Mary Jane Watson

Mary Jane Watson lived across the street from Peter Parker. Both excellent students, they often did science projects together; and through MJ briefly dated Peter's friend Harry Osborn (unknown to Peter), it was really Peter she liked. She saw Peter bitten by the Oscorp-mutated spider that later gave him super-powers, narrowly avoiding the same fate herself. Already his confidante, she comforted after his uncle's murder and soon asked him out on a date, though Peter was forced to postpone it. When Peter confessed his dual identity as Spider-Man to Mary Jane, she let slip her feelings for him and they began dating. There were challenges: Mary Jane's father hated Peter, and often had to treat Peter's injuries or repair his costume. Initially enjoying the idea of dating a super-hero, Mary Jane got a wake-up call when Peter's enemy Norman Osborn, Harry's mutated father, nearly killed her. Peter rescued her as Spider-Man, but the incident traumatized them both. Jealous when new classmate Gwen Stacy began staying with the Parkers, and shaken after taking Peter to the hospital for a gunshot wound, Mary Jane made a decision: fearing Peter would die as Spider-Man, and believing Gwen loved Peter, Mary Jane broke off their relationship.

Peter kept trying to win Mary Jane back, gradually wearing down her resistence. After they fled a party disrupted by the explosive mutant Geldoff together, Mary Jane gave Peter a love letter and they began dating again. Caught cheating on his wife, Mary Jane's father took his anger out on her, reading her diary and finding cryptic mention of her adventures with Peter. Accusing Peter of endangering his daughter, Mr. Watson cracked down on her, threatening to send her away to another school, until Mary Jane ran away and convinced her to return home; though she was grounded for a while, her mother finally threw her father out and Mary Jane's home life got better.

With her father gone, Mary Jane had to take a job at Big Easy Cajun. She finally made peace with Gwen, who confirmed she loved Peter like a brother. The two girls even began bonding until Gwen was murdered. Blaming himself, Peter decided to quit being Spider-Man; however, Mary Jane later convinced him to don the costume again and talk to Johnny Storm, another troubled young superhuman. She and Peter planned a "fancy date" together, but on the intended night, Peter was attacked by a nightmare creature that assumed Mary Jane's form and said he would get her killed. When the long-absent Harry Osborn returned, Peter learned Mary Jane had dated him. Knowing Harry had become dangerous, Peter warned Mary Jane to stay away from him, but she ignored him, and as a result was endangered again when Harry transformed into a monster. Afterwards, feeling unable to trust her and fearful for her safety, Peter broke up with Mary Jane. She was subsequently asked out by senior Mark Raxton, but realized she still loved Peter, and decided she would somehow proved herself worthy of his friendship.