Origin

Early Life

Mary Jane Watson lived in an abusive household. She was born to Philip and Madeline Watson, and was the younger sister of Gayle Watson. Mary Jane’s mother had initially wanted to move to New York so she can pursue an acting career, but she gave up her dream to let her husband pursue his. Mary Jane’s father was a frustrated professor and writer, he would take out his frustration on the family as spouse and child abuse due to him becoming an alcoholic. Her father constantly changed his jobs by moving from one college to another, having to uproot his family and move whenever he changes a job. This added with the troubles at home, MJ developed the party girl personality to hide the embarrassment at home and to be loved by her peers quicker. One day MJ’s father struck his daughter Gayle because he became enraged with the cost of Gayle’s dancing lessons; Madeline had accepted her husbands abuse on her, but did not want to see it happening to her daughters. Madeline took her two daughters and left Philip while he was about to receive honors during a college awards ceremony, MJ and her sister lived with her mother moving from relatives to relatives. Her favorite relative is Nisanti, who is also the neighbor of Aunt May and Peter Parker in Forest Hills. During this time Mary Jane was 13 years old and Peter was 14 years old. When she first saw Peter it was when he was sweeping leaves outside his home, she was not interested in him at all because of his "nerdy" look. Mary Jane moved with her mother and sister to Pittsburgh where they finally settled with her mother’s uncle Frank Brown, whose wife and three children had passed away. Mary Jane went to high school there with her sister and she became the typical popular girl. Mary Jane began working on her dream of becoming a famous actress by performing in many school plays including ”Romeo and Juliet”. Her sister on the other hand, married her high school sweet heart Timmy Byrnes and she became pregnant at the age of 19. Mary Jane saw the eyes of desperation in Timmy just like her father’s and became distant from her sister. Mary Jane began going to parties more often and worked on her acting to distant herself from her sister.

During Thanksgiving Break, Mary Jane went to stay with her Aunt Anna. While there, her previous opinions about Peter Parker would change on the night of Uncle Ben's death. MJ saw Peter sneaking out of his window in his Spider-Man costume, but she decided to keep it to herself and not tell anyone. Mary Jane’s sister became pregnant again and Timmy left her soon after. What made it worst was Madeline became seriously ill and eventually passed away, leaving her two daughters on their own. Gayle had expected Mary Jane to stay with her and help her take care of the two kids, but Mary Jane ran away from Gayle and moved to New York with her Aunt Anna. While temporarily staying with her Aunt Anna, MJ found a job waiting tables and dancing at a local restaurant. MJ eventually earned enough money to rent her own studio apartment downtown. Aunt Anna and her friend Aunt May constantly tried to set up Mary Jane and Peter, but MJ would constantly make excuses to get out of the blind date.

First Mary Jane appearance

Face it Tiger

You hit the jackpot...

Aunt May had been trying to set him up with her neighbor's niece for quite some time, hoping that Peter would marry Mary Jane one day. Initially, Peter had been reluctant to meet her, assuming she would not be his type. Peter also was in love with the secretary at the Daily Bugle, Betty Brant, and Liz Allen was constantly flirting with him. Mary Jane was first mentioned in Amazing Spider-Man #15. She then made her first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #25 when MJ went over to the Parker’s to meet Peter, however Peter was out fighting Spider-Slayers as Spider-Man. Mary Jane’s face was covered by a plant during this appearance. During this time, Liz Allen and Betty Brant were going over to the Parker’s to visit Peter. However, Peter was not there but Mary Jane was, and the two girls were left astonished at their new competitor for Peter’s affections. Mary Jane Watson finally made her first full appearance at the end of The Amazing Spider-Man #42 printed in November 1966. She greeted Peter with the now immortal line, "Face it Tiger, you hit the jackpot."

Peter would change all thoughts about MJ when he actually met her, discovering that she was stunningly beautiful and charming, the two began dating. During their first date, they saw Rhino going on a rampage on the news. MJ knowing that Peter would want to go fight Rhino decided to hop on Peter’s motorcycle so the two of them can “check it out.” Once there, Peter disappeared telling her he had to “take pictures” for the Daily Bugle, and MJ stayed to watch Spider-Man arrive. Peter eventually introduced Mary Jane to his circle of friends, consisting of: Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy, and Flash Thompson. However, he is bothered by her apparent superficiality and decides to date fellow science major Gwen Stacy instead and the two fell deeply in love. Mary Jane began dating Harry Osborn while still constantly flirting with Peter. MJ and Gwen continued their competition for Peter’s love but Gwen was the one Peter grew closer to. MJ later found work as a dancer at a New York night club called the Gloom Room. It was owned by the Kingpin which eventually led to a gunfight. One of the criminals tried to shield himself by using Mary Jane but Spider-Man would be able to rescue her. Mary Jane finally met Spider-Man face to mask for the first time. Eventually Peter and Gwen would break up temporarily and MJ tries to date Peter again. However, Peter was too attached to Gwen and the two would resume their relationship again. MJ went back to Harry and still continued to flirt with Peter.

