CBR's 25 Best Spider-Man Supporting Characters #3-1

[Scott Taylor]

No, they really don't. MJ, Gwen and Felicia aren't interchangeable.

First of all, you can't combine Felicia with either MJ or Gwen because Felicia comes directly from Spider-Man's world. That brings with it a whole different set of dynamics than a character coming from Peter's world. Also, she loved Spider-Man but hated the Peter Parker side of things.

MJ and Gwen also aren't meant to be interchangeable. Although they'd certainly borrowed elements from each other.

Breaking it down, Gwen is a total "daddy's girl" from the upper class looking for the attention of the man who ignored her. And she loved Peter but hated Spider-Man.

MJ is from a poor background and has massive commitment issues who wants attention to fill the void caused by her terrible upbringing. She loved Peter and was mostly indifferent or positive about the whole Spidey thing (classically speaking).

Even though they all have different characters and needs, the way Peter acts around them is very similar. Thats more what I am talking about. He seems them as a love interest. Peter is not one of those guys who keeps a girl in every port, possible aspirations of BND aside, but rather he sticks to one or the other. For the one he is seeing, he wants commitment. Thats why he is constantly able to have any kind of long-term thing with Black Cat, and why he was able to with both MJ and Gwen. I think he could be happy with any of the three if they are able to conform to how he is as a person. So far MJ is the only one to really do that.

[Kevinroc]

Even though they all have different characters and needs, the way Peter acts around them is very similar. Thats more what I am talking about. He seems them as a love interest. Peter is not one of those guys who keeps a girl in every port, possible aspirations of BND aside, but rather he sticks to one or the other. For the one he is seeing, he wants commitment. Thats why he is constantly able to have any kind of long-term thing with Black Cat, and why he was able to with both MJ and Gwen. I think he could be happy with any of the three if they are able to conform to how he is as a person. So far MJ is the only one to really do that.

Yes and no. The thing is that each lady had a different reaction to Spider-Man.

Gwen didn't actually know Peter was Spider-Man. So we had a "she loves Peter but hates Spider-Man" situation with their relationship. There was this big hole in their relationship because of this. (And that they killed her, obviously.)

In the 70s, it was obvious that MJ was written as not knowing Peter was Spidey. But she also seemed pretty indifferent to Spider-Man (or was slightly positive as she said she was a Spidey fan.) Obviously this aspect changed a great deal during the marriage years. This was also the most open we've ever seen Peter with a woman as he opens up to her.

And The Black Cat loved Spider-Man but hated the Peter Parker side of him. He wanted to be open with her but she turned him away.

[ViewtifulJC]

I would have put Jonah #1. Peter Parker girlfriends come and go, but Jameson is forever.

[E. Wilson]

Huh. Jameson must be broadcasting from Pandora.

[ViewtifulJC]

Peter's jacket looks really itchy.

[Confuzzled Mutie]

They said the voting between MJ and Jonah was VERY close. I can believe that. They're both such wonderful characters.

They are. However, I will give MJ the edge because young girls really need a pop culture icon like her who feels good about her looks/self, has a vivacious personality, doesn't give a damn about what other people think of her AND has a warm, loving heart to top it all off. After all, great self-esteem makes life so much easier and fun to live and young women and girls, especially, do need to know that and in order to do so, they need a reference like Mary Jane who is self-loving and still doesn't end up being marginalized(pay attention, Marvel!) because she also has the personality and character to back her attitude. So for me, I guess MJ beats out JJJ on the grounds of larger social relevance.

Also, we need more modern day equivalents of such wacky MJ/Pete interactions-

[Kevinroc]

[ViewtifulJC]

"Those crazy threads break me up!"

[Confuzzled Mutie]

"Those crazy threads break me up!"

I know! We need more MJ-isms. Is ole Dan up for the job? Also, I would love to see Joss Whedon tackle MJ sometime. Seeing Mary Jane spout typical Whedon would just kill me completely.

[stillanerd]

They are. However, I will give MJ the edge because young girls really need a pop culture icon like her who feels good about her looks/self, has a vivacious personality, doesn't give a damn about what other people think of her AND has a warm, loving heart to top it all off. After all, great self-esteem makes life so much easier and fun to live and young women and girls, especially, do need to know that and in order to do so, they need a reference like Mary Jane who is self-loving and still doesn't end up being marginalized(pay attention, Marvel!) because she also has the personality and character to back her attitude. So for me, I guess MJ beats out JJJ on the grounds of larger social relevance.

Also, we need more modern day equivalents of such wacky MJ/Pete interactions-

Also, another thing which makes Mary Jane stand out compared to Spider-Man's other love interests (something which Gerry Conway once pointed out in a Word Balloon interview) is that while she unquestionably loves Peter and stands by his side through thick and thin, she doesn't actually need him. If anything, it's the opposite that's true.

And again, J. Jonah Jameson isn't in the upcoming new film WHY?!

[Kevinroc]

Also, another thing which makes Mary Jane stand out compared to Spider-Man's other love interests (something which Gerry Conway once pointed out in a Word Balloon interview) is that she is one of the few love interest who, while she love Peter and stands by his side through thick and thin, doesn't actually need him. If anything, it's the opposite that's true.

I think it's really interesting that MJ was, in the 60s, mostly indifferent to the Spider-Man thing. She said she was a Spidey "fan" and she did flirt with him a time or two but she wasn't really a hanger-on. She wasn't Lois Lane hunting for Superman.

And unlike Gwen and Betty, she didn't hate Spider-Man either.

(Plus 60s MJ dialogue is always hysterical.)

And again, J. Jonah Jameson isn't in the upcoming new film WHY?!

Because it wants to be Nolan's Batman. And Nolan's Batman has no room for cartoon characters like Jonah.

[One More Day]

I think it's really interesting that MJ was, in the 60s, mostly indifferent to the Spider-Man thing. She said she was a Spidey "fan" and she did flirt with him a time or two but she wasn't really a hanger-on. She wasn't Lois Lane hunting for Superman.

And unlike Gwen and Betty, she didn't hate Spider-Man either.

(Plus 60s MJ dialogue is always hysterical.)



Because it wants to be Nolan's Batman. And Nolan's Batman has no room for cartoon characters like Jonah.

To be fair Nolan's Batman made Raimi's films look like Gigli

[Kevinroc]

To be fair Nolan's Batman made Raimi's films look like Gigli

That's just plain wrong. Would you like to try again?

[One More Day]

That's just plain wrong. Would you like to try again?

Not when it's the truth.

[Kevinroc]

Not when it's the truth.

That's why I've said you need to try again. You're just plain wrong.