Sadie Sink as Jean Grey? 8 Spider-Man and Jean Grey Marvel Comics Stories to Fuel the Speculation

Is Sadie Sink really portraying the mutant X-Man Jean Grey in Spider-Man 4, or is the Stranger Things actress merely a decoy? On Wednesday, various media outlets announced that Sink has been given an important yet unspecified role in Marvel Studios and Sony’s sequel to 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. This announcement follows rumors suggesting that Marvel had considered Sink for the part of telepath Jean Grey, who is known as both Marvel Girl and the Phoenix, in the ongoing X-Men reboot, which aims to introduce the mutant team into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Indeed, Sink’s role in the upcoming project has sparked discussions about who she might portray. Could it be Jean Grey as suggested? Or perhaps Spider-Man’s close friend and fellow redhead mutant Angelica Jones, also known as Firestar? It’s even possible that she could be an alternate version of Mary Jane Watson. (There are rumors that the upcoming movie, tentatively titled “Spider-Man 4,” which is slated between the 2026 film “Avengers: Doomsday” and the 2027 film “Avengers: Secret Wars,” may also delve into the concept of multiple universes.)

Zendaya has portrayed Michelle “MJ” Jones since the debut of the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy in 2017. However, it remains uncertain whether the actress will reprise her role in the upcoming fourth installment, given that Doctor Strange erased all memory of Peter Parker (Tom Holland) with his multiverse-preserving spell in “No Way Home”. If Zendaya is indeed playing Jean Grey from the X-Men, the question arises: Does she have a past connection with Spider-Man?

Along Came a Spider

For the first time, the original X-Men, consisting of Cyclops, Beast, Angel, Iceman, and Jean Grey (who was known as Marvel Girl at the time), met Spider-Man in the iconic issue 35 of X-Men comics, published in 1967. Roy Thomas and Werner Roth were the creators behind this memorable encounter. Earlier, Spider-Man had made a brief appearance when he declined an invitation to join the mutant team in issue 27 of X-Men comics.

In an instance of wrong assumptions, the X-Men thought that the web-slinger was linked to the disappearance of Professor X. After a tussle, Cyclops understood that the angry Spider-Man wasn’t the “Spider-Villain” they had been searching for. (However, it’s worth noting that Jean Grey was the only X-Men member who didn’t confront Spider-Man in combat during this comic issue.)

Mark of the Mutants

In 1972’s Marvel Team-Up #4, when Spider-Man was falsely accused of kidnapping an old colleague of Professor Xavier (a scientist), the X-Men – Jean, Cyclops, Angel, and Iceman – were dispatched to locate him. Uncostumed, they encountered difficulties but their skirmish ceased when Jean employed her telepathic abilities to freeze Spider-Man mentally, not realizing he was innocent.

It was later discovered by Professor X that the toxins in Spider-Man’s blood from his latest encounter with Morbius, the living vampire, were causing his deterioration. The X-Men then pursued Morbius to rescue the kidnapped scientist and save Spider-Man. Once healed, a grateful Spider-Man thanked Jean for using her mind-probing powers to find the scientist, with a kiss.

The Fury of X-Factor

Following the reunion of the initial X-Men team, they assumed the covert identity of X-Factor, a mutant management agency, with a mission to discreetly identify and mentor fellow mutants. Subsequently, The Daily Bugle‘s owner, J. Jonah Jameson, contracted X-Factor for the task of apprehending suspected mutant and public menace Spider-Man.

1986 found me squaring off against X-Factor, also known as the “X-Terminators,” in issue #282 of Amazing Spider-Man. Jean, with her telekinetic prowess, ensnared me in a protective bubble. In a misguided attempt to save her, I used my final ounce of strength to hurl a web line at her, which unfortunately sent both of us teetering over the edge of a rooftop. Just before plummeting, I managed to web Jean up and pass out, leaving myself vulnerable. Little did I know, Jean had the ability to save herself telekinetically. Instead of handing me over to Jameson, X-Factor returned his retainer and informed him that, contrary to his beliefs, I am not a mutant.

Enter: The X-Men

In one of my favorite comics, *Untold Tales of Spider-Man* #21 from 1997, I had my first encounter with the X-Men. This memorable event unfolded during my early years as a superhero, nestled within the iconic runs of *Amazing Spider-Man* by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and John Romita Sr.

