The "damsel in distress" is a common trope in many stories, as many love interests are depicted as helpless and unable to function without their hero and lovers. Though it may have been entertaining in generations past, the medium of comic books has advanced past the need for witless love interests.
The Marvel Universe is full of compelling romantic dynamics, relationships, and partnerships that push characters and challenge them to improve on themselves, both emotionally and intellectually. These love interests provide great foils to their significant others and prospective partners.
10 Mary Jane Watson has built a resolve & arsenal of know-how
Mary Jane Watson has been Spider-Man's long-time love for what has felt like generations. Having met Peter Parker in college, the two have gone from friends and lovers to newlyweds and friends all over again, and despite the best efforts of the One More Day retcon, they have managed to find their way back to each other once again. One of the greatest love interests in all of comics, fans continue to patiently wait for the day that MJ and Peter renew their vows and end up married once again.
While Mary Jane may not be the most formally educated of those on this list, what she lacks in the academic smarts she has more than made up for in street smarts. After years of being involved with Spider-Man, Mary Jane has built a resolve and arsenal of know-how that has helped her defend herself and even help defeat many of Spidey's rogues gallery members.
9 Sue Storm Is The Heart of The Fantastic Four
Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman of the world-famous Fantastic Four, has been Reed Richards' long-time love and wife for decades. After accompanying Richards on the spaceship that was subjected to cosmic rays, she gained extraordinary superpowers and has used them ever since to fight for the greater good, and while her adventures on the FF have put a strain on her marriage, the two have always managed to bounce back stronger.
Though many may look to Reed Richards as the brains of the Fantastic Four, Sue has always provided the level-headed nature and resolve of the team. An incredibly mature and patient woman, Sue has wisdom that is deeply respected in the Marvel Universe, and it is this wisdom that has proven to win the day on many occasions for the Fantastic Four.
8 Pete Wisdom Is A Field Commander for British Intelligence
A handsome British intelligence operative, Pete Wisdom is also a mutant and has served as a liaison to the Krakoan operatives in the recent Excalibur series. Working for MI13 as a field commander, Pete Wisdom has long been involved with Excalibur, having a short relationship with Shadowcat in the past, though he currently seems to be vying for Betsy Braddock's affections, the new Captain Britain.
Trained in the highest standards the United Kingdom has to offer, Pete has been the pride of British Intelligence for years. And while he is certainly intelligent, Pete is also cunning, a trait that has helped further his position with Krakoa as well as with the Crown.
7 Sharon Carter Is One Of S.H.I.E.L.D's Best
Captain America's long-time love, Sharon Carter has been one of Steve Rogers' tethers ever since he woke up out of the ice after the Second World War. A highly trained agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, Sharon (or Agent 13) has been at Rogers' side in good times and in bad, in incredibly dangerous missions and in others that have left the Super Soldier incredibly vulnerable, and has proven time and time again her deep love for Captain America.
Sharon Carter has proven time and time again that she is not someone that should be underestimated by any means. A close confidante of not only Captain America but Nick Fury, Sharon is a super-spy by every definition of the word, with training and mastery of not only martial arts, but foreign languages, espionage tactics, manipulation, and secrecy.
6 Elektra is an Incredibly Skilled Ninja
Elektra Natchios has been an on-and-off love interest to Matt Murdock for years, and with her advanced skills in martial arts, has offered a type of lifestyle that Murdock's many other flames have not. Despite her differing views with Murdock on vigilantism, Elektra has—out of respect for Matthew—taken up the mantle of Daredevil temporarily, a testament to their bond.
Elektra has always been a highly dangerous vigilante in the Marvel Universe, and it is seldom that anyone has been able to get the upper hand on her. After leaving law school to pursue a more unorthodox education, Elektra has spent years training in thievery, martial arts, foreign languages, and other skills that have made her elusive and incredibly lethal.
5 Janet van Dyne Is A Founding Avenger With Years of Experience
A founding member of the Avengers, Janet van Dyne has been one of the most charming women in the Marvel Universe. Despite her long-time partnership with Hank Pym, the Wasp's radiance has charmed dozens of others, with the likes of Tony Stark, Clint Barton, and even Captain America in the Ultimate Universe falling for her.
Though she may not hold the same academic accomplishments as her ex-husband, Janet van Dyne's time on the Avengers has made her incredibly wise in the ways of crime-fighting. Quick-thinking, resourceful as can be, and with a drive to win the day, she's certainly picked up a thing or two from the likes of Anthony Stark and Hank Pym along the way.
4 Lilandra Nerami Is Shi'ar Excellence
A member of the Shi'ar Empire's royal family, Princess-Majestrix Lilandra Nerami has had a long-standing connection with Charles Xavier, mutant leader and founder of the X-Men. The two have long been intertwined, which has led to many occasions where the X-Men have involved themselves in the business of the Shi'ar, usually regarding galactic conflicts or the possession of the Phoenix Force.
As well as having limited telepathic abilities, Lilandra is also a well-trained politician and galactic leader, with the education, poise, and grandeur to command thousands in the Shi'ar Empire to her will. After receiving the highest training from the Shi'ar Royal Family, Lilandra is incredibly well-spoken, able to successfully regain control of the Empire from many different political coups and impeachment attempts.
3 The Stepford Cuckoos Are the Five-In-One
The Stepford Cuckoos are a band of telepathic sisters who share a psychic hive-mind, making all of them completely in synch with the others. As a result, the sisters have usually acted as a unit, which makes the custom of dating an unusually complicated matter, unless you're Cable. Scott Summers and Jean Grey's teenage son managed to begin dating multiple Cuckoos while on Krakoa, much to the dismay of their mother Emma Frost, though he eventually ended his fling with the sisters.
The Cuckoos are incredibly intelligent, very well-read, and due to their psychic hive-mind, are able to know anything that any of the 5 sisters knows. Between their pooled resources, they are an absolute unit, and to top it all off, they all possess a powerful range of telepathy, making them quite the force.
2 Namor Has Ruled Wisely For Years
King Namor of Atlantis has long ruled over the Seven Seas, and has long been considered an outside love interest of Sue Storm, Reed Richards' wife. The infatuation between the two has long stood as a complicated situation and has rarely come close to truly threatening Sue's marriage to Reed. But that hasn't stopped the two from developing a strange sort of connection over the years, with Sue being perfectly aware of the depths of Namor's attraction.
An incredibly powerful individual, Namor also has a heightened lifespan, having lived through decades longer than most in the Marvel Universe, accumulating generations' worth of knowledge which has helped him govern Atlantis confidently for ages. The true definition of regal, though he may seem aggressive and rash at times, Namor rules with a sense of duty and wisdom that has to be respected.
1 Vision Was Created With Incredible Intelligence
The romance between the Vision and the Scarlet Witch of the Avengers has been well documented for years, with the pairing being one of the most striking and yet romantic couples amongst Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Falling in love against all odds, their wedding was heartfelt, but their attempts to sire children were doomed, and it eventually resulted in Scarlet Witch's mental breakdown and their eventual divorce.
A synthetic android, the Vision is an incredibly intelligent sentient being. Having been created out of Ultron's will, Vision was made with the sole purpose of destroying the Avengers, with an incredible range of intelligence. However, though it is a given that he is intelligent, it is Vision's emotional maturity that he has gained through his time with Earth's Mightiest that places him atop this list, as he has learned from the humans around him and what they have to offer in intelligence, as some have described him as the true heart and soul of the Avengers.