Image via Sony/Marvel
Published Jun 28, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT
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One of the most important characters to the legacy of Spider-Man outside of Peter Parker is easily Mary Jane Watson. The webslinger's longtime love interest plays a major role in motivating the superhero to endure all of his greatest challenges.
Marvel Comics is celebrating a milestone for the character with Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger #1. A variant cover for the upcoming one-shot sees Ms. Watson get a whole new look.
Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger #1 Variant Cover Sees Her Go Anime
Marvel Comics has previewed variant covers for several of its upcoming releases that reimagine some of its most iconic characters in the style of isekai, which is a Japanese word that translates to English as "different world" or "another world." Among those given this treatment is the title character of Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger #1.
The alternate artwork, shared on social media by Animehunter, sees the redhead dressed as an elf — pointed ears, green robes, and all — sitting atop a treasure chest that appears to have bonded with the Symbiote, based on its elongated tongue. Speaking of, dangling from her staff is a small arachnid that bears the black and gold color scheme of Mary Jane's version of Venom, which is the main timeline's current iteration.
Speaking of eight-legged creatures, seen crawling behind her in the background is a frighteningly large spider emerging from its web. Based on the image of Spider-Man's face drawn on its abdomen, the monster appears to be meant to represent an isekai interpretation of Peter Parker's superhero alter ego if his radioactive bite caused him to undergo a more thorough transformation, such as what is teased in the synopsis for the upcoming Midnight Spider-Man.
The Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger #1 variant cover comes courtesy of Gurihiru, a female Japanese artist duo consisting of penciler and inker Chifuyu Sasaki and colorist Naoko Kawano. They are known for providing art for Marvel Comics like Power Pack and It's Jeff, as well as their Eisner Award-winning work on DC's Superman Smashes the Klan.
Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger #1 Celebrates Six Decades Of Spider-Man's Love Interest
Image via Marvel ComicsIt has been 60 years since Mary Jane Watson made her Marvel Comics debut in The Amazing Spider-Man #42. The publisher is celebrating this milestone with Mary Jane: Face, It Tiger #1.
The one-shot, which takes its name from the character's iconic first words to Peter Parker, "Face it, Tiger, you just hit the jackpot," will present a collection of stories that explore pivotal eras of her legacy. One segment will set up the future for the character in Marvel's main timeline.
Some of the most legendary writers who have contributed to Spider-Man's legacy are coming together for the giant-sized special, including J.M. DeMatteis, J. Michael Straczynski, and Ann Nocenti, as well as rising star Ashley Allen. Providing artwork are the likes of Phil Noto, Alina Erofeeva, Andrea Broccardo, and Luigi Zagaria.
Mary Jane Watson was brought to life by Spider-Man's original co-creator Stan Lee with artist John Romita Jr., and was introduced as Peter Parker's third canonical love interest, but has since been recognized as the most famous. She would be immortalized on the big screen twice, first in Sam Raimi's 2000s-era trilogy as portrayed by Kirsten Dunst, and later reimagined as a young woman named Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson, played by Zendaya opposite her real-life spouse, Tom Holland, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Mary Jane: Face, It Tiger #1 hits the shelves on Aug. 5, 2026.
Comic The Amazing Spider-Man
First Film Spider-Man
First TV Show Spider-Man
English (US) · 