Spider-Tracer: The Top 10 Mary Jane Watson Figures

Welcome back, Spider-Man fans! While we’ve looked at some of the best versions of different Spider-Man villains when it comes to action figures (Hobgoblin and Lizard, for example), we’ve only covered one supporting character, and that was J. Jonah Jameson. I thought it was time to give the villains a break, and look at another supporting character: Mary Jane Watson! Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best figures this girl next door has ever had…

 

10. Sandman Build-A-Figure Wave Mary Jane

 

 

I’m going to start by saying that this figure is ugly. She’s one of the worst looking figures Mary Jane has ever gotten; I mean, of all the movie looks to go with, why this one? Even her accessory is terrible; a board of wood, are you kidding me? So why is she on the list at all? She’s the first super articulated figure the character ever had! Alas, this figure was made during Hasbro’s early years producing Marvel figures, and it shows. However, this was the first figure Mary Jane had since the 5” ToyBiz era of figures, and there were some definite improvements, just… not with the face or choice in outfits.  The figure’s articulation is archaic by today’s standards, but even so, it was a step in the right direction.

 

9. 12” Fashion Doll Mary Jane

 

 

I know what you’re thinking. “This is a doll, not an action figure!” Well, yes and no. ToyBiz, known for their articulated action figures, produced this Mary Jane toy (the box boasted about its poseability), and she’s in a box with a Spider-Man: The Animated Series logo with the words “Special Collector’s Edition” plastered on the box. So, that all said, I’m going to count her. Her main outfit was clearly based on her look in the 90’s animated series (though her hair seemed more in line with the 90’s comics of the time), which aired on the Fox network. Other accessories included some hairbrushes, a bookbag, and a cheetah print outfit. What makes this release unique is that it’s one of the few times Mary Jane was sold on her own and not in a 2-pack.

 

8. Happy Meal Mary Jane Watson

 

 

To help promote the 90’s animated series, McDonalds offered a selection of Spider-Man figures based on the cartoon with their Happy Meals. What’s very cool about the Mary Jane figure they issued was that the head sculpt was more accurate to the show than anything ToyBiz offered at the time. She also came with some snap-on outfits, which looked great on their own, though wearing jeans and cowgirl boots under them looks… not so great.

 

7. Spider-Man: Holiday Special 2-Pack Mary Jane

 

 

While this figure wore a Santa-themed outfit, and not something more recognizable, one has to appreciate how nicely she turned out. I was especially happy to get this figure for Christmas as a kid, as I had been wanting a Mary Jane figure for quite some time. And while she wasn’t in an outfit I was used to, I still appreciated having her, all the same. This set, which also include a similarly Christmas-themed Spider-Man, was exclusive to Toys R Us, and limited to only 35,000 units! Also included is a sack of toys, as well as a magnet.

 

6. “Spider-Man” (2002) Mary Jane

 

Despite coming out 5 years before the Hasbro movie Mary Jane figure, this one featured a much better likeness to actress Kirsten Dunst, as well as a great display base (which could fall apart, just like it did in the 2002 movie!). She wasn’t as articulated as future Mary Jane figures, but I managed to appreciate this figure more thanks to the power of hindsight after the aforementioned figure Hasbro made in 2007.

 

5. Marvel’s Famous Couples 2-Pack Mary Jane

 

 

Limited to only 24,000 units (and also a Toys R Us exclusive), I never did manage to track this set down, and had to settle for the Holiday 2-pack version (not a bad consolation, mind you). However, as a kid that was a big fan of the 90’s cartoon, never getting a proper figure of her was still disappointing to some small degree. Mary Jane received no accessories in this set, but the set did come with an exclusive Spider-Man and Mary Jane pin. The Mary Jane figure itself was a straight repaint of a previous Invisible Woman figure, which explains why the head sculpt is so off model. Despite that shortcoming, she still looked nice.

 

4. Marvel Legends “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” VHS 2-pack Mary Jane Watson

 

 

Finally, after all those years of waiting, Hasbro made a Mary Jane Watson figure based on the 90’s animated series in 2023! And she was an accurately sculpted one, at that! Everything from her hair, to her sweater, to her boots were perfectly detailed. Couple the great sculpt with nice articulation and vibrant colors, and you get an amazing figure to add to your collection. And now all of your Spider-Man figures can scream “MARY JANE!!!!!”

 

3. Marvel Universe Mary Jane Watson

 

 

Part of the 3 ¾” toyline dubbed “Marvel Universe”, this Mary Jane was a Fans’ Choice Winner, as the box proudly decreed. It was also the first comic version of Mary Jane Watson that Hasbro produced, but not the last, as we’ll soon see. This figure utilized a nice, classic design, and even came with a packed-in Ms. Lion figure from “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends”. I could have done without the Spidey-shaped heart on the shirt, but I certainly don’t hate it! This was a well-executed figure for the time that set the standard for future Mary Jane figures.

 

2. Marvel Legends “The Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows” 2-Pack Spinneret

 

 

If alternate universes are your thing, chances are high that you’ll enjoy this Mary Jane as Spinneret figure! Super articulated, the figure sports pinless doubled jointed elbows and knees, alternate hands, as well as an unmasked Mary Jane Watson head with updated painting added to a head that was previously only offered with the Retro Gwen Stacy figure (as nice as this head was, it never looked right on that body sporting Gwen’s attire from “The Night Gwent Stacy Died”). What’s really cool, is that you can swap this unmasked Mary Jane head onto the number one figure on this list…

 

1. Marvel Legends Spider-Man and Mary Jane 2-Pack

 

 

Toys R Us sure did like Spider-Man and Mary Jane 2-packs, didn’t they? While Spidey sported a then-modern costume, Mary Jane was in her classic, black, sleeveless shirt and jeans! The freckled face on this figure looked a bit too stern for the fun-loving character, but thankfully, you can use that aforementioned unmasked Mary Jane head from the Spinneret figure on this body, which is how I currently display her on my shelf. Mary Jane also came with a purse. While there is room for improvement (pinless double jointed elbows and knees, anyone?), this is still, for me, the best Mary Jane figure to date!

 

Did your favorite Mary Jane Watson figure make the list? Either way, let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!