Marvel Database
Marvel Database
Marvel Database
266,427
pages
in: Novels, 2003, July, Marvel Press/Publisher,
and 91 more

Mary Jane: The Novel

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Appearances

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • Boris Karloff (Mentioned)
  • Eminem (Mentioned)
  • Stephen King (Mentioned)
  • Ann Miller (Mentioned)
  • Anna Pavlova (Mentioned)
  • Gelsey Kirkland (Mentioned)
  • George Balanchine (Mentioned)
  • Leslie Browne (Mentioned)
  • Margot Fonteyn (Mentioned)
  • Mikhail Baryshnikov (Mentioned)
  • Rudolf Nureyev (Mentioned)
  • Vaslav Nijinsky (Mentioned)
  • Vera-Ellen (Mentioned)
  • Benny Goodman (Mentioned)
  • Aunt Jemima (Mentioned)
  • Betty Crocker (Mentioned)
  • Duncan Hines (Mentioned)
  • Mrs. Paul (Mentioned)
  • Jabba the Hutt (Mentioned)
  • Terminator (Mentioned)
  • Miss America (Mentioned)
  • Henry VIII (Mentioned)
  • Clark Kent (Mentioned)
  • King Kong (Mentioned)
  • Lois Lane (Mentioned)
  • Wonder Woman (Mentioned)
  • New York Philharmonic
  • PBS
  • Sports Illustrated (First appearance in this reality)
  • Bradford School Faculty
    • Mr. Dooley (First appearance)
  • Bradford School Students
    • Lazy-Eye Larry (Mentioned)
  • Midtown High School Faculty
    • Coach Renny (First appearance)
    • Principal Ashworth (First appearance)
    • Ms. Downey (First appearance)
    • Ms. Ingram (First appearance)
    • Ms. Krumplesteater ⏵ (First appearance; unnamed)
    • Vice Principal Van Arsdale (First appearance)
    • Mr. Wilner (First appearance)
  • Midtown High School Students
    • Alison Myers (First appearance)
    • "Brittany Boobs (First appearance)"
    • Belinda (Mentioned)
    • Ben Diaz (Mentioned)
    • Carrie Beckerman (Mentioned)
    • Howard (First appearance)
    • Meg (Mentioned)
    • Sarah Tang (Mentioned)
    • Tiffany Reed (First appearance)
    • Mat Maids (First appearance)
    • Varsity cheerleading team
      • LaShonda (First appearance)
      • Missy Lewis (First appearance) (Leaves)
    • Midtown Gazette ⏵ (First appearance)
  • Midtown High School Staff
    • Mookie (Mentioned)
  • NYPD ⏵ (First appearance)
  • Osborn Industries (First appearance)
    • Marketing
      • Bob McKenna (Mentioned)
    • Nelson (Mentioned)
  • Manhattan School of Ballet (First appearance)
    • Yuri Ivanovich (First appearance)
  • Father Perkins (Mentioned)
  • Granny Watson (Mentioned)
  • Mrs. Johnson (Mentioned)
  • Mike (First appearance)
  • Muriel (Mentioned)
  • Rochelle Silverman (Mentioned)
  • Wrestle Cage Rage (First appearance)
    • Demon Knife Master (First appearance)
    • Intimidator (First appearance)
  • Ruby's House-O-Dance
    • Madame Olga (First appearance)
    • Ruby (First appearance)
  • Daily Bugle ⏵ (First appearance)
  • National Inquisitor (Mentioned)
  • Genetically Modified Spider (First appearance)
  • Gestapo (Earth-31310) (Mentioned)

Races and Species:

  • (First appearance in Humans reality)
  • Mice (First appearance in this reality)
  • Olympians (Statue) (First appearance in this reality)
  • (First appearance in Spiders reality)
    • Rare red-striped South American spider
  • Wasps (Mentioned)

Realities:

Locations:

Items:

Events:

Plot

Mary Jane Watson's story begins in 1991 when, at nine years old, she learns to distract herself from her parents' constant arguments. Her mother Madeline and father Philip quarrel over money and unmet expectations. Mary Jane finds refuge in her pink-curtained room, writing in her diary about school and her fascination with ballet, inspired by a book on Russian dancers. Attending ballet lessons is sanctuary from troubled family life.

