The Marvel Universe is complex with storylines dating back to decades gone by, and only true comic book experts would ever know the ins and outs of each one. While it's difficult enough trying to remember what kind of action took place over such a long time, it's also a feat trying to recall who's had a romantic relationship with whom.

The Avengers have a finite number of members, but even then, over so many years and with umpteen alternate universes, it's a hard task to name each of the couples that have come and gone over the years.

Of course, there are canonical couples in the Avengers stories and many have stood the test of time. However, there are occasions when we watch the movies or read the comics and we just wish our favorite characters were romantically involved with someone else. Well, enter the world of fan art where quite literally anything goes.

Fans of the Marvel universe have flocked to the world of their imaginations in order to create scenarios that they would love to see happen between their favorite characters. Often enough, these scenarios involve alternate couplings.

Here we have a selection of work made by fans for fans, in which the Avengers heroes have been partnered up with someone we wouldn't expect. Most of these are pretty left-field pairings, and you'll be surprised by the situations these artists have put their imagined couples in. Who knows, maybe you've been dreaming of some of these characters pairings yourself.

With that in mind, here are 25 Wild Fan Redesigns of Unexpected Avengers Couples.

Agent Maria Hill and Black Widow

Agent Maria Hill and Natasha Romanoff

Black Widow and Agent Maria Hill are two of the baddest, butt-kicking females in the Avengers, and with such strong personalities, it would be hard not to be a fan of either one of them.

There’s a real lack of non-hetero relationships in the MCU movies, and it’s a crying shame as many of the characters would be truly wonderful as couples, including same-gendered pairings.

Agent Maria Hill and Black Widow would be incredible together, as both ooze confidence and are equally tough and independent.

There would be no question as to who would wear the pants in this relationship, as both clearly are the pants-wearing type in this pairing.

Art by fortheloveofpizza

Thor and Tony Stark

Thor and Iron Man

There’s no denying that Thor and Tony Stark are two of the biggest heavy-hitters in the Avengers clan, and it’s also hard to argue with the fact that they are two of the most universally admired heroes too.

With Thor’s rugged, Nordic fierceness (expertly portrayed by Chris Hemsworth) and Iron Man’s suave coolness (beautifully brought to life by Robert Downey Jr,), it’s hard not to want to combine these two into the ultimate couple.

Tony Stark looks like he’s fangirling over Thor in this picture, but can you blame him? This might be a bit more of a one-sided romance from the looks of it, but that doesn’t mean we still wouldn’t love to see it.

Art by reducto1

Captain Marvel and Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch and Captain Marvel

We only got the news fairly recently that Brie Larson would be starring as Captain Marvel in the MCU films, and frankly, the big Hollywood movie-execs couldn’t have made a better choice. We have no doubt that Larson will absolutely smash her role as Captain Marvel, and we can’t wait to see her kick butt on the big screen.

We doubt that this storyline will ever make it into any of the movies, but how great would it be to see a Captain Marvel and Scarlet Witch relationship come about?

Wanda seems like a pretty tough partner to handle, but if anyone could deal with her mercurial personality, it would be Captain Marvel.

Art by Kelslk

Captain America and Winter Soldier

Captain America and Winter Soldier

Some Marvel fans have been wishing for a long time that a romantic relationship would flourish between Captain America and the Winter Soldier, but this coupling has never actually been written as one of the canonical romances in either the films or the comics.

However, Marvel comic book writer Mark Waid hinted that there could well be a romantic spark between these two heroic best friends. Waid was a writer for the Captain America comics in the 1990s, and while listing the similarities between Winter Soldier and Black Widow, he said: “[Both] have had a crush on Steve Rogers at some point in the past.”

It’s unlikely that this plot point will actually be used in the films going forward, but it’s nice to know that this romance isn’t just in our fans' imaginations.

Art by bluandorange

Black Panther and Black Widow

Black Widow and Black Panther

Black Panther has taken fandom by storm, and it’s safe to say that T'Challa is one of the most beloved characters now in the MCU.

Not only has everyone gone Wakanda-crazy since the film was released last year, but his introduction into the wider cultural consciousness has made for some pretty interesting fan art and fan fiction developing. In this instance we see a romantic bond happening between Black Panther and Black Widow.

Both are undeniably great, and they clearly have a the same taste in fashion, but could you really see a romance blossoming between them?

Well, this artist certainly can, and we can’t deny that we’re more than just a little bit intrigued.

