Warning: Spoilers for All-New Venom #5!One infamous storyline has had severe ramifications on not justSpider-Man’slife, but one of his biggest supporting characters. 2007’s “One More Day” tale has tremendously impacted Marvel’s approach to writing the Peter Parker character, as well as his surrounding stories, in ways that most fans don’t approve of. Some argue that “One More Day"continues to hold Spider-Man backin modern arcs.
As much as many fans aren’t happy with Marvel’s writing of Spider-Man, most are even more displeased withMarvel’s treatment of Mary Jane Watson, particularly ahead ofAll-New Venom#5 by Al Ewing and Carlos Gómez. Mere days before the issue’s official release, news leaked that prompted Marvel to announce thatMary Jane had become the new Venom. The news has already divided audiences.
Since 2007, Marvel has gone through extreme lengths to keep MJ away from Spidey. Becoming Venom is the latest attempt to do so, even when most fans want Marvel to go back to basics.
Marvel Doesn’t Know What to Do with Mary Jane Watson Now That She Can’t Be with Spider-Man
All-New Venom#5 by Al Ewing, Carlos Gómez, Frank D’Armata, and Clayton Cowles
Amidst the social media reaction toMJ becoming the new Venom, Marvel was quick to try to silence cynical critics, but it’s important to look at the criticisms from the critics' perspective. Whether they are right or wrong in their assessment, it’s all too easy to dismiss critics, even when they aren’t just critics, but fans and loyalists to Spider-Man as a brand and character.
While it’s a problem for a so-called critic to let nostalgia for the past prevent them from being optimistic about Spider-Man’s future, this isn’t so much nihilism as it isSpider-Man fans recognizing Marvel repeating past missteps. Ever since “One More Day,” even as Marvel has insisted on Spider-Man keeping the same status quo to the point that his beingsingle has become a company mandate, Marvel has constantly tried to shift MJ’s status quo in hopes that it keeps Peter within his own. As a result, MJ has experienced multiple rebrands with varying success, albeit not much.
Mary Jane Watson Once Played Assistant to Tony Stark
Following “One More Day,” Mary Jane Watson remained a member ofThe Amazing Spider-Man’scast. But without being allowed to fill a role as Peter Parker’s love interest, she was reduced to a mostly background role. Off on her own adventures, she founded her own nightclub in Chicago, which she appropriately called Jackpot. This story opened the door to her transitioning to the cast ofInvincible Iron Manduring Brian Michael Bendis' run on the series. When Madame Masque attacks Iron Man at Jackpot, MJ manages to save Tony’s life, and in return, he offers her a job as an administrator.
Mary Jane first saves Tony’s life inInvincible Iron Man#4 by Brian Michael Bendis, David Marquez, Justin Ponsor, and Clayton Cowles. After being offered the position some issues later, she officially began her new job inInvincible Iron Man#11 by Bendis, Mike Deodato Jr., Frank Martin, and Cowles.
Initially, Tony Stark respected Mary Jane, to the point that they were more like business partners, working side-by-side. At worst, MJ was slightly below Tony in the Stark Industries hierarchy. She officially accepted a position as his executive administrator. However, followingCivil War II,Tony was plunged into a coma, bringing into power his replacement, his biological mother, Amanda Armstrong. While working for Amanda, MJ’s position mysteriously changes to executive assistant without explanation. The series was anattempt to elevate MJ without Spider-Manby her side, and somehow, the series finds a way to diminish her worth.
Once Bendis' time with Iron Man was over, so was Mary Jane’s, as a new era with the character prompted MJ’s exit from Stark Industries. Marvel’s intentions with Mary Jane Watson seemed genuine and even respectable when she first joined the series, but along the way, the dominoes for MJ’s ascension fell as quickly as they were propped up. Her time at Stark Industries was notable for the character, as she formed a fulfilling bond with Tony, but once she received a demotion to assistant, the writing was on the wall for her career.
