With The Amazing Spider-Man 2 currently filling the multiplexes in cinemas everywhere, both critics and fans alike have found things to both criticise and compliment about Peter Parker's latest outing; whereas many have cited the overuse of CGI and a messy plot as relative downsides, one of thing that has been near exclusively praised is Emma Stone's portrayal of doomed girlfriend Gwen Stacy. The obvious chemistry between both Andrew Garfield - who plays Spider-Man - and Stone is clearly the highlight of the movie; it's a shame there wasn't more. What's interesting about Gwen Stacy and Emma Stone's embodiment of this character is that it proves that - with the right actress assigned to the job - it's possible to make "love interest" characters ("love interest" characters without superpowers) genuinely interesting, and not just there to pad out the screenplay. So whereas Stone has arguably set the standard for superhero girlfriends by somehow making Stacy more interesting than literally anybody else in the movie - Parker arguably included - the majority of comic book adaptations have failed to do so. Join us, then, as we take a look back at the worst, most banal or downright annoying girlfriend characters to have graced some of cinema's most famous comic book adaptations. Please note: none of the characters mentioned here are superheroes themselves; we've opted just to highlight characters who were intentionally created to be "girlfriends." So no Jean Grey, for example.
