Jessica Jones #1 Review

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis / Artist: Michael Gaydos / Marvel Comics

She’s a whole lot more familiar now, as the newly popular Jessica Jones returns with her own comic series written by her original creator, Brian Michael Bendis. Bendis, who created the character in Alias back in 2001 under Marvel’s MAX imprint, had intended Jessica Jones to actually be Jessica Drew – better known as Marvel’s Spider-Woman – but continuity issues and character development led to the Jones character we now know and have seen come and go over the last 15 years. It’s a welcome return for Alias fans, which encompasses anyone who’s ever read the series, whether an old-time reader or those more recently inspired by Netflix.

How does the new series feel compared to the old? From her trademark snark and misanthropy to Jessica Jones’ original artist Michael Gaydos, Jessica Jones #1 feels mad familiar, almost down to the vulgarity we saw from the Marvel MAX imprint that dropped f-bombs and sex scenes with reckless abandon. Unlikely that Marvel will continue that level of content in this series, despite the “Not for Kids” warning on the cover, but they’ll surely allow for some, as it wouldn’t feel genuine to Jessica Jones without it:

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Yep, that’s Misty Knight making a cameo right off the bat, and she’s not the only one as Jessica leaves a prison cell in issue #1 to find her way back to New York City searching for some semblance of normalcy, but only to find various heroes chasing her down for answers. One of those encounters is with Misty, setting up a conflict with two women not known for playing games.

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But the strength of Jessica Jones has never been in her action – actually, she barely ever has action scenes at all. Instead, the fun of Jessica Jones lay in dialogue-heavy panels and word balloon-covered pages that would be, with other comics, distracting at best, or downright bore you to death at worst. Jones’ internal and external dialogue are a great read, however, as you follow a rough, judgmental exterior hide a much softer, more vulnerable person underneath.

Jessica Jones #1 is a welcome reintroduction into the character, and as the plot finds its footing it seems we can expect much of what we knew and loved from before. Jessica Jones is someone you can’t help but root for, no matter how self-destructive.

9.1 out of 10

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  • Jordan Calhoun is a writer in New York City. His forthcoming debut book "Piccolo Is Black" is a celebration of the common adaptations we made while non-diverse pop culture helped us form identities. He holds a B.A. in Sociology and Criminal Justice, B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Japanese, and an M.P.A. in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy. He might solve a mystery, or rewrite history. Find him on Instagram and Twitter @JordanMCalhoun

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