Spider - Man and Mary Jane are one of the most renowned duet in all of amusing book account . The only kinship that might be more well - know than theirs is Superman and Lois Lane . When Sam Raimi releasedSpider - Man(2002 ) , he make up one’s mind to rewrite Spider - Man ’s history to make Mary Jane the girl next door , who Peter had a crush on since puerility . In the funnies , he did n’t assemble her until much later , and they did n’t seriously start date until year had excrete . However , they eventually got married , and as far as everyone was concerned , Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson were Marvel ’s honorable twain .

Of course , behind the scene , things were never that simple . Mary Jane was originally introduced just to be a foil for Gwen Stacy , Peter ’s lovemaking pursuit during the time period . Decades later on , when Peter and Mary Jane got wed , not everyone at Marvel was thrill . Many writer and editors tried to break the couple up , but could never do so without angering buff . When they eventually did , it was one of the most controversial stories ever . The result is that the two have had a very weird , strained human relationship over the eld . While they ’re draw as happy and in sexual love , there are a flock of details that do n’t make sentiency .

update on December 21st , 2021 by George Chrysostomou : MJ and Peter Parker ’s relationship continues to be one of the most iconic story in Marvel ’s comics , as the duo not only go through the ups and downs of their partnership but also carries on grow on the large screen . Despite their many appearance , there ’s still a telephone number of thing that do n’t really make sense about this match though .

Spider-Man Noir

Everything About “One More Day”

One of the most controversialSpider - Manstories everhas to beOne More Day(2007 ) by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada . Aunt May is nearing her oddment after being shot by one of the Kingpin ’s assassins . Mephisto offers to heal her , but only in exchange for wiping out Peter and MJ ’s marriage because he hate lawful love .

Peter is loth , but MJ agrees . The resultant was one of the most perplexing retcons ever . History was change so that they never got married , but they still had a years - retentive relationship . This will a good deal of gaps in persistence that Marvel adjudicate to just ignore and move on from .

They Have Nothing In Common

It ’s possible for two citizenry to love each other and not have much in common . At some point , however , a couple needs to have something to build a kinship on . Peter Parker and Mary Jane could n’t be further aside from each other in almost every single way . He ’s a science flake with a weird sense of humor and no social accomplishment .

Meanwhile , MJ is an aspiring model / actress , except for when she ’s a exceedingly successful model / actress . In recent years , she ’s testify a more entrepreneurial side , but that still involved opening a nightclub , the sort of place where Peter does n’t match in at all . They say opponent pull , but there comes a point where that just becomes absurd .

They Got Together Way Too Soon After Gwen’s Demise

prison term in comic Word is a suspect thing . The Marvel Universe has a slide timescale , meaning that it ’s hard to peg down down when account take place in relation to each other . The clip that passes in the real world means nothing . That being aver , Peter and MJ started dating right smart too soon after Gwen Stacy ’s dying .

She lost her lifespan inAmazing Spider - Man#121 ( 1973 ) by Gerry Conway and Gil Kane . By the ending of the next subject , the seed were being planted for them to get together . They did n’t immediately start dating , but Peter seemed to get over his " one , honest love " suspiciously fast . Granted , MJ was cognisant that Gwen cheated on Peter with Norman Osborn , but that ’s another account entirely .

She Flip-Flops On Pete’s Life As Spider-Man

Look , dating a superhero must be surd . Nobody can pick someone for not wanting to deal with it , or seek to convince a loved one not to take a chance their animation . Also , it can make take a social life impossible . It ’s understandably frustrating , but at some point , enough is enough .

It seems like Mary Jane ca n’t make up her mind about Peter ’s life sentence as Spider - Man . Sometimes she ’s to the full supportive , while other meter she need him to quit . consider that she knew Peter was Spider - Man before she even meet him , it ’s sentence for her to estimate out her feelings and make a decision . They both know he ’s not run to give up being a hoagie , so it ’s time to be grown - ups .

