How the Animated Adaptations have handled the DC couples

[Srebak]

As any comic book fan (myself just barely withstanding) can tell you, DC comics is not above showing a more... realistic view of romantic relationships. By which i mean they'll show a romantic couple more or less happy one minute, then show them finding out just how incompatible they really are the next. Again, i can't say that this is unrealistic, i just find it to be rather depressing is all i'm saying.

Anyway, over the years, i've noticed that the two mediums we all know as television and movies have often redone how these relationships were in the comics (some of them anyway). For example:

In the Teen Titans comics, Robin/Nightwing's relationship with Starfire started out good, but then slowly went down the drain. Starfire even dated a few men before and after Robin/Nightwing. However, in the TV show, Robin and Starfire's relationship was pretty stable, with any problems they had being a "once in a blue moon" type of thing. Also, Starfire rarely, if ever, looked at other boys, as it was pretty clear that Robin was her guy through and through, and Robin certainly never once showed interest any other women (though, his strict, no nonsense personality could have accounted for that). And in the end, Robin and Starfire's future in the series seemed bright with no end in sight.

In the comics, Aquaman and his wife, Mera, had an issue that led to their separation, however in her appearances on television, hints of that are nowhere to be found. In "Justice League" and "Batman: the Brave and the Bold", it was established loud and clear that the two of them clearly happy, with any issues they have being there strictly for laughs ("Aquaman's Outrageous Adventure")

 

[Goldstar!]

I actually prefer the TV adaptations. Keep the romances low key and drama free, I say.

Television shows and comic books are 2 completely different beasts. No TV adaptation is going to follow the comic books to the letter. Keep in mind also that the animated TV shows were aimed primarily at children, and kids don't want to see a lot of soap opera romance couple drama; they tune in to see super heroes and super villains kicking booty, not Dawson's Creek.

However, there was some conflicts shown between couples on Young Justice, so there was that.

 

[Yojimbo]

There's always John Stewart and Shayera Hol on Justice League/JLU. Despite how complicated and angsty it got, I applaud the crew for making that a long term storyline since season one. It was an interesting roller coaster ride. I don't think there was a relationship that complex in animation until Young Justice came around.

 

[Mostezli]

GLTAS also comes to mind.
Whether it's Hal & Carol
or Kilowog + that female Bovine
or Razer & Aya....
Haven't read any GL comics. but the space soap opera here feels reminiscent of those Trek-like series.
Plus, with the latter characters, originally created for the show, the writers have done a great job molding a connection between the two.

 

[ABrown]

In the Teen Titans comics, Robin/Nightwing's relationship with Starfire started out good, but then slowly went down the drain. Starfire even dated a few men before and after Robin/Nightwing. However, in the TV show, Robin and Starfire's relationship was pretty stable, with any problems they had being a "once in a blue moon" type of thing. Also, Starfire rarely, if ever, looked at other boys, as it was pretty clear that Robin was her guy through and through, and Robin certainly never once showed interest any other women (though, his strict, no nonsense personality could have accounted for that). And in the end, Robin and Starfire's future in the series seemed bright with no end in sight.

The Teen Titans cartoon was (or is if you want to include the Go! episodes in this discussion) a much lighter version of the characters. It's a show that's not about drama. Dick's relationship with Barbara in Batman: The Animated Series/The New Batman Adventures is probably a little closer to what you're thinking of. Something like that just wasn't going to happen in the Teen Titans cartoon, especially not now in Go!.

 

[JoeMabbon]

In the comics, Aquaman and his wife, Mera, had an issue that led to their separation, however in her appearances on television, hints of that are nowhere to be found. In "Justice League" and "Batman: the Brave and the Bold", it was established loud and clear that the two of them clearly happy, with any issues they have being there strictly for laughs ("Aquaman's Outrageous Adventure")

Mera and Aquaman were also fairly minor characters in both those cartoons, so their relationship was not given a lot of attnetion. The Aquaman comics needed ongoing drama to sustain interest in the character month after month and relationship drama is a reliable hook.

 

[Magmaster12]

The Teen Titans cartoon was (or is if you want to include the Go! episodes in this discussion) a much lighter version of the characters. It's a show that's not about drama. Dick's relationship with Barbara in Batman: The Animated Series/The New Batman Adventures is probably a little closer to what you're thinking of. Something like that just wasn't going to happen in the Teen Titans cartoon, especially not now in Go!.

Not really whenever Nightwing and Batgirl grew close in TAS Batman seemed to play a role in having grow farther apart, of course I'm saying this while knowing the recent events in the Batman Beyond comic which revealed why they never stayed together.