Welcome to the wonderful world of Miss Wonderful Personality! Believe it or not, Mary Jane Watson has been one of the most important characters in Marvel history, even beyond the world of Spider-Man – she’s helped Iron Man, led her own series, and recently even became a superhero in her own right. But, much like Spider-Man, her history is long, complicated, and beautiful.
So, how where do we begin? Rest assured, Marvel-Verse: Mary Jane is a small window into her wonderful world to entrance new readers and remind longtime readers how prevalent she will always be. In this short and friendly graphic novel, Writers Sean Kelley McKeever, Kurt Busiek, Roger Stern, and Leah Williams put their two cents into relaying the essence of who Mary Jane Watson is. Partnered with these writers are the talented artists Takeshi Miyazawa, Oat Olliffem Ron Frenz, and Carlos Gomez, who beautifully illustrate her story.
For the sake of being streamlined, Sean Kelley McKeever and Takeshi Miyazawa’s two stories will be viewed as one cohesive narrative. The two stories pair perfectly together and weave a web many of us can relate to. It’s almost time for homecoming, and Mary Jane doesn’t seem convinced she should go at all, much less who to ask. Meanwhile, her best friend Liz has an idea about who she should go with. Mary Jane #1 is a lighthearted and fun tale about first dates, heartbreak, and friendship. Its overall tone is very relatable and reflects the common challenges many face in life through the growing pains that come along with dating.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #1 is a comical story about Mary Jane’s determination to meet the up-and-coming-hero: the Amazing Spider-Man! She has a particular question in mind for him; will he have the answer she’s hoping for? This story tells the other half of this two-part saga: heartbreak. It happens just as sporadically as falling for someone can. This story is similarly one that delivers a rather relatable idea: what do we do when someone doesn’t like us back? Altogether, these issues go together like two halves of a whole, and do a great job introducing readers to the important people in Mary Jane Watson’s life. Additionally, the art from Miyazawa is perfectly suited for the two issues, as they have a soft and lighthearted tone that creates a welcoming presence. This is further elevated by color artist Christina Strain’s sharp and vibrant colors, which help make for a cheerful set of stories.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man #16 retroactively tells the story of when Mary Jane discovered Peter Parker was Spider-Man. In the current timeline, the couple had already gotten married and Mary Jane was currently pregnant (to later have an unfortunate miscarriage one month after this issue). This is a great prelude to the iconic romance of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. In here, we learn about the aftermath of when Mary Jane discovers the identity of Spider-Man. This issue is quite unlike the first two, as it’s both more serious in tone while also having the charm of the era it depicts. While things aren’t as groovy for Spider-Man, Mary Jane is determined to and tries her best to understand the man behind the mask.
Writer Kurt Busiek does a spectacular job showing the inner thoughts of MJ by giving hints as to her deeper layers that make her a fascinatng character. Her innate ability to see through people and follow her heart are some of her strongest traits, and these are well displayed here. Additionally, penciler Pat Olliffe masterfully depicts New York City through detailed line work that helps the city come to life. It’s through this art that this story stands out, as Olliffee’s style is rather distinct from the other stories in this collection. Altogether, this is a great story that helds show the early days of Mary Jane Watson’s relationship with Spider-Man.
Marvel Comics
In The Many Loves of Spider-Man, Mary Jane once again gets the spotlight as readers gain insight into her personal life outside of Spider-Man. No, that’s not counterintuitive; understanding her agency and autonomy outside of the webbed-warrior provides perspective into her independence and personal passions. In this short story, Mary Jane Watson has hit the jackpot. Well, hasn’t she? She couldn’t be more famous, with personal security and paparazzi following her every move. Yet she wants more, something different, something with opportunity.
Roger Stern writes Mary Jane as a fierce independent woman who’s determined to look for her next chapter of her life rather than wait for it to come to her. Additionally, penciler Ron Frenz, inker Victor Olazaba, and color artist Andrew Dalhouse all deliver a visually sharp story with intense colors and thick line work that help to depict the tone of the story. It may feel a little desaturated, but it seems to be a reflection of Mary Jane’s internalized feelings being outwardly reflected into the story. Altogether, this is a very strong story that offers a glimpse into the solitude Mary Jane experienced when she was alone.
Marvel Comics
Before Mary Jane Watson became the superhero Jackpot, she was already stopping crimes in Hollywood. During the Amazing Mary Jane miniseries, MJ is back with Peter Parker, but struck out on her own to further her acting career. And what better person to work with than…Mysterio?! With her first blockbuster film’s shooting almost complete, things to be looking up for Mary Jane. In this story, we see Mary Jane face off against not one, not two, not three, not four, not even five, but SIX villains! Writer Leah Williams brilliantly balances Mary Jane’s independence from Peter, her friendship with Mysterio, and her love and passion for what she does. This story is brought to life through the emotive art of Carlos Gómez and the vibrant colors of Carlos Lopez. Altogether, this chapter is a lighthearted and endearing story with an all-too-perfect ending.
Altogether, Marvel- Verse: Mary Jane is a great utilization of the many parts of Mary Jane’s life. Through this small trade paperback, we learn about the friends, motivations, and passions that drive one of the most prominent female characters in Marvel history. This collection is a great introduction to her that also collects decades worth of important stories embodying the importance of Mary Jane Watson.
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