Warning: Spoilers for Jackpot #1!One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most common tropes dating back to the Avengers movies is outright illegal in the comics. In the MCU, it’s rare to see superheroes refer to each other by their superhero codenames. Granted, most identities in their universe are public knowledge anyway, but audiences always hear Iron Man called “Tony,” for example. It’s always “Natasha” or “Steve,” never Black Widow or Captain America.
Jackpot #1 – by Celeste Bronfman, Joey Vasquez, Edgar Delgado & Erick Arciniega, and VC’s Ariana Maher – makes it clear that, in contrast with the MCU, secret identities are taken extremely seriously in Marvel’s comics. As lawyer and recently-recruited Avenger She-Hulk points out, Spider-Man commits a legitimate legal offense, by calling Jackpot “MJ.”
During a team-up, Peter Parker can’t help but refer to his ex Mary Jane Watson by her real name, rather than her new Jackpot identity. She-Hulk reminds MJ that she legitimately could sue Peter if she wanted, for violating the Secret Identities Act.
Spider-Man’s Exes Reunite as Marvel’s Best Dynamic Duo in JACKPOT & BLACK CAT
Mary Jane and Black Cat are teaming up once again, and this time they’ll be taking out a blackmailer while MJ shows off her new powers as Jackpot.
Spider-Man’s Breach Of The Secret Identities Act Was Careless, But Not Malicious
Spider-Man’s breach of the Secret Identities Act in Jackpot #1 was a result of habit, rather than disrespect, or any sort of intent to disclose his heroic colleague’s identity. As a result, it would likely not be actionable in court, something law expert She-Hulk certainly knows. The joke at Spidey’s expense is amusing, but it also serves the greater purpose of distinguishing Jackpot from his past as Peter Parker’s beleaguered love interest, as she moves forward with her own starring series for the first time as a superhero.
Secret identities have in many ways become less integral to contemporary comic book stories, as a recent Fantastic Four issue made clear, and as the MCU Avengers in particular highlighted. The Secret Identities Act shows that the protection of heroes personal information remains a relevant question being explored in Marvel stories. Though it may not fit in every series, or on screen, the wider Marvel Universe still has to reckon with secret identities. The Act is also an inversion of Marvel’s past, in which it first Civil War was instigated by the attempt to force heroes to register their identities with the government.
The Original Iron Man Film Made Secret Identities Obsolete In The MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe was inaugurated by 2008’s Iron Man. One of the most thrilling parts of the film was its very last scene. The audience is led to believe Tony Stark is going to hide his identity as Iron Man, setting up a familiar narrative dynamic for the next film. Instead, he promptly announces his heroic identity to the world, effortlessly dispensing with the need to keep it a secret. This fundamentally changed the MCU’s relationship with the secret identity trope, and it has never looked back.
The fact that the Secret Identities Act exists in the Marvel Universe, but not in the MCU, showcases the modern divergent evolution of the superhero trope across mediums. Jackpot #1 effectively nods toward this, while also flawlessly delivering another joke at Spider-Man’s expense. While newly-recruited Avengers member She-Hulk was almost certainly just busting on her colleague, and bonding with her new heroic ally, the idea of Spider-Man getting sued for such a minor slip-up, one that wouldn’t even be an issue in the MCU, would definitely be in line with the familiar Parker luck.
Jackpot #1 (2024) | |
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