Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane: The Unexpected Thing

Mary Jane (Collected Editions)

by Sean McKeever

It's the moment Mary Jane Watson has been waiting for - her first date with Spider-Man! But before her big night, another suitor is vying for her attention - and his name is Peter Parker! Mary Jane is facing an impossible choice, but it might not be a problem for long - not after Gwen Stacy arrives in school, and sets her sights on Peter! What's a lovesick MJ to do? She wasn't always the girl she is today...but how did she become the sort of person to push her problems away rather than face them? And how can she overcome this self-destructive habit? Plus: Harry Osborn! Liz Allan! Flash Thompson! MJ on stage! And more! It's the birth of the greatest super hero romance of all, like you've never seen it before!
Collecting: Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane (2005) 4-13

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Graphic Novels Comics, Spider Man

240 pages, Paperback

Published October 8, 2019

About the author

After writing indie comics (such as the ensemble teen-drama The Waiting Place) for six years, Sean got his big break writing an issue of The Incredible Hulk for Marvel Comics in 2001. Since then, Sean has written hundreds of comics for Marvel, DC Comics and other publishers, including notable runs on Sentinel, Inhumans, Mystique, Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, Gravity, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Birds of Prey and Teen Titans.

Best known for delivering introspective, character-driven work, Sean also wrote several weeks of the Funky Winkerbean syndicated comic strip, much of which has been reprinted in the celebrated collection, Lisa's story: the other shoe.

In 2005, Sean won the Eisner Award for Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition.

Sean continues to write comic books; he also writes for the videogame and animation industries.

Reviews

[Ruby Rose]

clean, ClEaN, CLEAN!!!

[D.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The teen drama here was IMMACULATE, and Mary Jane’s spontaneous personality changes were relatable. Highschoolers are just trying to find themselves in the midst of so much schoolwork and dating and whatnot. The girl went from popular to goth to flirty in a matter of days. The rebrand is strong with this one!

Dialogue was very dated and corny at times (hey, missy! Like, totes, girl), but this is from the early 2000s. It definitely shows in the clothing too. Dresses over jeans, anyone? The animesque artwork was cute.

[Rosie (A Rose Between Pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this (first graphic novel I've read in 10 years) but maybe I should've read the first volume of this first

[Maria Monserrat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mejor que el primer tomo. Esperando el tercero 🥺. La etapa emo de la Mary Jane lo mejor.

[Matisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was absolutely devastating.

'Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane' adds far more Spidey interactions than the last volume, making this feel like a superhero comic where the last issues did not...but it also hones in on middle-class suburban hell. There's a quiet despair behind these characters, from how Peter only once mentions Uncle Ben, to how MJ's mother is both absent and loathed, to whatever so profoundly hurt Harry Osborn.

The entire third act--or rather, the last arc of this collection--is a tragic parade of teen misery, where MJ is running from her own self-loathing, Gwen Stacy is trying and failing to find even one friend, Liz and Flash are knowingly locked into an unhealthy relationship, and the lone mentor in MJ's life fails her.

I mean, yeah, the artwork is adorable. The way this MJ and Peter feel like Kirsten Dunst and Tom Holland, and how the book shows a mundane wonder to living in a superhero world, it's all endearing.

It's that, if you peel back the surface-level storyline even a little bit, it's bleak.

There should be one more collection. I am ready. =D

[Karina Breit · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with the last book I couldn’t stop reading it but I will say I really hated Mary Jane in this book. LIKE BRO SHES A TOTAL PLAYER. But still I couldn’t stop reading it so I think I’m a little simple in that sense. I liked the character development for Peter tho

[Jodi Geever · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just delightful. I loved the art, and the story line. I loved meeting MJ, Gwen Stacy, and Peter Parker in high school. Volumes can easily be read out of order.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, simple read to clear the mind. It's Spider Man from the perspective of Mary Jane - with all the heartbreak and excitement you'd want from a teen romance, and some superhero stuff in between.

[Giovanna Tufano · Rating 2 out of 5]

Noioso.

[LYS. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Guess I don't need you anymore, Spidey!" —Mary Jane Watson, #13

this was kind of fun i like the drama. still canNOT get over this art style tho esp in the first few issues

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

its nice to have a contuity where gwen lives but this series has no point

[jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

this drama is so funny to me i love high school i love spider-man i love them

[Rachel E. Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like nothing happened in this book. It was a lot of "will they, won't they" between Peter and MJ. Also, it's all from MJ's perspective, which wasn't very interesting.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This whole series has held up really well, actually. The only thing that's dated is the fashion choices (baby doll tees and bootcut jeans), with the writing feeling as fresh as ever. I think it helps that, although there's quite a bit of personal drama here, the writing remains grounded. Realistic. These conversations could happen right now and sound almost exactly the same.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

There should be a 1000 of these things.