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Off My Mind: Should Mary Jane Gain Superpowers?

Having powers could help them stay together.


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It's been 3 years since the marriage between Peter Parker and Mary Jane was erased. The marriage happened but it didn't happen. Spider-Man being married was a way to bring a change to the character. He started out as a high schooler, went through college, lost his first true love and finally settled into being an adult by marrying Mary Jane.  
 
For different reasons, it was felt Spider-Man shouldn't be married. It was thought by some that younger readers wouldn't be able to relate to a married superhero. Peter Parker always had his bad Parker Luck. He constantly had girl problems trying to juggle his normal life with his superhero career. Many thought marrying a supermodel just didn't fit with who Spider-Man was supposed to be. 
 
I've always felt there was more to the problem than that. Being a married superhero didn't make me like Spider-Man more or less but I was happy to see the progression. I always thought that the problem was what to do with Mary Jane once they were married. If she wasn't being harassed or threatened by enemies like Eddie Brock or her own personal stalkers, she was pretty much just sitting around waiting for Peter to return home. With so many titles and adventures, it never seemed likely that Peter and Mary Jane actually spent any quality time together.  
 
What if Mary Jane gained superpowers? Would this allow her to fully become part of Spider-Man's world? 
 == TEASER == 
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I know right away people are probably screaming that Mary Jane should never gain superpowers. That's not who her character is. She was always meant to be a major civilian supporting character for Spider-Man. Having her get powers might be seen as a cop out in trying to keep the two together. But if it meant they could be together, would it really be that bad? 
 
I actually first thought this would happen back in 1985 with Amazing Spider-Man Annual #19. I thought it would be cheesy but I would have been totally okay with it. So much was put into their relationship. I vividly remember the scene Spider-Man and MJ shared when they were reunited after she was kidnapped and he introduced her to Captain America. This was way before Cap had any idea who Spider-Man was behind his mask. Mary Jane was such an important part of his life that he simply wanted a hero he completely respected to meet her. But stories like that are null and void since the marriage was erased from existence.  
 
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Since Peter now has access to a high tech lab after the events of BIG TIME, why doesn't he simply replicate his powers for Mary Jane? It was a simply lab experiment back when he was in high school. How much has technology changed since then? Unless there was something extraordinary about that poor spider that was subjected to radiation and died transferring powers to Peter, he should be able to duplicate the process and give spider-powers to Mary Jane. Is this something that will actually happen? There has been an image teasing the possibility. 
 
Another option, that I'm not quite sold on, would be that all their years of being...intimate could cause her to gain his abilities. We saw in Spider-Man: Reign that she actually got cancer from years of being by his side. But what if instead, and I'm not trying to be graphic or gross, but what if there was something in the exchange of...saliva or something during kisses that could transfer his powers. Years and years of swapping spit could be just what it takes to give her character a new direction. Again, I don't like this idea as much as Peter creating a way in his lab but it is another option. 
 
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Peter may be with Carlie Cooper right now but she's no Mary Jane. MJ still cares deeply for Peter but after O.M.I.T., she's decided she can't be with Peter and Spider-Man. Gaining similar abilities would put them on a level playing field. She wouldn't be reduced to the damsel in distress, especially since her character is so much stronger than that. We were teased with Jackpot being Mary Jane and I can't recall if readers made an uproar over that. I think Spider-Man and Mary Jane should be back together. It has been stated since Brand New Day that the two could get back together, there just weren't any plans for them to be married. Why not give Mary Jane powers and let the two lovebirds fight crime and kick butt side by side? It might go against Mary Jane's character but wouldn't that be better than just seeing her making catty faces when watching Peter and Carlie together?

157 Comments

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RogueOracle

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Power her up.

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Blood1991

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Heck No whith Red She Hulk and Super Potts their should be NO more supergirlfriends

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biglou2013

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didnt mary jane get super powers in the spider-iland story line for a litte bit into spiderman cured avery boby.

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Cobalion

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Has nobody seen the Movie "My super ex-girlfriend"? Thats a perfect example why MJ should'nt be super.

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ubungqingili

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cant anybody learn magic in the marvel universe if i was mary jane forget all this be saved and learn magic from doctor strange or something.

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Dcmarveljoseph

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No Lois and Jimmy never got powers and I could see mj becoming increasingly annoying with powers

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HopesummersFORtheFUTURE

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does anyone remember the super hero jackpot???? and he thought she was MJ at first lol.....i thought it was too

i wouldnt mind if mj became a super hero just not with powers like batman or hawkeye

shes spiderman's girl she needs something......