In an encounter that took place shortly after the X-Men’s public debut (their battle with Magneto at Cape Citadel in 1963’s X-Men #1), the villain Menace claimed to be a mutant supremacist and attacked an office building near the coffehouse where the uncostumed Spider-Man and X-Men happened to be in attendance.

Spider-Man arrived after the X-Men and mistook the colorfully-costumed teens for mutant terrorists. Instead of fighting, Spider-Man and the X-Men joined forces to stop Menace, who they proved to be an anti-mutant bigot out to frame “muties” as terrorists.

X-Men/Spider-Man

2008’s comic book “X-Men/Spider-Man #1” features another tale from the early days of Spider-Man and the X-Men, occurring after the events described in “Amazing Spider-Man” #34 from 1965. After Kraven the Hunter failed twice to capture Spider-Man as shown in that issue, he declared that he’d discovered Spider-Man was a mutant and vowed to apprehend this mutant threat. Recognizing Spider-Man is not a mutant, the X-Men embark on a mission to locate and alert him before potentially harmful mutant-hunters like the Sentinels can target him.

Kraven’s sharp senses traced Spider-Man’s smell to Peter Parker’s usual spot, the Coffee Bean. There, Jean got a general idea of where Spider-Man was hiding. When Kraven and the Blob stormed the Coffee Bean in an attempt to make their quarry reveal himself, Spider-Man teamed up with the X-Men right as Kraven targeted his toughest adversary: Jean. With the fight over, Spider-Man declined another invitation to attend the X-Men’s school for exceptionally talented youngsters located upstate.

The Spectacular X-Men

In the 1992 issue of The Spectacular Spider-Man, number 197, Professor Power, bent on retribution, assaulted the X-Men. He managed to overpower and kidnap Cyclops, Beast, Archangel, and Iceman in this incident. Since Jean was not there when Power launched his attack, she had the opportunity to team up with Spider-Man as they traced the vanished X-Men in issue 198 of Spectacular.

In Spectacular #199, Jean, with her telekinetic abilities, disrupted an electrified cage to free the X-Men who were imprisoned. Meanwhile, Spider-Man battled Power’s soldiers to keep them at bay. Using her telepathic powers, Jean delved into Power’s mind and ceased his hostile campaign against Xavier’s former pupils. Together with five other heroes, they prevented Power’s aerial fortress from plummeting downwards. As the mission ended, Jean affectionately kissed Spider-Man on his masked cheek before they all went their separate ways.

Spider-Man and the X-Men

2014 saw me stepping into a unique role at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning – as a special class guidance counselor. This wasn’t just any school, it was where mutants were educated, and I was proud to be part of it. Wolverine, my late Avengers teammate who passed away before this series began, had asked me to take on this role in his final days. It was an honor to fulfill his request.

In disguise as Masked Spider-Man, he conducted lessons for a group that included mutants like Ernst, Eye Boy, No-Girl, Glob Herman, Shark-Girl, Rockslide, and Hellion. For a brief period at the Jean Grey School, Spider-Man worked alongside the latest Marvel Girl – Rachel Grey, who hails from an alternate time (Days of Future Past timeline) as the daughter of Jean Grey and Cyclops – and his longtime companion Iceman.

The Ultimate Mind Swap

In the Ultimate Universe, issue 66 of “Ultimate Spider-Man” from 2004 began with Wolverine, a member of the X-Men, finding himself in the body of high school student Peter Parker, and vice versa. As the perplexed Peter struggled to understand why he had been switched into Logan’s adamantium-fortified frame, it was revealed in issue 67 of “Ultimate Spider-Man” that Jean Grey was responsible for this mind swap.

It transpired that Jean, being a teenager like Spider-Man at the time, used her telepathic powers to swap bodies with him due to his persistent advances towards her, which she found unwelcome. However, it was the place where her mind least wanted to be – in Spider-Man’s body. Later on, Jean, being a mutant with such abilities, undid the body swap and apologized for involuntarily involving Spider-Man, suggesting that it might have been an unconscious act of revenge for his imagining her naked during their first encounter in “Ultimate Spider-Man” issue #43. Talk about mind games!

2025-03-13 01:42