It’s hard to argue against Jean Grey and Cyclops being theX-Men’smost beloved couple. Although they weren’t romantically involved at the very start of the franchise, readers saw their connection begin all the way back inX-Men#1. Their friendship, along with Scott Summers' quiet pining, gradually developed into a genuine romance.
The two have had their fair share of infamous ups and downs, but one way or another, they always seem to find their way back to each other. In the eyes of many X-Men fans,Marvel’s most powerful couplehas more than earned their place as the franchise’s best romantic pairing. The series is filled with moments that make a strong case for that title.
10Cyclops and Jean Grey Finally Share Their First Kiss
X-Men#94 by Chris Claremont, Len Wein, and Dave Cockrum
Despite being paired together much earlier in the franchise, Cyclops and Jean Grey wouldn’t share their first kiss until this issue.The Comics Code Authoritywas in full force during the actual inception of the couple, so in an era where romance was largely restricted to hand-holding due to comic book censorship, kissing was impossible for the X-Men.
That changes here in the first mainline issue of the Claremont Era after theGiant-Size X-Men#1 one-shot. When some X-Men decide to leave the mansion, Scott stays out of a sense of duty, and sohe and Jean share their first kiss.
9Showing Off Her Phoenix Powers for a Romantic Evening
X-Men#132 by Chris Claremont and John Byrne
When Jean Grey first acquiredthe power of the Phoenix Force, there was a lot that both readers and characters had yet to understand about what she was now capable of. Suddenly, she could change her clothes at will andclaimed to be able to hold back Scott’s optic beamswith the power of sheer thought and willpower.
She put all of this to use in a romantic picnic setting.There’s something oddly adorable about Cyclops still being skeptical, but not letting it stop him from enjoying Jean’s company. Not only that, but knowing the tragedy to come, readers can hold precious moments like this tightly.
8Jean Grey’s Final Moments With Cyclops Before Her Sacrifice
X-Men#137 by Chris Claremont and John Byrne
Not all of their best moments are paved with sunshine and daffodils.One of the most noteworthy moments between Jean and Cyclops is their most heart-wrenching. At the conclusion ofthe “Dark Phoenix Saga,“Jean decides it’s best to sacrifice herself to stop the Phoenix Force and save the universe,using her final words to profess her love for Cyclops, followed by Scott mourning his lover.
It’s easy to point to a wholesome moment between the two that makes readers feel a sense of warmth, butwhen heartbreak hits this hard, that’s when it echoes how deeply their love resonates.
7A Night Out in Manhattan
X-Factor#53 by Louise Simonson and Terry Shoemaker
X-Factor#53 is most notable for Scott proposing to Jeanand her politely declining as she reels from recovering her memories post-resurrection. However, it’s the moments that lead to Cyclops' proposal that deserve a mention. Beforehand, they enjoy a night out on the town together, strolling through Manhattan, and even kiss in the snow after trading snowballsand optical blastsat each other.
It’s the simpler moments between superhero couples that tend to leave an impression when their world is shrouded in chaos. For at least a few panels,they get to live and love freely like real people do.
6The Wedding of Scott Summers and Jean Grey Goes Off Without a Hitch
X-Men#30 by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert
At its core,X-Menis a soap operafull of melodrama. Murphy’s Law appears to be in constant operation, with anything that can go wrong often going wrong. But on this particular day, that isn’t the case. After a romance that spanned over 30 years,“The Wedding of Scott Summers and Jean Grey"unfolds without incident, granting the couple a rare and well-deserved happy ending.
It may not last forever, but for once, they get to enjoy it. Given the franchise’s track record, there is still a sense of looming dread, especially withWolverine absent from the ceremony.Even so, for just one day, everyone gets a moment of peace.
5"Live, Scott. Live.”
New X-Men#150 by Grant Morrison and Phil Jimenez
In another death from Jean Grey, she’s killed thanks tothe doings of Magneto/Xorn, who installs an electromagnetic pulse inside of Jean to give her a cosmic stroke. As she dies in Cyclops' arms, she uses her final words to say,“The Phoenix understands … I haven’t seen you so alive for a long time, Scott … my best friend … I have to go now. Live, Scott. Live. All I ever did was die on you.”
The couple was challenged like never before duringNew X-Men, but in their rockiest moments,Jean always had love for Scott, and vice versa.
4Jean Grey and Cyclops Look Each Other in the Eyes One Last Time
Phoenix: Endsong#5 by Greg Pak and Greg Land
Much of Jean and Scott’s pairing is filled with goodbyes and reunions, and among those goodbyes comes at the conclusion of theEndsongminiseries. As the Phoenix Force threatens the course of the universe, measures are made to put a permanent end to both the Phoenix and its host.
Knowing their time together is coming to an end again, Jean and Cyclops speak to each other one last time inThe White Hot Room. There,Cyclops removes his visor so that the two lovebirds can truly see each other one last time. Even knowing it’s not a permanent conclusion, it’s heartfelt.
3Jean Grey and Cyclops Share a Bittersweet Kiss Goodbye Upon Revival
Phoenix: Resurrection#5 by Matthew Rosenberg, Leinil Francis Yu, and Joe Bennett
The concept ofdeath and resurrection in the MarvelUniversehas become a trope in itself within comics. Nobody ever stays dead, and that notion has, for many, become a laughable running gag. However, this five-part 2017 miniseries takes advantage of the X-Men’s complicated history with revivals for a nuanced moment betweenJean Grey and Cyclops, reuniting for the first time since their respective deaths.
It’s an oddly beautiful moment wherein Jean begrudgingly concludes that the nature of their resurrections through the Phoenix Force’s meddling should not exist.They share their final goodbyes before Jean kills her lover.
2Jean Grey Implies She Always Loved Cyclops Over Wolverine
X-Men: Red Annual#1 by Tom Taylor and Pascal Alixe
Once Jean Grey returns from the dead, she meets a multiversal/time-displaced Old Man Logan. The two technically being connected makes introductions a little awkward, but one thing that stands out is that while Logan introduces himself as not her world’s Wolverine, Jean makes it clear that in this and any world,“I was never yours.”
She outright confirms that while she had her attraction to Wolverine,it was Cyclops who was always the true love of her life.Their love triangleis perhaps the most iconic in Marvel history, butX-Menfans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing she prefers Scott to Logan.
1Cyclops and Marvel Girl Grow to Love Each Other
“People Wonder Why…“by Rainbow Rowell and Marguerite Sauvage inMarvel Age#1000
Marvel Age#1000 exists to reimagine classic eras of superheroes. For this section on theX-Men, Rowell and Sauvage focus onthe original five students, specifically Jean and Scott, as their love begins to blossom. The franchise is littered with booming, explosive moments between the two, butthis short story focuses on the quieter moments between them.
It shows how love can truly blossom out of mundane conversations that don’t seem consequential, but ultimately further the attraction between two people. It’s one of the more poignant moments to come from theX-Menfranchise.