Mary Jane tending to Peter after Gwen's death

The Death of Gwen Stacy

When Green Goblin murders Gwen deliberately to hurt Spider-Man in the story arc The Death of Gwen Stacy, it is Mary Jane who comforts him. Peter arrived back to his apartment to find Mary Jane waiting for him there. She tried to help him mourn but Peter would tell her to leave him alone and get out. He was enraged because a girl with her personality wouldn’t be upset if her own mother died. Of course, Peter knew nothing about MJ’s past. MJ stood at the door hesitating, eventually closing the door and staying with Peter to comfort him. MJ broke up with Harry soon after, whose sanity had become unstable after the death of his father. She told Harry that she was tired of Peter’s depression and did not want to be associated with him or anyone he knew. Eventually as time goes by and Peter slowly recovers, he starts

to fall in love with Mary Jane again. During a party, Mary Jane confessed her feelings to Peter, telling him that she loved him but she did not want a serious relationship. She did not want to be hurt by someone she loved like her family has hurt her. Harry had become the second Green Goblin and set off a bomb which hospitalized MJ. Peter stayed by her side until she was able to fully recover. Peter later had to go on a trip to Europe, in which MJ would see Peter off at the airport. At the airport,

Mary Jane, will you marry me?

the two exchanged a long and passionate kiss which helped MJ realize her deepest feelings for Peter. After Peter returned he would discover a clone of Gwen Stacy. MJ became fearful of losing Peter again and Aunt May would help push MJ in the right direction, telling her to go for the initiative if she wanted to win Peter’s heart. Peter and the Gwen clone would part ways, when Peter returned to his apartment he would discover MJ waiting for him inside. During one of their dates, Peter decided to take off to investigate a murder as Spider-Man. MJ decided to date Flash Thompson to make Peter jealous. She eventually confronted him and told her she was not sure if

a serious relationship would work if Peter kept going to take pictures for the Bugle every time. The two would eventually reconcile, and when Mary Jane was helping Liz Allen pick out a wedding gown for her upcoming marriage with Harry Osborn, MJ began wondering what Peter would think of her in a wedding gown. Peter would soon propose to Mary Jane by giving her a cracker jacks box with a real diamond ring inside. However, she tells him that she does not want to be tied down. Peter and MJ remained as close friends, but after all the

Sorry tiger, I don't want to be tied down

disappointment he gave her by leaving their dates early to go out as Spider-Man, she began avoiding him. She also became angered that Peter cared more about being Spider-Man than her, and when she graduated from college she leaves New York for a long time. MJ moved to Florida to help her Aunt Anna settle in there; however she secretly wanted to get away from Peter.

The Marriage

I now pronounce you Spider-MAN and WIFE

When Mary Jane returns she began her modeling career and began dating many other actors and famous people. When MJ was at Peter’s apartment, the Puma had tracked down Spider-Man. Peter notices danger with his spider-sense and pushes MJ out of the apartment and locks the door. MJ could hear the entire battle inside his apartment, eventually Spider-Man would defeat Puma. Afterwards, MJ confesses to Peter that she cannot handle the danger he puts himself into and tells him that she has always known his secret alter-ego Spider-Man. She had in fact known from almost the very beginning as she had seen him leave to confront Uncle Ben's killer. The Black Cat would arrive at Peter’s apartment shortly after, which led to MJ running out of the apartment crying (Black Cat and Spider-Man have become very close during MJ’s absence). MJ was about to leave New York again but decided to confront Peter. She told him her life story, in which Peter would gain the confidence to tell MJ everything about himself. Peter and MJ stayed as friends hoping to be able to re-light the fire they once had for each other. They continued their close relationship as friends, being able to tell secrets to each other. However, they realize that they were hiding from their real feelings. Peter decided to propose to Mary Jane again. However, she declined again and left for Pittsburgh.

MJ had to visit her sister who was sent to prison for stealing a rare manuscript. Eventually MJ would turn in the real culprit who was her father Philip. MJ was able to reconcile with her sister and she returned to New York to accept Peter’s proposal. Even with the concerns that couple were too young and because of Peter's double life, Peter and Mary Jane decided to get married (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21). The reason MJ became Mary Jane Watson-Parker was because she thought that getting rid of her maiden name "Watson" meant she had to stop partying, so instead she just attached his surname on. Peter was wearing the black costume at this time too but Mary Jane convinces him to stop using it because she's fearful of Venom.

