Marvel unveils Mary Jane 60th‑anniversary comic and Uncle Ben backstory ahead of 2026 Spider‑Man film

Marvel Comics announced a giant‑sized one‑shot, **Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger #1**, to be released in August 2026. The issue marks the 60th anniversary of Mary Jane Watson, featuring new stories by J. Michael Straczynski, J. M. DeMatteis, Ann Nocenti and Ashley Allen, with artwork by Phil Noto, Alina Erofeeva, Andrea Broccardo and Luigi Zagaria. Jim Cheung provides the main cover while David Nakayama creates variant covers, including a coveted “virgin” edition for collectors.

Separately, the Russo brothers clarified a long‑standing MCU question during a ten‑year anniversary Q&A for *Captain America: Civil War*. Joe Russo confirmed that Uncle Ben’s death in the MCU was not caused by Peter Parker, representing a departure from the traditional origin narrative. This revelation was tied to the upcoming MCU film **Spider‑Man: Brand New Day**, scheduled for release on 31 July 2026, which will further explore Peter Parker’s story.

Both announcements signal Marvel’s coordinated push across its comic and cinematic divisions as it prepares major 2026 releases tied to iconic Spider‑Man characters.