by Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Gaydos (Illustrator)
Publisher: MAX
Format: Paperback
Genre: Superhero – Crime
Release Date: September 1st, 2015
Goodreads
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Jessica Jones used to be a superhero, but she’s hung up her cape in favour of opening her own PI firm, Alias Investigations, specialising in superhuman cases. Like most noir stories, danger comes for Jessica when a woman enters her office, pleading for her help. Gaining evidence related to one hero’s identity, Jessica immediately recognises how explosive this could be, and finds herself caught up in a conspiracy bigger than she could have imagined.
Alias was the first series created under the Marvel MAX imprint, aimed at adult-only readers. It’s definitely an intriguing addition to Marvel Comics as a whole, focusing not on superheroes but on the kind of world these characters are in, and the ‘small’ people caught up in their mess. It follows a fairly noir crime formula, and Jessica moves through a world full of people who either semi-recognise her from her costumed hero days, or who don’t trust her because she has powers but doesn’t wear a costume anymore. Alongside the main plot, Jessica investigates the possible disappearance of Rick Jones, and deals with some internal struggles to boot.
Jessica sometimes seems not necessarily conflicted about the life she’s chosen, but maybe a touch saddened by things? It suits her well, and adds to the sensation of Jessica being on her own, as she struggles with approaching the Avengers about what’s happening, despite formerly being one of them. It puts a different yet oddly familiar touch on the formula, adding to the crime noir sensation while keeping it rooted in Marvel.
The art felt a bit off in some places, but it was nothing that majorly drew me out of enjoying this. Jones is an interesting enough character to carry it forward, and though I’ve seen her pop up in some of the bigger ‘big group event’ graphic novels I’ve read, it’s Alias that makes me want to dive deeper into her world and get to know her as a character better.
Unwrapping Words 