Art by pencilHead7

Quicksilver and Hawkeye

Quicksilver and Hawkeye

It’s no secret that Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch’s sibling relationship took some pretty weird turns in the comics, their love for each other being slightly less than innocent brotherly-sisterly affection.

It’s also known that Hawkeye had some feelings for Scarlet Witch while she was in a relationship with Vision, so let’s be honest, Quicksilver probably had some issues with Hawkeye when he was trying to make a move on his sister.

Seeing the two paired like this then is more than a little unlikely, but there’s no denying that this relationship would be interesting, to say the least.

Art by kingbirdkathy

Captain America and Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch and Captain America

Captain America and Scarlet Witch share quite an avuncular relationship with one another in the MCU, so seeing this pair coupled up is pretty strange to see.

You might be surprised to know, though, that these two mighty Avengers had a bit of romantic tension in the comics.

Cap and Scarlet Witch are opposites in so many ways, but Wanda can be seen nursing a bit of a crush on Steve in the early years of the Avengers, and the two had quite a few moments where romance was nearly sparked.

With Scarlet Witch’s unstable personality and Cap’s moralistic tendencies, it’s probably a good thing that this particular relationship was short-lived.

Art by royswordsman

Loki and Peter Parker

Loki and Spider-Man

Loki has been the subject of a substantial amount of fan art over the years, with most being dedicated to an imagined romance between Loki and Thor. While this particular coupling might not be to everyone’s taste, how about this one we have here between Loki and Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man?

This is definitely a left-field pairing, as Peter Parker seems like he would be way too naive and juvenile to have a romantic partner like Loki, but clearly this is storyline that someone would like to see happen.

It’s not one we’re in a particular rush to see get written up, but you never know, this could very well be the next It couple.

Art by WaterElement33

Black Widow and Pepper Potts

Pepper Potts and Black Widow

Pepper Potts and Tony Stark might be a solid couple, but who could resist the charms of Natasha Romanov?

In Iron Man 2, we see Pepper Potts bring in Natasha Romanov to meet Tony Stark, and clearly Stark was enamored by her. But what about Pepper?

The interaction between Potts and Black Widow is very congenial, but clearly this artist thinks that there was something else brewing beneath the surface.

It would be great if these two could become an official couple, but if Pepper Potts already has a hard time dealing with Tony going off to fight, so we doubt she’d be any more relaxed sending Black Widow off to risk her life in battle either.

Art by latelierderiot

Falcon and Captain America

Falcon and Captain America

Here’s a pair you’ve probably never imagined coming together. Falcon and Captain America are probably one of the most unlikely Avengers couples to be imagined, but here they both are in full fan art glory.

Falcon makes a great wingman for Captain America, but could this bromance ever become more than that? Sam Wilson seems to be a lot more laid back than Steve Rogers, but maybe this could work in this imaginary couple’s favor.

There’s nothing like a good opposites-attract story, and this one would definitely fit that bill.

Art by maskedfangirl

Iron Man and Wasp

Iron Man and Wasp

While Ant-Man and the Wasp is upon us, this artist has clearly pushed Ant-Man out of the romantic picture.

Here we have Iron Man looking very cozy indeed with the Wasp, and if you’re a little confused by this pairing, then you have every right to be. Although it might seem like a strange coupling, Tony Stark has recently been given a romantic storyline with the original Wasp, Janet Van Dyne, in the comic Tony Stark: Iron Man #4.

Both of these characters are founding members of the Avengers, so clearly they go way back, but can their friendship translate into a romance?

You’ll just have to read the comic to find out.

Art by kelslk

Hulk and Hawkeye

Hulk and Hawkeye

Aside from the awkward romance between Hulk and Black Widow, we haven’t really seen much romance happening for the big, green mutant in the Avengers films. As of Infinity War, we have yet to see if the relationship is actually going to go anywhere.

While we’re waiting on the will-they-won’t-they plot line to pan out, what about a different love interest for Hulk in the meantime. Say, Hawkeye for instance?

This artist has given us an adorable reimagining of the these two characters, looking much more Dirty Dancing than battle-ready superheroes.

Art by Gingerhaze

Black Widow and Captain Marvel

Black Widow and Captain Marvel

We’ve seen Black Widow be paired up with quite a number of unexpected Avengers in this list so far, but one that might really take you by surprise is Black Widow and Captain Marvel as we see here.

