After one of Spider-Man’s many deaths, Mary Jane Watson and Aunt May found themselves predictably inconsolable. Thankfully, this time, they were in good company. Though she had previously had a poor relationship with this superhero, one of Spidey’s fellow New Avengers helped MJ through her husband’s death — by becoming a human target.
Marvel Knights Spider-Man #21 by J. Michael Straczynski, Pat Lee, Dream Engine, and Cory Petit takes place in the wake of Peter Parker’s death in the crossover story The Other. At the time, MJ and Aunt May are living at Avengers Tower with Peter following the destruction of their respective homes. In the issue, Wolverine asks the newly-widowed MJ out on a date. MJ promptly slaps Wolverine, telling him to stay away or she’ll “find a way” to kill him.
While it might seem heartless of Wolverine to hit on a grieving widow, all is not how it appears. This reaction, Logan tells Jarvis, was his plan: for Wolverine to provide Mary Jane with an outlet for her rage.
The Other is likely not the most significant death of Spider-Man. The lead-in to Superior Spider-Man, for example, features the memorable murder of Peter Parker as Doctor Octopus plans to take over his body. The Ultimate Marvel Universe similarly features the famous death of Spider-Man that would inspire Miles Morales to take up the mantle. In comparison, The Other features a short-lived demise for Peter, with the titular hero returning within the same event. At the time, however, MJ and May have no reason to suspect that Peter will ever return from the grave after a fight with life-draining Morlun.
Following Peter’s death, Wolverine hears Mary Jane sobbing in the bathroom. As soon as she leaves, he asks her out, provoking the slap. Jarvis scolds Logan as soon as she walks off, saying he should know what this feels like. Wolverine responds by telling Jarvis he meant to be slapped: “I do know. She’s in pain. She needs something to strike out at, something to help her move from grief to rage.” Mary Jane later realizes Logan’s intent and thanks him for giving her something to lash out at in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #4.
Wolverine’s explanation to Jarvis also recontextualizes a famous scene from several issues prior. Soon after Peter moves into Avengers Tower with Mary Jane and Aunt May, MJ is caught entering her new home late at night after a premiere performance, sparking rumors in the press that she’s secretly having an affair with Tony Stark. The next morning, as the story begins circulating in the local press, MJ breaks down to Peter, apologizing for the whole ordeal. Later, Wolverine quips that, if MJ was smart, she wouldn’t be with Peter to begin with. Spider-Man throws him out an “unbreakable” window.
At the time, it appears that Wolverine is simply being his crass self, perhaps goading Spider-Man without expecting a reaction. Looking back, however, it’s possible that Wolverine is doing for Peter what he later does for MJ: providing an outlet for rage. In just a short period, Peter loses his family’s homes, and Mary Jane’s name gets dragged through the mud as a result. By picking on Spider-Man, Wolverine gives him a target that can withstand a force strong enough to shatter an unbreakable window. Intentional or not, Wolverine made himself an immortal punching bag for Spider-Man and Mary Jane.