Their Engagement Was Super Quick

InAmazing Spider - Man Annual#21 ( 1987 ) by David Michelinie , Jim Shooter , and Paul Ryan , Peter Parker married Mary Jane . Behind the scene , this occurred because Stan Lee wanted Spider - Man to get wed in the newspaper comic strip that he was write at the metre . Marvel liked the idea and decided to have them get married in the comics as well .

The problem was that they were broken up at the time . So , the writers had to quickly bring her back , rekindle the romance , have Peter propose , and then get wed . This all take place within the span of a few issues . Anyone that ’s ever design a real wedding knows how unrealistic this whole timeline was .

Do They Have A Baby Or Not?

The secondClone Sagathat ran during the mid-’90s had one of the most confusing conclusion ever write . Basically , the author needed to finish Ben Reilly ’s plot line while also draw up all of Peter ’s loose ends to make it potential for Peter to become Spider - gentleman again . One of these plot of land thread was the fact that Mary Jane was pregnant .

The editors felt that Spider - Man being a dad would age him , so they suggested that Mary Jane not have the infant , after all . However , it was also heavily imply at the sentence that Norman Osborn had the sister taken off . This storyline was tease for a few geezerhood , before ultimately being forgotten about .

Why Does Peter Still Use The Black Suit?

InAmazing Spider - Man#299 ( 1988 ) by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane , the Symbiote Venom made his   dire   first appearance . Mary Jane recollect she saw Peter wearing his black costume until a sass formed and turn into a horrific smile . Venom did n’t wound Mary Jane , but the experience was still pretty traumatic for her .

After Spidey defeat the scoundrel , Mary Jane asked him to stop bear the pitch-dark costume . This made sense , and Peter happily obliged . Except , he keeps bringing the costume back from time to time . Sometimes there ’s a specific grounds , other times he just seems to feel like wearing it . He knows it frighten his wife , but apparently , Peter like the way it looks too much to care .

How Successful Is Her Career?

Not everyone is a fan of Peter and Mary Jane ’s relationship . While many fans jazz her , some feel that it ’s weird for Peter Parker to be married to a supermodel . That can be a valid complaint , but the problem is that Mary Jane has had one of the most inconsistent careers ever .

She ’s forever go between being a struggling role model , a highly sought - after model , a Georgia home boy opera actress , and even apply up on show business completely multiple time . It ’s understandable for calling to have ups and downs , but it seems like the writers ca n’t even settle if she ’s notable or not .

They’ve Both Dealt With Too Many Stalkers

In the late ' 90s , Marvel ’s first attempt to undo Spider - Man ’s marriage result in Mary Jane get on a plane which then irrupt mid - flight of stairs . For the next class or so , everyone believe she had passed away . Instead , she had been   snatch up away by a deranged stalker , who have the blowup so that no one would depend for her .

Before that , Mary Jane had to deal with Jonathan Ceaser , who attempted to take her away several times in the early ' 90 . Even Peter had to deal with other honey interestslike his ex - girlfriend , Felicia Hardy , dating Flash Thompson just so she could be near him during that same fourth dimension period . People really want to give these two their privacy .

They Break Up Constantly

comical account book ca n’t just rely on action at law , they also need to have play . One of the most common places writers create drama is in the bomber ’s relationship . It ’s plausibly very hard to date a superhero , and it ’s understandable that not everyone would need to signal up for that ride . At some point , however , enough is enough .

It ’s laborious to feel bad for them when Peter and Mary Jane break up because they do it all the time . He ’s always focus on saving people , she ’s constantly move to another part of the country to work on her career . When Mephisto forced them to break up , he could ’ve just wait a few month and get the same result .

How Did She Not Notice Otto’s Mind In Peter’s Body?

