Gayle Watson

Origin

Gayle is the older sister of Mary Jane and first born to parents Philip and Madeline Watson. Raised in an abusive household, she turned to her ballet lessons to escape the tension at home.

Creation

Gayle Watson is a Marvel character created by Daniel "Dan" Green and John Romita Jr. Her first appearance was Amazing Spider Man #246

Character Evolution

Gayle had dreams of becoming a ballerina but one day the violence at home focused on her and her mother left with her and her sister. Passed from house to house by unwelcoming relatives, she sought out stability by marrying her high-school sweetheart. Gayle became pregnant soon after and the reality of bills and raising a baby shattered her dreams for good. When she became a single mother she expected her sister Mary Jane to help her but her sister ran away instead.

Major Story Arcs

Due to her father's abusiveness, Gayle began to take ballet lessons more and more to avoid going home as much as possible. One day, her father turned his anger on her and struck her, furious at the cost of the lessons. Gayle's mother Madeline could not allow the abuse she endured for years be inflicted on her daughters and left while her husband was receiving an award at the college he worked at as a professor.

The thee females had an extremely hard time of it, staying at relative's homes for short periods of time, passed around until finally Madeline's cousin Frank took them in. In exchange for shelter, the widower expected Gayle's mother to take care of his three children along with her own and the house. Things weren't much better as he was extremely strict so Gayle jumped at the chance to marry Timmy Byrnes, her football player boyfriend. Soon she became pregnant with her first son Tommy, followed by another Kevin and she worked as a waitress to make ends meet. Her husband abandoned her and their children and her mother became ill so she turned to Mary Jane for help.. Determined to escape the same fate as her sister, Mary Jane ran away to New York City where she would eventually meet Peter Parker.

Powers and Abilities

Gayle Watson was once a very good ballet dancer with hopes of making a career, her ballet toned body now used to endure long days and nights working as a waitress.

Characteristics

Gender: Female

Citizenship: American

Marital Status: Divorced

Children: Tommy and Kevin Byrnes

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Green