men made a base in Haven House, Mackenzie immediately proved herself an indispensable, steadfast, and well-meaning member of the team, even organizing the “Mutant Friendship Festival”.

The relationship reached an incredible milestone in Uncanny X-Men #22, when Mackenzie escalated it by playfully asking Kurt to “bamf” her, putting a romantic, endearing spin on the sound effects of his teleportation. Kurt has spent years grappling with religious and cosmic crises, and Mackenzie offers him a place to find much-needed respite and comfort.

7

Jitter and Calico

The two new mutant teenagers, Sofia (Jitter) and Calico, are quietly forging one of the most endearing and tragic relationships of the From the Ashes era. Both girls are brought together under Rogue’s mentorship at Haven House in New Orleans, and both carry deep psychological scars brought on by Krakoa’s collapse.

Sofia suffers from intense, anxiety-ridden neuroses tied to her mutant power, which grants her peak human skills and hyper-focus at the cost of sensory overload. Calico is traumatized and also suffers from intense isolation, communicating primarily through her bond with her monster-like steed. Despite coping with trauma in different ways, the two have found comfort in each other’s company.

Sofia’s chronic anxiety threatens to paralyze her in moments of intensity, but Calico is a grounding, quiet presence that frees Sofia from the sensory overload caused by her abilities. In turn, Sofia’s fierce protectiveness gives Calico a sense of safety and love that has been missing since the mutant massacre. They complement each other’s weaknesses and magnify their strengths.

6

Kitty Pryde and Nina (Exceptional X-Men)

The From the Ashes era has added a new dimension to Kitty Pryde’s character by making Kitty (now strictly going by Kate) canonically bisexual. Trying to escape the reality of her traumatic actions during the fall of Krakoa, she took a job as a bartender in Chicago, hoping to remain low-profile, where she met Nina.

Kate’s early dating life was the emotional core of Eve L’s Exceptional X-Men before she was pulled back into mentoring the next generation of mutants. Kate and Nina are refreshed by the absence of the typical superhero baggage that often complicates X-Men relationships. Their relationship feels relatively normal, offering Kate a genuine sense of normalcy away from world-ending events.

Worst Five:

5

Rogue and Gambit

In the current era of X-Men comics, no relationship has been so deeply stained by the status quo as that of the iconic mutant couple, Rogue and Gambit. In Gail Simone’s Uncanny X-Men, Gambit has caused a rift in their relationship as his reckless, classic thief impulses catch up with him, turning a wholesome romance into something volatile and dangerous.

The crisis began when Gambit stole a mystical artifact known as the Left Eye of Agamotto from the ancient dragon Sadurang Nan. The relic initially granted him abilities that were tactically useful in battle, such as teleportation; the dragon later warned him that it would drive him to madness and cannibalism. Instead of confiding in Rogue, he kept it secret.

The curse drives Gambit to give in to his craving for human flesh, and his actions constitute a massive betrayal of trust, forcing the southern X-Men squad to stage a heart-wrenching intervention for Remy in Uncanny X-Men #23. Gambit doesn’t just jeopardize his own sanity but also the safety of Rogue and the young mutants he swore to protect.

4

Beast and Animalia

In the current post-Krakoan era, few pairings are as unsettling and off-putting as the relationship between Hank McCoy (Beast) and Jennifer Starkey (Animalia). This pairing stands out not only for the unsettling age gap but also for the inappropriate mentor-student dynamic.

The psychological manipulation within the relationship makes their romantic attachment hard to root for. Beast recruits her into the X-Men Science Team and serves as a scientific mentor and friend. The problem is that Beast is one of the oldest X-Men, so a relationship with someone so young and also a student is deeply problematic and off-putting to fans.

The intergenerational romance comes off as forced, and while a romantic partner for Beast is a welcome notion, his character suffers when that partnership has a predatory element. Fans are not comfortable with a Teacher-Student relationship, and the fact that the two are adults is no comfort, considering the vast age gap.

3

Havok and Polaris

In Mark Russell’s government-sponsored relaunch of X-Factor, Alex Summers (Havok) and Lorna Dane (Polaris) portray why they are one of the most dysfunctional and toxic pairs in the X-Men franchise after the collapse of Krakoa. Alex signed on to co-lead a federally backed version of X-Factor. Conversely, Lorna joined a mutant rebellion, putting her at odds with state-sanctioned control.

The ideological differences between the two have shattered any hope for a proper reconciliation, setting their relationship on a direct collision course. The point of no return came when Havok betrayed Polaris to his government handlers. While Polaris was planning an uprising, Alex compromised her cell, betraying her trust and placing more value on his job than their relationship.

Currently, the narrative has the two in a messy, semi-reconciled state following Alex’s sudden departure from the team after issue #5. Alex rented an apartment and attempted to make amends with Lorna. Still, the two have only settled on a forced, platonic, and fragile truce. The implications of Alex’s actions are not easily forgotten, and the relationship remains in limbo.

2

Cypher and Bei

Following the massive Age of Revelation crossover event, Doug Ramsey (Cipher) and Bei the Blood Moon are navigating one of the most tragic dynamics in modern X-Men comics. With Doug taking on the title of Revelation, the heir to Apocalypse, the two are thrust into opposing sides of a geopolitical war, culminating in an anxiety-inducing life on the run together.

The relationship is haunted by the events that happened in the dark future timeline. In this timeline, Doug built a mutant utopia on lies and genocide, and when Bei found out and threatened to expose him, he orchestrated her death. Though they are back in the current timeline, the trust between the two has been shattered, leaving only paranoia.

1

Cyclops and Phoenix

Mutantkind’s founding couple has hit a rough patch due to their long-distance relationship. In Stephanie Phillips’ solo Phoenix series and Jed MacKay’s main X-Men title, Jean Grey and Scott Summers are operating in different worlds. Cyclops is in Alaska, heading a tactical mutant unit, and Jean is the Phoenix operating in space.

They can keep in contact through a psychic connection, but it is no replacement for physical intimacy, which is currently nonexistent between them. The separation has taken its toll on their relationship, which is strongest when they are side by side, but with them living separate lives, their marriage has become a concept.

It’s difficult for fans to root for a romance in which Scott is on Earth fighting local mutant threats while Jean is in the cosmos battling galactic threats like Thanos. The pairing lacks the much-needed intimacy that used to be at the core of their relationship and what drew fans to them in the first place.

Movie(s)

X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

TV Show(s)

X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men '97 (2024)

Video Game(s)

X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine's Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)

First Film

X-Men (2000)