One of the dark second of Peter ’s life sentence came about whenDoctor Octopus trade head with Peter . InAmazing Spider - Man#700 ( 2012 ) by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos , Otto ’s trunk   passed on with Peter still trapped inside of it , leaving Otto in control of Peter ’s consistency . For the next year or so , he lived as Spider - Man , and nobody noticed ( despite a gross change in " Peter ’s " attitude ) .

Now , this may make good sense for most people , but Otto briefly had a family relationship with Mary Jane . She spent year living with Peter and knows about his Spider - Man adventures . How could she not detect that something was very wrong ? Sure , she noticed a change in Peter , but she should ’ve actualize that he was n’t the same person .

How Do They Afford Their Apartments?

A common complaint across various forms of fiction is that fictional characters   oftenseem to be able-bodied to give apartment that they should n’t be able to . For Spider - Man and Mary Jane , however , it ’s pretty bad . Of course , there are times when Mary Jane ’s career is go very well , which explain how they can afford a nice flat .

For the most part , however , Peter is a struggling photographer and she ’s a struggling model . Somehow , they are consistently able to open apartments with giant skylights . in earnest , Tony Stark would skin to afford some of the place they ’ve lived in over the years . In reality , they should be living in a basement studio apartment an minute away from Manhattan .

Peter Was Super Shallow About Meeting Her

In the early story , Peter could be kind of shallow . Granted , he was a teenager , but he always just seemed concerned in dating the prettiest girls . Considering that he was always getting hector and picked on , he should ’ve been more reason . When Aunt May first mentioned essay to set Peter up with MJ inThe Amazing Spider - Man#15 ( 1964 ) , he require nothing to do with her .

His reasoning was that he assumed that she would n’t be his type , but the import was pretty clear . Then , when he found out that she was beautiful , he was suddenly concerned . It move around out , Peter ’s case was " any girl that look upright , no matter of her interestingness or personality . "

Why Did She Need To Be Set-Up With Peter In The First Place?

Every comic book fan bang the account of how Peter and MJ match . A recurring plotline in former Spider - Man stories was Aunt May incessantly essay to set Peter up with her friend ’s niece . The two did n’t actually meet untilThe Amazing Spider - Man#43 ( 1966 ) by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko , when Peter opened the door and she said the iconic phrase " face it Panthera tigris , you just off the jackpot ! "

What ’s uncanny about this , however , is that Mary Jane was a beautiful and forthcoming girl . Peter was meddling being Spider - Man and was considered a nerd by his peers , so it ’s apprehensible that he ’d ask help getting dates . Mary Jane , on the other hand , should have been doing just fine .

How Did She Know To Say The Jackpot Line?

Ok , this might seem like a nitpick , but it ’s always seemed kind of weird . The famous picture where Peter and Mary Jane first run across plays out like this : Peter answer the door , and Mary Jane is stand and delivers the famous crease . It ’s a memorable moment , but it also does n’t make any horse sense .

Mary Jane never get together Peter before this . How did she know she was a " jackpot " for him ? Maybe she was n’t his type ? For all she knew , he could have answered the room access and been very disappointed . Also , maybe he would n’t care what she front like ? It was a pretty arrogant matter to say , look back , and she ’s lucky it did n’t backfire .

The Reason She Calls Him Tiger Makes No Sense

For years , everyone focalize on the " kitty " part of Mary Jane ’s famous introduction , but on the face of it , Peter was focalize on a dissimilar part . Apparently , he never sympathize why she anticipate him " tiger , " particularly because the nickname stuck . It ’s a good question . Especially during those other years , Peter Parker was anything but a " tiger . "

In the originalClone Sagathat ran during 1975 , Peter in reality asked Mary Jane for the reason . It bend out , it ’s because he ’s not a tiger and she ’s just playfully teasing him . That ’s fine , except why did she say it the first time she met him ? How did she get it on he was n’t a " Panthera tigris ? "

They Don’t Even Try To Hide Knowing Each Other

Peter ’s never been great at keeping a secret identity . His intact scheme is that he ask pictures of himself fighting crime as Spider - Man , and then pretends that he ’s just Spidey ’s photographer . He ’s basically say everyone that he ’s plug into to the paries - crawler in some direction .

