Top Five Month (check here to see an archive of all the top five lists featured so far) continues with a look at times in the Avengers where two teammates ALMOST started dating but didn't quite get there.
Enjoy!
HONORABLE MENTION
Captain America and Scarlet Witch
This was not a very long infatuation that Scarlet Witch had with Captain America. It wasn't really a "near-miss" because it had no chance of happening. Cap was far more obsessed with Nick Fury at this point in time than any romantic stuff with Wanda.
Plus, they eventually DID get together decades later (although it might have been part of Scarlet Witch's psychosis poking out).
5. Captain America and Black Widow
This one is also unrequited, but you get the feeling that it was only that way because Black Widow didn't tell Cap before he "died." And once he was back, he had Sharon Carter alive again. So they passed each other like strangers in the night.
By the way, what was Bob Harras thinking here? He must have had something in mind? I'd love to find out some day.
4. Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch
This one is also unrequited (on Hawkeye's part) but I put it here because A. It lasted for so long and B. It was a lot more likely to happen than Cap and Wanda.
Interestingly enough, decades later they had a one-night stand when she was dealing with amnesia and he was dealing with his issues with her over her, you know, KILLING HIM in Avengers Disassembled.
3. Wonder Man and Scarlet Witch
This would be higher except years later they DID get together. Still, for awhile, this was THE go-to "will they or won't they?" and it was mostly ruined by Wonder Man getting his own series. Naturally, the solo series did not want to have Wonder Man's girlfriend be a character from another book (and heck, they soon had Wonder Man leave the Avengers ENTIRELY). And when the series ended, Wonder Man "died."
2. Crystal and Black Knight
This would be #1 except since they DID kiss a few times, I dunno if it counts as a true "near miss." But because they never really got together for real (just a few passionate kisses), I think it counts.
1. Wasp and Black Knight
This was a loooong drawn out sub-plot that never went anywhere. I presume that that was what Stern was going for, that sometimes unrequited feelings DON'T get reciprocated. Still, it was a major sub-plot for a couple of years in the books.
Boy, Black Knight and Scarlet Witch sure get used a lot in these plotlines, huh?
Okay, that's the list! Agree? Disagree? Let me know!
teammate