u/MaskedFilmmaker

And a lot of you won't like it, lol.

First of all, yes, MJ is both my choice and the definitive Peter love interest. She is the most visible across the franchise and clearly endgame. Yes, they will get back together only to be broken up again ... rinse, repeat. Marvel thinks the soap opera gimmick sells and unless the books absolutely tank, they won't change this stance.

So, that's the board ... how do we work with those pieces?

Make her Jackpot again - on her terms.

With the Venom redesign, I think that's a good indication we're on the back half of the VenoMJ arc. They'll play with Venom's design (Agent Venom, Space Knight) but not for long (long is relatively in comic time - most major shake-ups last around four years). So ... what's next?

I think the problem (as they see it) is that they simply don't know how to write civilian love interests in a way that doesn't make them collateral or a plot device. And MJ is far too important to the mythos and IP to permanently sideline her (they've tried). So, there's the tension. What do you do?

She becomes Jackpot again - but the Jackpot she wants to be.

Post-Venom, I can't see her going back to being a civilian. I know Top-Knot fixed the bracelet ... I believe this was done for more than a throwaway joke. I think once Venom runs its course, especially with the escalating violence (I don't think Torment is the last time we will see her lose control), she will have to decide what kind of hero she wants to be. She has the Jackpot device ... it's really an obvious fit.

This makes her an "equal" to Peter. She doesn't have to be rescued. She's in the story, not reacting to it. They can exist in the same world without being glued at the hip. The relationship becomes home base, not a plot device. She can have side quests with Felicia, other Spiders ... you can even introduce tension (without breaking them up) by having other heroes flirt with her. Marvel can have its cake and eat it, too.

I think making her Jackpot permanently (with a costume change, ye gods) solves a lot of problems Marvel seems to think they have. And separated from Top-Knot, I don't think the fans would revolt in large over the idea. I think this is the best option to get Peter/MJ long-term while also not completely reducing her to a gimmick (the beleaguered girlfriend).

Yes, I prefer civilian MJ and think Marvel never fully explored the dynamic there ... but, let's be honest: it's Marvel. They want to sell toys and backpacks. If Marvel will allow Peter/MJ to actually function long-term in the current era, Jackpot might be the compromise that lets them do it.

The problem was never MJ. It was how limited they kept her role.