Hard to avoid with a nickname like MJ
I do wonder if they would have gone in a different direction had Homecoming been developed only a couple years later. Post- ITSV, the PS4 game, and with Nick Spencer's run, there seems to be some renewed interest in the character at Marvel. I could see them now wanting to bring "Mary Jane" into the fold somehow. Either way, MCU Spidey has too many odd creative choices for my liking.
At the same time though, it's honestly not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. Like, Peter's friend's name is "Ned Leeds", but we ALL know that he's not actually Ned (and in fact just Ganke). But majority of people don't mind he's not "comic Ned" because they like the character's performance and interaction (they may have an issue with them taking Ganke from Miles, but that's a different issue to be fair). And then for MJ, she may be named "Michelle Jones", but we ALL know she's supposed to be Mary Jane, and character/performance wise, she fits the part and works well alongside this Peter.
Think about how many comic book characters in movies or shows that are criticized just "in name only" to their comic counterparts, so when there's a decent interpretation of a character that just has a different name, it's not a big dealbreaker for me. Mostly just as a nitpick, since there really wasn't a reason to change her name, other than A) To keep her being the "Mary Jane" of this series a secret, and B) To try and avoid the racist ramblings from certain circles.
Except in interviews it was stated she is NOT Mary Jane. So no, i dont know that she is the MCU’s version of Mary Jane. It’s actually the opposite. Ive seen confirmstion that she is not, but none that she is.
Also, for me its not just the name but the personality as well. In many ways she is a very different character then outgoing party girl, comic book MJ.
I just find it hilarious how now we can't call her by her actual name anymore. "Michelle Jones" is dead, long live "MJ" .
I guess she's Mary Jane if you replaced the Party Girl facade with a counterculture, rebellious, personality, because I think we saw in Far From Home that that's just a mask she puts on around people that she only took off when she was honest with Peter.
It's like if Mary Jane tried to be Earth-65 Gwen Stacy.
She's still a complete no-show in the Marvel's Spider-Man cartoon, but that's probably because it's adapting an era where she was vastly underutilized and also because it's a Marvel cartoon so I doubt they could use her well.
Doctor Strange: "You are the right person to replace Logan."
X-23: "I know there are people who disapprove... Guys on the Internet mainly."
(All-New Wolverine #4)
I was hoping that the movies would be a faithful adaptation of the USM comics, with MJ in her usual role from them myself, but that didn't happen. Way I see it, if I want Spidey movies with MJ in them, the Raimi movies and Spider-Verse do that. Guess I'm okay with the MCU stuff doing a different take since it's not the only option out there?
Doctor Strange: "You are the right person to replace Logan."
X-23: "I know there are people who disapprove... Guys on the Internet mainly."
(All-New Wolverine #4)
If that was really their intention then they shouldn't have given Zendaya's character the "MJ" nickname.
I was hoping for more Spec Spidey, but can't win 'em all.
I still wish we had gotten to see these two actually meet in the DLC.
(Also, it's kind of weird to see PS4 MJ depicted as a bombshell. Not that I mind).
I'm really curious how an interaction between the two would've gone about. Because I could see this Felicia end up going with the traditional teasing approach, or being more vindictive or manipulative.
I wasn't sure if Felicia knew who MJ was, but the comic that just came out did have her reference "Red" so that implies she has an idea who she is.
Considering the art here depicts a universe where MJ is the resident spider-powered hero a la Exiles or that one arc of Incredible Hercules, I could see Felicia (who has been implied, if not confirmed, in 616 canon and MC2 continuity to be bisexual) treating her the same way she would've treated most versions of Peter, for both better and worse. As for the actual game that I just realized you were all talking about, I could see MJ having a grudge on Peter's behalf that Felicia lied to him about having a son with him to get his help robbing the Maggia. Felicia's reaction would depend on whether or not she did genuinely feel bad about using Peter the way she did, though I could still see things being frosty between her and MJ for a good while.
The spider is always on the hunt.