Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Mary Jane & Black Cat #1In the latest tie-in to Spider-Man's Dark Web crossover event, Mary Jane Watson debuts brand-new powers that likely confirm her official superhero name in the near future of the Marvel Universe. Because MJ and Peter Parker haven't been together in a while, it's currently unknown when and how Mary Jane received her very own superpowers. However, the specific powers themselves are very telling, likely referencing Spider-Man's past during the Brand New Day storyline.
In the new Mary Jane & Black Cat #1 from Jed MacKay and Vincenzo Carratú, Felicia Hardy feels the need to make sure Mary Jane is okay during Chasm and Madelyne Pryor's demon takeover of New York. However, she's shocked to discover that MJ is more than okay, protecting herself and her new family using brand-new powers from a collection of demon possessed kitchen appliances. Joining the fight with Black Cat, it's revealed that Mary Jane is wearing a device on her wrist that allows her to reach out and select a new power at random, much like a slot machine. As such, it stands to reason that Mary Jane is finally becoming her own version of Jackpot in the Marvel Universe.
Spider-Man Theory: Mary Jane Has Become A New Jackpot In Marvel's Dark Web
Following the controversial Spider-Man reboot that was One More Day, the subsequent Brand New Day era saw Peter Parker interacting with Jackpot, a new redheaded superhero who gained superpowers from an Oscorp virus known as "Lot 777". This original Jackpot (Sara Ehret) eventually sold her costume and name to the non-powered Alana Jobson who used Mutant Growth Hormone to give herself temporary abilities. However, Spider-Man intially thought this new hero might have been Mary Jane herself, and not just becuase of the red hair. After all, Mary Jane's first words to Peter were "Face it tiger, you just hit the jackpot".
Now, it looks as though Mary Jane is finally becoming a new iteration of Jackpot in the Marvel Universe, though the source of her powers and where she got the device are currently unknown. However, it's also been established that Spider-Man has no idea that MJ has these powers, and she tells Black Cat she wants to keep it that way. As such, she likely got the powers during her time apart from Peter with her new family, having left Spider-Man after the still unknown and mysterious thing Peter did 6 months prior to this current run of Amazing Spider-Man.
By the issue's end, Black Cat and Mary Jane have found themselves in Limbo, a good sign that MJ will soon reunite with Spider-Man who's currently battling his evil clone Chasm and Limbo's queen Madelyne Pryor. As such, it will probably be only a matter of time before he learns about Mary Jane's new powers that very much suggest she'll be the next Jackpot. Mary Jane & Black Cat #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.