Modeling Career

Mary Jane continued her career as a model and was also being stalked by their Landlord. When she rejected his offer he outed her from the entire modeling industry. However, Mary Jane found a job on a Soap Opera called "Secret Hospital." MJ was unhappy with her role on that show because her character's personality was a mean and air-headed character. She petitioned to get the character's personality change and was successful, but quit when a deranged fan attacked her because of what she did on the show. When Harry Osborn died, this added on to the massive amount of stress that Mary Jane had which caused her to start smoking. When Peter left for a period amount of time to sort out the recent problems with his parents coming back and actually being fake, MJ visited her sister Gayle and her father, and she reconciled with them. Peter returns and the two reunite.

Clone Saga and the baby

During the Clone Saga, Mary Jane discovers that she is pregnant. To make a happy news horrible, Peter and she received news from Seward Trainer that Peter was in fact, the real clone and Scarlet Spider was the real Peter Parker. When he heard the news, the Jackal used hypnotic suggestions to get Peter to kill Mary Jane, but Ben was able to prevent this. Later during an argument with Ben, Peter accidentally hits Mary Jane. He decides to quit being Spider-Man due to the stress of having a double life and with a baby due to arrive. They decided to move to Portland to try and raise their baby in peace. Eventually they returned to New York. During the Onslaught crisis, a Sentinel scanned Mary Jane and detected an abnormality in her fetus. Mary Jane's baby was long past due and she was poisoned by an agent of the Green Goblin. Mary Jane's baby ended up being stillborn(Dead at birth). Ben Reilly (Scarlet Spider) died that exact same night.

Aftermath

After all the traumatic experiences the two have gone through. Mary Jane begged Peter to quit being Spider-Man, and he agreed. Mary Jane soon returned to college and majored in Psychology, but eventually became bored and returned to modeling. Peter started going out at night as Spider-Man again behind her back. Mary Jane started getting threatening phone calls from an anonymous stalker. When MJ was flying across America for her modeling job, her plane exploded in the air. Mary Jane was not dead however, but was kidnapped by an unknown mutant telepath and was held for several months. His motive was to try and take over Peter's life, but committed suicide when he gained enough of Peter's personality and morality to see that he was doing too much wrong. Peter and MJ would reunite right after.

After the traumatic experience with being held in captivity, she moved to Los Angeles by herself to pursue a career in acting. She would later return to Peter. Mary Jane would continue to pursue a career in acting by auditioning for plays. Mary Jane goes through some rough times trying to get parts for movies, often breaking her heart when she is not offered a role. Eventually she does land a role around the same time Gwen Stacy's children arrived. Mary Jane would later find out about the children from Peter and tells him that she already know the children do not belong to him, but in fact she knew who the real father was, Norman Osborn.

New Avengers and the Civil War

When their apartment burned down and Aunt May's apartment burned down, the family moved to Stark Tower where they lived while Peter worked as a New Avengers. Mary Jane continued her acting career in plays. She would also be constantly harassed by the tabloids. One night, one of the tabloid photographers followed her home to the Stark Tower. That very next morning, Mary Jane was on the front page of the tabloids saying that she is cheating on Peter with Tony Stark. Eventually Tony would stop this rumor from the tabloids himself and their lives went back to normal. The Super-Human Registration Act was going to be a law soon and Mary Jane and Aunt May told Peter that they will support him whatever he decides to do. Mary Jane even supported Peter when he told her the idea of revealing his identity to the world. Later Peter would decide that being on the side of the registration is bad so he decided to go ROUGE on Iron Man and the registration act, both MJ and Aunt May decided that they want to go underground with Peter. They stayed at a cheap motel for a while. When Mary Jane was arrested by a SHIELD agent, she did not give in and tell him where Peter was. Eventually Peter would show up and save her. Later Aunt May was shot by a sniper and had to be taken to a hospital.

Back in Black

Mary Jane is currently staying with Aunt May at a hospital under fake names. Eventually Mary Jane would tell Peter that Aunt May needed a blood transfusion and that they could not continue paying the hospital with money up front. Peter would decide to give Aunt May his own blood and asked MJ to get the items required. After that, and right afterwards Peter went after the Kingpin and soon beat the holy hell out of Fisk and warned him that if Aunt May died, He will come back and kill him.