We have yet to see Captain Marvel in any of the films, and for a lot of people, the basis of their imaginings of relationships between characters is the MCU films. Well, we know Brie Larson is going to play Captain Marvel and it’s common knowledge that Scarlett Johansson is Black Widow, but this drawing seems to reimagine both characters outside of these actresses.

Art by alienhominid2000

Bruce Banner and Tony Stark

Bruce Banner and Tony Stark

Bruce and Tony are pretty polar when it comes to personalities and character traits, as are their alter-egos Hulk and Iron Man. However, if Bruce weren’t anger-prone, and Tony got himself an ego-check, maybe these two could make it as a couple.

Given their sweet "science bros" bond in the MCU, it’s hard not to want to see this relationship pan out.

With all the fighting they do and the stress their jobs as superheroes entail, maybe we can imagine a world where these two seek comfort and love in one another.

Art by FerioWind

Captain Marvel and Spider-Man

Captain Marvel and Spider-Man

We’ll have to wait and see if Captain Marvel and Spider-Man get any alone time in the upcoming movies, but we have a glimpse here of what that encounter might very well look like.

While the two aren’t necessarily making any big signs of affection for one another in this picture, there’s something about their body language and looks that makes it seem like maybe Peter Parker was trying to make a move on Captain Marvel.

Seeing Peter try to romance such a powerful woman as Captain Marvel would be truly entertaining, but until that unlikely situation happens, we’ll always have this fan art.

Art by Snowman1940

Black Panther and Captain America

Black Panther and Captain America

If ever there was a power couple in the making, it would surely be Black Panther and Captain America. The raw intensity of such a pairing is almost too much to handle even thinking about it, but luckily for everyone whose brains just can’t handle the ferocity of such a match, we have one of the most adorable Avengers fan arts ever to illustrate it.

We don’t blame Captain America for being in awe of Black Panther here, and we suspect we’d act in much the same way if we were ever to meet T'Challa.

Whether Cap is truly in love with Black Panther in this picture or whether he’s just fangirling over him like the rest of us, this certainly does make for one of the cutest couple drawings we’ve seen.

Art by koreanrage

Scarlet Witch and Black Widow

Scarlet Witch and Black Widow

Scarlet Witch and Black Widow certainly have a lot of fans, and there are a great many people who have imagined a romance that could happen between these two.

Known as ScarletWidow, this particular area of fandom is awash with storylines in which love blossoms between these powerful ladies.

In this picture, we have Scarlet Witch and Black Widow tangled in a loving embrace, but we’re not entirely sure if this couple could really work. With such strong, fiery personalities, there might be more clashing than loving if they were a couple. But who knows, maybe this is the ultimate Avengers couple we’ve all been waiting to see!

Art by Nicoise Salad

Hulk and Iron Man

Hulk and Iron Man

Strangely enough, the pairing between Hulk and Iron Man is one of the most popular couplings in Avengers fandom, and both Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. are very aware of the many examples of art and fiction that have arisen from it.

Here is one of the many examples of this odd but beloved pairing, where we see Hulk and Iron Man looking very much in love.

It’s a wonder that these two that have sparked such excitement in fans, but we can’t deny that we love the art that has come out of this reimagining.

Art by FerioWind

Bucky Barnes and Natasha Romanoff

Bucky Barnes and Natasha Romanoff

From Hercules to Daredevil, Black Widow has had a number of romantic interests during her time in the comics, but one of the strongest relationships she has is with Bucky Barnes, aka Winter Soldier.

This is a well-known pairing in the Avengers comics but it still might come as a surprise to those who aren’t as familiar with the complicated, intertwining storylines of both characters.

Bucky and Natasha had shared a relationship when they were both training as operatives, and we’ll be interested to see if this particular pairing gets explored in future Avengers movies.

Art by Milady666

Bruce Banner and Thor

Bruce Banner and Thor

Although much fan fiction and fan art of Avengers couples has developed over the years, the depiction of the relationship between Bruce Banner and Thor has only really taken off since the release of Thor: Ragnarok.

It’s not an obvious pairing, but it’s certainly one that would be adorable to see unfold. There’s definitely an fondness between the two of them and it wouldn’t be too hard to imagine them being a couple.

They certainly look loved up in this artist’s portrayal of Thor and Bruce, and we can only hope there will be more art and fan fiction that comes out of this newfound bond.

Art by lupeymoony