Even worse , whenever Spider - Man run into Mary Jane , they often blatantly blab to each other in public . They always blank out to pretend that Mary Jane is n’t supposed to know Spider - Man . That , or they go way over the top and really awkwardly state that they do n’t know each other . At some point , someone ’s going to observe Spidey play with Peter Parker ’s married woman and put two and two together .

How Did She Figure Out His Secret Identity?

As antecedently stated , Peter is kind of frightening at keep a secret identity . Oftentimes , Peter does n’t even get catch as Spider - Man , hoi polloi just end up figuring it out . For example , after dating Peter during the ' 70s and the ' 80s , Mary Jane broke up with him , move away , and then come back to New York . When she returned , she bring out that she had figured out his secret .

While that made sense , later stories contradicted this . It was finally revealed that she catch Peter leaving his house dressed as Spider - Man the night Uncle Ben break down . So , she did n’t figure it out . plain , this was a retcon , but the result is that Mary Jane lied to Peter . She did n’t figure anything out !

They Both Keep Hanging Around Their Exes

Both Peter and Mary Jane had sound geological dating life before marrying one another . There ’s nothing incorrect with that . On the other bridge player , it ’s strange how they ’re both constantly hanging around their X . Peter still take Black Cat around constantly , and he and Betty Brant are still very confining .

Meanwhile , Mary Jane dated Harry Osborn while they were both in college , and the relationship did not end well for him . Now , years after , everyone is always hanging out together and that ’s a little strange . cling around with your ex typically leads to tragedy , and ground on how many ex - boyfriends and girlfriends are around , Peter ’s Spidey - mother wit should be prickle .

Gwen Was Meant To Be Peter’s True Love, Not MJ

The   end of Gwen Stacy is one of the most defining moment in comic record book chronicle . Up until that point , the hero lay aside the girl . Part of what made this story so memorable was that Gwen Stacy was always stand for to be Peter ’s one straight love . Her dying shake his humankind , and he ’s still touch by it , even to this sidereal day .

That ’s understandable , but it also strain Peter ’s relationship with MJ . She ’s always been understanding , but how many fourth dimension can she come across him crying over Gwen ’s image in the attic before it part to impress her . She ’s constantly being prompt that she might be Peter ’s second choice . Even if she does n’t contain it against him , that has to hurt .

NEXT : The 10 Most Obscure Spider - Man villain In Marvel Comics

Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

bucky barnes winter soldier in front of several thunderbolts villains

Split image of MJ, Spider-Man and the pair getting married in Marvel Comics

MJ looks up at Peter in One More Day Marvel Comic

Peter and MJ in their apartment in Marvel Comics

Peter grieves Gwen Stacey as MJ comforts him in Marvel Comics

Peter and MJ on their wedding day in Marvel Comics

Spider-Man Wedding

Spider-Man and his daughter suited up in Marvel Comics

An image of Spider0Man in his Secret Wars Venom costume.

Spider-Man kicks a crook while MJ sings in Marvel Comics

A helicopter crashes in Marvel Comics

Peter and MJ get divorced in Into The Spider-Verse

Spider-Man with his spider bots in Marvel Comics

Peter enters a room with MJ in Marvel Comics

MJ holds an iron man mask in Marvel Comics

Peter smiles at MJ in Marvel Comics

Peter Parker meets Mary Jane for the first time in The Amazing Spider-Man #42.

Peter hugs MJ in Marvel Comics in the background of a glass window

Black Suit Spider-Man drops in on MJ in Marvel Comics.

Mary Jane as the Iron Spider in the comics

MJ hangs out with someone else in Marvel Comics

Mary Jane and Gwen Stacy dance in Marvel Comics.