One More Day

When the blood transfusion failed to heal his Aunt May, Peter was confronted by Mephisto and gave him a deal, that he will bring back Aunt May's health back, in return, Mephisto will eliminate all events pertaining to Peter and MJ's marraige, and they were given one day to decide. The couple agreed to save Aunt May's life, but before Mephisto could do anything, MJ whispered something to him, and told Peter that they will be together again someday. The next morning, Mary Jane is seen and is somehow mad at Peter at something and soon left the place. It was explained that Peter and MJ once dated in the past but their relationship is now considered frosty, at best, and she is currently living in Los Angeles but occasionally come back in New York to visit her aunt.

Brand New Day

Equipment and Abilities

Mary Jane carries a gun in her purse but Peter disagrees with this. Peter made her web shooters for more protection, which is hidden as a charm bracelet. She is also trained in self defense by Captain America. In Exiles and Marvel Mangaverse, She is Spider-Woman. She has the same abilities as Spider-Man.

Alternate Realities

Spider-Woman

Earth-8545 Mary Jane - Spider-Woman

In the alternate universe called the Legacy Planet most of earths heroes was consumed by the legacy virus. The reality hopping super team the Exiles came here on a mission to repair the reality and eventually joins up with Earths Resistance. They find Mary Jane Watson aiding the Resistance as Spider-Woman and apparently she is the counterpart of Spider-Man in this reality and has the powers that Peter Parker got in most other realities. Mary Jane is a lesbian in this reality and during their stay, Sunfire (The Exiles Sunfire, Mariko Yashida is female) and Mary Jane fall in love, knowing that Sunfire (and the other Exiles) could be recalled at any time.

On a later mission two of the Exiles, Sunfire and Nocturne return to this reality due to a mysterious glitch that separates the team. Mary Jane and Sunfire gets two happy weeks together, then Sunfire and Nocturne disappear just as sudden as they appeared and both women are heart-broken.

After Sunfire's death, Morph buried her in the Legacy Planet reality to allow Mary Jane the chance to visit her grave.

Ultimate MJ

Ultimate Mary Jane

Earth-1610 Mary Jane attends Midtown High School with Peter Parker and Liz Allan. Mary Jane is a bright intellect that pretends to be a "party girl" to fit in. When MJ and Peter started going out, she finally finds out that Peter is actually Spider-Man and is the second person to know his secret identity. MJ sews Peter's costumes for him when he tears them, and she also makes spares for him just in case. The Green Goblin took advantage of Mary Jane for being the love of Peter Parker. He kidnapped her and threw her off the Queensboro Bridge. Spider-Man catches her and at first looked like she was harmed, but in fact she just fainted. When Harry returns to New York it was revealed that Mary Jane and Harry were romantically involved for a brief amount of time. Harry tells MJ that he blames Peter for "killing his father". When Harry turned into the Hobgoblin and battled Spider-Man, MJ was caught in the middle and was almost killed. After the fight, Peter broke up with MJ in fear for her life. He decided that being a superhero was too dangerous of a life for her to be a part of. Mary Jane tries to bounce back with another guy she met but realized that she loved Peter. MJ soon found out that Peter started dating X-Men's Kitty Pryde. During the Clone Saga story arc, MJ was kidnapped by a deformed clone of Peter Parker who wanted to give MJ the power to be able to take care of herself, so they can get back together. He injects her with the same OZ formula that created the Green Goblin and Spider-Man. When she found out that he injected her with something she got scared and panicked which caused her to transform into another type of Goblin (It could possibly be Bendis' version of the Demogoblin). She was cured at the Baxter Building by Mr. Fantastic and Dr. Franklyn Storm. MJ and Peter seem to have rekindled things between each other after that incident.

Earth-2301

In the Marvel Mangaverse, she is Spider-Woman and she is with Spider-Man. She fight crimes with Spider-Man. She is in a ninja group called the Spider-clan.

Earth-982

Mary Jane of the MC2 reality is the mother of Spider-Girl. She is also financing her daughter's college fund by selling Spider-Girl merchandise. She also bore another child but had complications in the pregnancy, but nevertheless gave birth to a health boy named Benjamin Richard Parker, after Peter's uncle and father.

Earth-58163

In the House of M reality, Mary Jane is a famous actress, and one of few humans that are liked by the mutant population. She is starring of a film base on Spider-Man where she plays his wife in this reality, Gwen Stacy.

Earth-2149

In the Marvel Zombiverse, Mary Jane and Aunt May were both eaten by a zombified Spider-Man. Later, Peter was so guilt-ridden by his actions that he wouldn't take off his mask and see what he has done to the two people that he loved.

Earth-8311

In the Larval Universe, Mary Jane is anthropomorphic buffalo named Mary Jane Waterbuffalo, the lover of Peter Porker aka Spider-Ham.