MJ’s Romance with Paul Has Only Made Spider-Man Fans Angry
The Stink of Paul Rabin from Amazing Spider-Man is Starting to Rub Onto MJ
In recent stories, Mary Jane Watson’s character suffers in the minds of critics not just for how she’s written in the comics, but because of who she is attached to. Zeb Wells' run as lead writer ofThe Amazing Spider-Manbrought Mary Jane Watson back into the cast, but not as a love interest for Peter. Instead, she played a supporting role as Peter’s ex, who was now seeing Paul Rabin, who quickly turned intothe most hated character in Spider-Man history. He’s so despised, hints that hecould’ve been Venom might’ve discouraged readerseven more than MJ becoming Venom.
If people don’t want to see her boyfriend appear in Spider-Man stories, then Mary Jane suffers as a result, seeing as she’s constantly paired with Paul and gets hit with the side effects of fans' hatred.
Critics have written at length by now about why fans seem to hate Paul so egregiously, but not enough has been writtenabout how this hate affects MJ. Hatred for Paul is different from hatred for an actual supervillain who fans want to see get his comeuppance. Most readers hate Paul to the point that they just want him to go away and can’t stand the sight of him. If people don’t want to see her boyfriend appear in Spider-Man stories, then Mary Jane suffers as a result, seeing as she’s constantly paired with Paul and gets hit with the side effects of fans' hatred.
Marvel Missed the Mark with MJ Being Spider-Man’s Superhero Partner
Jackpot Promotes MJ’s Independence, But Fans Want Her Romantically with Spider-Man
Marvel decided that while keeping Mary-Jane and Spider-Man romantically separate was paramount, the two should continue their platonic relationship. At first, this merely meant that MJ remained a friend to Peter with boundaries in place, but in time, Marvel opted to expand MJ’s reach by makingSpider-Man and MJ partners in crime-fighting as fellow superheroes. Mary Jane gained superpowers and adopted the name that was once used for her nightclub.Jackpot became MJ’s codename and costumeon the battlefield that she shared with Spider-Man.
Much like her time as Iron Man’s administrator/assistant, this stort was inititally a respectable change of pace for MJ. By making a difference in the superhero realm, MJ proved that she wasalways more than just Spider-Man’s girlfriend, finally producing a net positive for their relationship ending. Sadly, though, constantly putting MJ in proximity to Peter only made readers want tosee her with Spider-Man even more. If she wasn’t dating Spider-Man, most critics refused to give MJ or Jackpot storylines the time of day.
Should Marvel Comics Stop Trying to Reinvent Mary Jane Watson?
Is It Time for Marvel to Give Spider-Man Fans What They Want?
Considering that Marvel has turned Mary Jane Watson into Venom less than two years following her resurgence as Jackpot, it’s safe to say that Jackpot is yet another failed rebrand for Mary Jane. Given the number of times that Venom has switched hosts over the years, her time as the symbiote’s host is unlikely to be permanent, meaning that it’s easy to write off her time as Venom as yet another rebrand that’s bound to fail for MJ. One failed rebrand after another gives readers the impression that Marvel simplydoesn’t know what to do with Mary Jane Watson.
Marvel May Love Iron Man, But the Hero Has Been Killed In Some Seriously Awful Ways
It isn’t just the Marvel Cinematic Universe that gave Iron Man a traumatic death. Tony Stark has been through the wringer in the comics just as much.
Ever since “One More Day,” Marvel has made numerous attempts to provide as much of a brand-new day for Mary-Jane as it’s tried to give Spider-Man. Yet, none of her fresh starts seem to stick. One has to wonder if keeping her apart from Peter is backfiring for Marvel, and it’s proven to be a bigger detriment to Mary Jane’s longevity than Spider-Man’s. For Mary Jane Watson’s sake at least, maybe now is the time for Marvel to relent in its commitment. Maybe it’s time to stop trying to reinvent the wheel with MJ and reunite her withSpider-Man.
All-New Venom#5is available now from Marvel Comics.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the name given to several individuals who have employed a spider-moniker throughout Marvel Comics. Typically gaining their powers through a bite from a radioactive spider, the different Spider-Man heroes employ super-strength, agility, and intellect while utilizing webbing to swing and tangle up their foes. The most notable of these Spider-Men is Peter Parker, who remains one of the most popular superheroes throughout the world.
