Spider-Man: Far From Home: Zendaya, the Black Dahlia Murders, and the MJ We Deserve

Far From Home makes it clear that this Spider-Man girlfriend wont get a silly crush on an anonymous hero without knowing exactly who is under the mask.

So Michelles morbid taste in fiction and love of real-life mystery makes it not at all surprising that she would be drawn to the Black Dahlia case. This conveniently allows Peter to fixate on a traditionally romantic and feminine item for MJ without losing touch with her non-conformist personality.

A collection of interests and hobbies arent the only things that set Zendayas MJ apart from the pack of Peter Parker girlfriends who have come before her. Even since the introduction of Gwyneth Paltrows Pepper Potts in 2008s Iron Man, Marvel Studios has attempted to avoid some of the boring ruts past comic book girlfriends found themselves in. The likes of Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), Nakia (Lupita Nyongo), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), and so on arent likely to find themselves helplessly in need of rescue. Theyre warriors in their own right, and even Pepper gets to wear a super-suit.

Crucially, MJ isnt a warrior. Her extremely human, teenage self is a key component of that friendly, neighborhood vibe that keeps the Spider-Man franchise a smaller-scale, down-to-earth story. (Note that none of these new Spider-Man villains are actually superpowered: Both Michael Keatons Adrian Toomes and Jake Gyllenhaals Mysterio are normal guys who accomplish all they do thanks to some advanced tech.) MJ, Marisa Tomeis Aunt May, and the rest of Peters allies need to represent the normal life that keeps tugging on his heartstrings.

But even so, these films go to great lengths to ensure Zendayas MJ isnt damseled. Its a refreshing departure from Sam Raimis Spider-Man trilogy, which puts Kirsten Dunsts Mary Jane Watson in danger every chance it gets. Marc Webbs Spider-Man movies even imperiled Emma Stones Gwen Stacy to death.

In Homecoming, MJ conveniently sits out her classs field trip to the Washington Monument and is spared the harrowing elevator disaster that threatens Liz, Ned, and the rest. In both the Venetian and Prague skirmishes in Far From Home,Read More – Source

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