Since Jessica Jones was green lighted for a season 2 on Netflix, I decided to go and read the series that inspired the adaptation.

Alias, written by Brian Bendis and drawn by Michael Gaydos revolves around private investigator Jessica Jones, who was formerly the costumed super hero Jewel.  She’s made appearances in several comics over the years and finally got her own title in 2001.  This book was part of the adult comic book lineup Marvel released back in the 2000’s, which were considerably darker both in artistic rendering and story line.

Like the Netflix show, we do see sex, drinking, adultery, and murder, however no Kilgrave.  What we get is a taste of her history, her psychology, folded within her cases in a world during the President Bush Jr. era, where people with money and political ties play the rest of society like puppets. This is a world where folks with powers aren’t always looked at as heroes, so for a civilian as Jessica, blending in isn’t just part of her job, but part of her survival.  You also see what common life is like in the shadows of super hero teams like the Fantastic Four and The Avengers, seeing through Jessica’s eyes what was, but knowing her inferiority complex to understand why she won’t.

If you’re looking for a start to finish story of Jessica and Kilgrave, it’s not in this book.  The part of Trish on Netflix is played by Ms. Marvel (aka Carol Danvers), and only in a brief spurt.  Captain America also makes an entrance, but sees no action in this story line.  This comic is a bit more complex and the characters aren’t as straight forward.  You are delivered a flawed character who is at one moment hard, another self deprecating, charitable for a brief moment, then naive.  Not a book for your preteen, but perhaps for your high schooler, if they’re interested.

Alias Volume 1 is available on Kindle and can be found at your local comic book store or book store.  Call for availability.

For more on Jessica Jones’ history, before the start of season 2, check out this video below.