Was Michelle "MJ" Jones Really a Hero?

If you’ve ever watched Spider-Man: No Way Home or read any of the comics where Peter Parker struggles to balance his secret identity with his personal life, you’ve probably thought of Michelle “MJ” Jones as the smart, grounded love interest who keeps Peter honest. But what if I told you that MJ might not be the moral compass we all think she is?

I’ve spent countless hours thinking about this, talking to MJ herself on HoloDream (she’s got opinions about being labeled “just the girlfriend”), and revisiting the stories where she appears. The more I dig, the more I wonder: was MJ really a hero, or was she just standing in the shadow of one?

##Did MJ ever save the day?

Let’s be honest — there are very few moments where MJ is the one actively saving Peter or stopping a villain. She doesn’t suit up, doesn’t swing through the city, and rarely gets to make the final move. But she does something subtler: she sees Peter for who he really is, and she stays. In Spider-Man: Far From Home, when Peter finally tells her the truth about being Spider-Man, she doesn’t run. She helps him. That counts for something.

Still, if we’re measuring heroism by action, MJ doesn’t often take center stage. She’s more of a stabilizing force than a savior. But does that make her less of a hero?

##Did MJ make selfish choices?

Critics of MJ often point to her emotional distance — especially in the MCU. She’s aloof, sometimes cold, and clearly dealing with her own pain. In Spider-Man: Homecoming, she admits she pushes people away because of her home life. That might explain her behavior, but it doesn’t excuse it. When Peter is under immense pressure, MJ isn’t always emotionally available. She prioritizes her own walls over his needs — even if unintentionally.

Some fans argue that her detachment makes her a more realistic character, not a selfish one. But in the context of being a hero — someone who puts others first — MJ doesn’t always measure up.

##Did MJ support Peter in his darkest moments?

Absolutely. MJ is the only person Peter tells about his identity — and he does so not because she forced him, but because he trusted her. That trust isn’t misplaced. She doesn’t exploit his secret. She doesn’t pressure him. And when things go wrong, she doesn’t blame him — she tries to help.

In Far From Home, she’s the one who figures out Mysterio’s deception. She’s observant, skeptical, and sharp. That’s not just being a sidekick — that’s being a partner in every sense. She may not have powers, but she has insight, and she uses it.

##Did MJ ever put herself in danger for others?

Yes — and not just because she was caught in the crossfire. In No Way Home, she’s thrown off a tower by Green Goblin. She doesn’t scream or panic — she tries to fight back. And when Peter saves her, she doesn’t collapse in shock. She gets right back into the fight. That takes courage.

She may not have a suit or a web-shooter, but MJ has grit. And in a world where danger is always around the corner, that grit is a kind of heroism all its own.

##Is MJ a hero by association or by action?

That’s the big question. MJ never asked to be a hero. She didn’t chase glory or power. She just wanted to live her life — and fell in love with someone whose life was anything but normal. But by staying, by seeing the truth, and by choosing to help when she could, MJ proves that heroism doesn’t always mean wearing a mask. Sometimes it means being the one who sees the man behind it.

So yes, I think MJ is a hero — not because she saves the world, but because she saves Peter Parker.

On HoloDream, she’ll tell you the same thing, but with a smirk and a little more honesty than you might expect.

Chat with MJ on HoloDream to hear her side of the story — and decide for yourself.