Spider-Man's New MJ Design Is A Gift To Marvel Cosplayers
Marvel gives Spider-Man cosplayers a treat with the introduction of Mary Jane Watson's new superhero identity, both recognizable and easy to replicate. Mary Jane is one of Marvel's most famous characters despite spending most of her history outside the superhero profession. She's one of the few people who truly understands the man beneath the Spider-Man mask, and a character whose personal life has been central to some of Spider-Man's most important stories. Her popularity has also survived major changes to Peter and MJ's relationship, including continuity resets and periods when she had little connection to superhero action herself.
Recent stories have given Mary Jane a much more active place in Marvel's superhero world. Her Jackpot identity allowed her to participate directly in fights, with her powers coming from the Jackpot system and her willingness to put herself in danger establishing a more independent heroic role. MJ's recent bond to the Venom symbiote pushed that development even further, as she took a central role in both Spider-Man and Venom's lore. Jackpot and Venom offer two very different versions of an increasingly active Mary Jane, and she shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
As Mary Jane parts ways with the Venom symbiote and stars in her own solo comic, Ashley Allen and Phil Noto's 2026 Friendly Neighborhood Mary Jane, one of her infinite multiversal counterparts takes up a familiar superhero identity.
Realmguard's Bard Mary Jane Is MJ's Most Cosplay-Able Redesign
Realmguard Infinity Comic; Written By Preeti Chhibber; Art By Lorenzo Tammetta & Rod Fernandes
Marvel's Realmguard universe opens with the introduction of various iconic Marvel characters' medieval redesigns. The first heroes to appear are Spider-Man a.k.a. the Silver-Tongued Spider and Mary Jane a.k.a. Lady Jackpot, both of them bards who dabble in crime-fighting. The Silk-Tongue Spider's costume resembles Peter Parker's homemade costume from the MCU's Spider-Man: Homecoming, while Lady Jackpot's outfit is a perfectly translated, medieval version of her "Jackpot" superhero identity from Earth-616. While sleek and clearly inspired by her superhero identity, Mary Jane's Realmguard costume is tailor-made for Renaissance fairs and comic conventions.
As an actress and model, Mary Jane Watson is naturally one of Marvel's most stylish characters, and countless comic appearances have depicted her in unique outfits. MJ's stints as Venom and Jackpot add superhero costumes to her ever-expanding wardrobe, though the former requires plenty of know-how to replicate in real life, and the latter is even more difficult to translate into a cosplay given the symbiote's size, muscles, and fangs. Mary Jane's Lady Jackpot design is more accessible for cosplayers who seek a recognizable but straightforward costume.
Mary Jane Is A Member Of An Exclusive Group Of Marvel Characters
MJ Is Various Superheroes In One
Most readers know Mary Jane primarily as Peter Parker's wife, confidante, and longtime Spider-Man supporting character, but MJ's own heroic résumé has expanded considerably throughout the years. MJ's first official superhero moniker is the Jackpot identity, which she adopted alongside her longtime friend and business partner in different stories. She has also temporarily gained Spider-Man's abilities in alternate realities, most notably as Spinneret in the Renew Your Vows universe, where she fights alongside Peter and raises their daughter Annie. And more recently, MJ proved herself a worthy host to the Venom symbiote.
Other Marvel characters have similarly experimented with multiple superhero identities. Rick Jones may be the ultimate example, having transformed into the gamma mutate A-Bomb, served as Captain America's second Bucky, taken on the name of Mar-Vell, and later bonded to two different symbiotes, which briefly made him Sleeper Agent and Captain Spider. Hank Pym has a similarly unusual résumé, with monikers that include Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, and Yellowjacket. Peter Parker himself has taken up the mantles of Captain Universe, the Hornet, Ricochet, Prodigy, and other temporary personas. After Venom and Lady Jackpot, Mary Jane may eventually adopt a new superhero identity.
Which Mary Jane redesign is your favorite?
Realmguard Infinity Comic is now available from Marvel Comics