In fourth grade, Mary Jane reluctantly sits next to Peter Parker, the school's awkward “nerd,” in science class. Despite initial embarrassment, their collaboration on a science fair project—a robot named Floyd—blossoms into a genuine friendship. Peter's kindness contrasts with Mary Jane's difficult home life, and she finds warmth in the Parker household, a stark contrast to her own. However, the science fair ends in disaster when her drunken father crashes the event, destroying their project and humiliating Mary Jane. This incident deepens her isolation and guilt, and she grows apart from Peter especially as his parents die in a plane crash.

As Mary Jane grows older, her family moves to a cramped Queens apartment by 1997. Her mother, now divorced and dating a man named Mike, struggles to maintain optimism despite their hardships. Mary Jane starts at Midtown High School, feeling out of place but quickly befriended by Wendy Gonzales, herself a transfer student (from Chicago). She reconnects with Peter, who later transforms from a shy boy into a more confident and athletic young man after a mysterious spider bite during a school field trip to Osborn Industries. This bite grants Peter enhanced abilities, including perfect vision and strength, which he uses to excel in basketball, surprising everyone and earning newfound popularity.

Mary Jane continues her passion for dance at Ruby's House-O-Dance, though she faces harsh criticism from her ballet teacher Madame Olga, who cruelly comments on her weight, sparking insecurities. Meanwhile, Mary Jane balances friendships with Wendy, a flirtation with wealthy and charming Harry Osborn, and a complicated, growing attraction to Peter. Their science project on the controversial OZ sports drink from Osborn Industries becomes a focal point, in time revealing the dark side of Norman Osborn's corporate ambitions when Mary Jane eavesdrops on a phone call at the Osborn Manor.

Peter's rise to athletic stardom brings both admiration and jealousy, especially from Flash Thompson, who resents Peter's success. Mary Jane joins the cheerleading squad, hoping to fit in, but struggles with eating disorders fueled by pressure to maintain shape. Her relationship with Peter deepens as they spend more time together working on their project, sharing personal struggles and supporting each other through family troubles—both Mike's unfitting presence and Uncle Ben's murder during a robbery. She comforts him through his grief, and their bond strengthens.

Mary Jane also finds hope in a full scholarship to the prestigious Manhattan School of Ballet, allowing her to return to her true passion. She reconciles with her mother, who eventually leaves Mike and supports Mary Jane's dreams.

The OZ drink, heavily promoted by Norman Osborn, is revealed to have dangerous addictive properties and severe side effects, including increased aggression and physical mutations among students. Mary Jane and Peter, with involuntary help from Harry, uncover this conspiracy, risking their safety to expose the truth. Their efforts lead to a scandal that topples Norman's reputation but leaves his son Harry devastated by his father's downfall, leaving Mary Jane and Peter feeling guilty. Right after Ben's funeral and during their planned consolation date, the couple share their first and second kiss.

Solicit Synopsis

New to Midtown High, Mary Jane Watson juggles her parents' divorce, her love of ballet, and her one shot at making a splash with the other kids at school.

A surprise reunion with childhood crush Peter Parker sends her on an emotional roller coaster. Too bad he's got a reputation as the school nerd. Which may be death to her social standing with the A-list crowd except...she can't get him out of her head.

When a spider bite triggers Peter's stunning transformation from sciencegeek to b-ball jock, Mary Jane is as shocked as the rest of her classmates—and suddenly unnerved. Does Peter still feel the same way about her?

Even more confusing, beautiful rich boy Harry Osborn starts to pay serious attention to her, while a new, mysteriously hot guy—in tights—makes sudden cameo appearances around the neighborhood.

Between this, her mother's creepy newman at home, and a bizarre rash of competitive behavior at school, Mary Jane just wants to maintain some control over her life.

But will she endanger herself and everyone she cares about in the process?

Inspired by the best-selling Ultimate Spider-Man graphic novels.

Notes

Other Covers[]

See Also

Links and References

References

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