What if it had been Comicbook/MaryJaneWatson who had gotten bitten by the radioactive spider, and not Peter Parker?

This fanfiction series written by "the Master Planner", set in an alternate universe where, due to a single quirk of fate, Mary Jane is the one who receives the spider-bite. At first freaked out by her newfound powers, she soon decides to become a costumed superhero, partly out of a desire to help people but mostly because it seems like fun. At first she enjoys the thrill of her new abilities as the spectacular Spider-Woman, but when she encounters her first supervillain in Doctor Octopus, tragedy strikes and she is forced to learn just how much great power requires great responsibility.

First started in 2006, the series now comprises almost fifty chapters that follow Mary Jane's growth as a heroine and her encounters with different enemies. [[ShoutOut Shout-Outs]] abound with tributes to the original plotlines, and unique spins on classic characters. With a spare, straightforward writing style, the series is accessible to newbies and continuity buffs alike, and comprises both stand-alone stories and an ongoing storyline that links them all together as Mary Jane starts in high school and continues into university.

The story so far is in five volumes:

* ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3052814/1/Quirk_of_Fate_Part_1_The_Octopus_Strikes Part 1: The Octopus Strikes]]
* ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3240128/1/Quirk_of_Fate_Part_2_Night_of_the_Goblin Part 2: Night of the Goblin]]
* ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3345760/1/Quirk_of_Fate_Part_3_The_Shadow_Spider Part 3: The Shadow Spider]]
* ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4234381/1/Quirk_of_Fate_Part_4_The_Master_Planners_Menace Part 4: The Master Planner's Menace]]
* ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4394895/1/Quirk_of_Fate_Part_5_The_Master_Planner_Returns Part 5: The Master Planner Returns]]

!!This seres provides examples of:

* AdaptationDistillation: No deals with the devil, no spider totems, no superhuman registration, just classic two-fisted spider-action and character development with a modern twist.
%%* AlternateUniverseFic
* ArchEnemy: Comicbook/DoctorOctopus is the main bad guy in this story rather than the Comicbook/GreenGoblin, mostly due to the author's preference.
* AuthorAppeal: The author is a huge Comicbook/DoctorOctopus fan, and has made him Spider-Woman's archenemy, as opposed to the Comicbook/GreenGoblin or Comicbook/{{Venom}}, and also accounts for the Doctor's recurring appearances.
* BittersweetEnding: The first story arc ends with Doctor Octopus defeated, but Mary Jane is left to seriously question her role as Spider-Woman after Doctor Octopus horribly murders someone she cares about.
* DeathByOriginStory: Ben Parker doesn't die in this one, but the loss of someone close to her forces Mary Jane to grow up and realize that being a superhero isn't all fun and games.
* DistaffCounterpart: Spider-Woman is the most obvious one, but the second Comicbook/DoctorOctopus, the Scorpion, and Comicbook/{{Venom}} are all female in this version.
%%* EasterEgg: There are lots of tributes here to the classic comics.
* MythologyGag: There actually ''was'' a female ComicBook/DoctorOctopus in the comics during the 90s, and she was even the second person to bear the moniker, just like how this fic has Otto Octavius be succeeded by a woman. Carolyn Trainer, aka "Doctor Octopus II", aka "Lady Octopus" debuted in The Amazing Spider-Man #406, October 1995, and was a recurring enemy of Spider-Man and the Scarlet Spider for a time.
* OfficialCouple: Subverted. Think Mary Jane and Peter are destined to live happily ever after? [[spoiler:Think again.]]
* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent: Mary Jane starts out as one of these before the spider bite. Peter Parker stays as one of these all through the series.
* PickOnSomeoneYourOwnSize: Doctor Octopus is initially attracted to Spider-Woman, but this turns into poisonous, obsessive hate when she flatly rejects him. This trope also applies to J. Jonah Jameson, whose frenzied loathing of Spider-Woman matches anything the 616 Jameson ever came up with.
* RoguesGallery: Doctor Octopus, the Green Goblin and Venom have already appeared. {{Word of God}} from the author notes that the Lizard, Mysterio and Electro will be appearing in future segments.
* ShoutOut: Continuity buffs will find lots of tributes to the classic [[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManLeeAndDitko Lee-Ditko]] and Lee-Romita comics.
* StalkerWithACrush: According to the author, Electro is going to be one of these.
* TenMinuteRetirement: The tragic results of her first encounter with Doctor Octopus make Mary Jane give up her career as Spider-Woman in shame. She dons the webs once again when the people she cares about are put in serious danger by her enemies.
* VillainTeamUp: The Sinister Six are planned for a future story arc.


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