Warning: Spoilers ahead for All-New Venom #5!
Marvel has officially revealed thatVenom’snew host is Mary Jane Watson, and, while surprising, this twist would have been a genius move if Marvel had never published the “One More Day” storyline. This notoriousSpider-Mantale completely changed the trajectory of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson’s relationship, and if the beloved pair were still an item, MJ as Venom could have been far more compelling.
InAll-New Venom#5, written by Al Ewing, with art by Carlos Gomez, it is finally unveiled that Mary Jane has taken up the mantle as the new host of Venom. The team-up ofSpider-Man’s main love interest and one of his most iconic villains, turned anti-hero,would make for an interesting dynamic, except for the glaring issue that Peter Parker and MJ have been separated years now.
“One More Day” greatly detached Mary Jane from ongoing Spider-Man stories, and Marvel has been making strides to reel her character back into the forefront.
Marvel’s New Venom Would Be More Exciting If Spider-Man’s Most Controversial Story Hadn’t Changed Everything
All-New Venom#5; Written By Al Ewing; Art By Carlos Gomez; Color By Frank D’Armata; Lettering By Clayton Cowles
Mary Jane and Peter Parker’s relationship and eventual marriage were an integral part of Spider-Man as a hero; the couple grew together as characters, and MJ often grounded Peter outside his life as Spider-Man. Yet,in 2007’sSpider-Man: One More Day,Marvel made the controversial decision to undoPeter Parker and Mary Jane’s marriagewhen the couple traded their marriage to Mephisto to save Aunt May. This story regressed Peter and MJ’s relationship into an on-and-off-again couple that eventually came to an end when Mary Jane began a relationship with a man named Paul.
MJ becoming Venom’s host would have tested their relationship in thrilling ways, while also forcing Peter to grapple with having the Venom symbiote back in his life.
While “One More Day"was meant to reset Spider-Man to his roots, later reinstating Peter Parker’s secret identity, it came at the massive cost of Mary Jane and her place in the Spider-Man mythos, as it distanced her from Peter and gave her less narrative significance. Mary Jane becoming Venom would arguably be more intriguing if she and Peter were still a couple. MJ becoming Venom’s host would have tested their relationship in thrilling ways, while also forcing Peter to grapple with having the Venom symbiote back in his life. This, however, is not the case.
Marvel Has Been Making Strides To Keep Mary Jane Relevant To The “Main Story”
Will Mary Jane’s Arc as Venom Fix what “One More Day"Broke?
Despite Peter and Mary Jane’s continued separation, MJ has remained an influential part of Marvel’s overarching narrative with varying levels of success, asshe has become the hero known as Jackpot, taken in Eddie Brock’s son, and is now the new host of Venom.While Mary Jane has always been a fan-favorite, her status since “One More Day” has left her future uncertain, and it doesn’t help that MJ has been coupled to Paul, a greatly despised character. Marvel has avoided rekindling Mary Jane’s relationship with Peter, but her new arc as Venom could potentially reel her character back in.
Marvel Finally Reveals Its New Venom, Confirming the Symbiote’s Ties to Mary Jane In a Shocking Twist
Marvel has officially confirmed that Mary Jane Watson is the new host of Venom, setting up a major new era in her burgeoning career as a superhero.
Venom and Mary Jane have a turbulent historythat left Mary Jane disliking the symbiote, however, both also share a long history with Spider-Man that may act as a route to MJ and Peter renewing their relationship. Even if Mary Jane and Peter do not get back together, Mary Jane acting as the current host of Venom will give her a more prominent part to play within Marvel. It’s been established that MJ and Venom didn’t team up by choice, so her time with the symbiote could dive into her prior disdain for him.
Mary Jane As Venom Stands Is A New Direction for Both Heroes, But Peter Parker Should Be Part Of The Picture
Mary Jane’s Time As Venom Could Either Help Or Hurt Her Character
This twist of Mary Jane as the new Venom is already greatly polarizing, and the prospect of MJ leading the charge in Venom’s new era could either help or harm her character.“One More Day"didn’t just affect Mary Jane by distancing her from ongoing Spider-Man stories, it also reverted Peter Parker to his more introverted nature,leading Spider-Man down a spiral of depression. With MJ becoming Venom and her and Paul’s relationship struggling, there is potential for Mary Jane to distance herself and return to being a more prominent figure within Spider-Man’s narrative.
As one of Marvel’s most essential couples, Spider-Man and Mary Jane could always find a way to come back together, and Venom may be the key to restoring their romance.
Marvel has been adamant about preventing Spider-Man from re-marrying Mary Jane; however, in keeping MJ and Peter apart, Marvel may have passed up an interesting story now that Mary Jane is Venom. If Mary Jane and Peter Parker were still an item, MJ being the new Venom would have created a new and interesting dynamic between the three characters, and while that isn’t the case currently, there is still hope. As one of Marvel’s most essential couples,Spider-Manand Mary Janecouldalways find a way to come back together, andVenommay be the key to restoring their romance.
