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daredeviling's review against another edition
3.0
Like many others, I saw the Netflix show before I watched this comic, so I went in having a certain expectation in mind. Overall though, I found the show much more compelling than this comic. I feel like we never learn very much of who Jessica is in the comics or her motivation to leave the superhero life behind. The two cases that we follow are alright. The first one was more interesting than the second, though the ending was fairly anticlimactic for the first. The second case started out interesting, but then I became more meh about it, though it gave us a look at Jessica's inner motives a bit more. I also wasn't a huge fan of the artwork, though I might have been spoiled after having just come off of the Fraction Hawkeye series.
I did enjoy that this comic expanded the Marvel universe in that it mentioned multiple other characters (including Matt Murdock!) that are in the world. But it really focuses on how a civilian might live in a superpowered world (even if Jessica isn't exactly a civilian), and I enjoyed that different point of view from other superhero comics.
I did enjoy that this comic expanded the Marvel universe in that it mentioned multiple other characters (including Matt Murdock!) that are in the world. But it really focuses on how a civilian might live in a superpowered world (even if Jessica isn't exactly a civilian), and I enjoyed that different point of view from other superhero comics.
miasantos's review against another edition
5.0
this was so so engaging i literally read it in one sitting, 2hs while listening to the shows soundtrack on repeat. amazing and can't wait to continue!
wyrmbergmalcolm's review
3.0
My first foray into Jessica's world since I saw season one on Netflix. I'm glad I had watched the show because it gave me some context about this broken character. Beyond that, this is very much it's own thing which covers three of Jessica's cases, she is a P.I. after all. The cases themselves were pretty humdrum, but seeing how she goes about them was worth it.
Good stuff, though not a fan of the art style.
Good stuff, though not a fan of the art style.
reanimatedreader's review
2.0
Didn't enjoy the artwork for this. I think it's meant to look gritty, to me it appears half-hearted and unfinished. The plot is readable. Jessica's too down in the dumps for me to really get engaged with her.
tshepiso's review against another edition
4.5
4.5 stars
In Jeph Loeb's introduction to this volume he described Alias as the best of the Marvel MAX line and wandering through this melancholic character-centric superhero noir I could understand why he holds this book in such high esteem.
It's been a while since I read a comic that burrowed into me so thoroughly. Bendis and Gaydos craft such an honest portrait of a fundamentally kind woman facing soul-crushing bullshit on the daily. I'm a sucker for street-level stories in superhero settings, my love of Kurt Buisick's Marvels and Hawkeye (2012) attests to that, and Alias captures exactly what I love about these types of stories. The seamless blend of grounded noir storytelling and the world of Marvel was brilliantly pulled off. Jessica works with heroes like Ms. Marvel and Captain America but even after pulling off a heroic feat and helping someone in need she still goes home to her crappy apartment and works her occasionally rewarding but often depressing hob
Jessica is such a well-rendered protagonist. I live for messy female characters and Jessica is a great one. shes self-destructive and lost
Michael Gaydos's art perfectly evokes the sombre brooding of the story. His freeform sketchy line art and liberal use of inky black shadows give weight and mood to his art that was just a delight to take in. Gaydos and Bendis also loved to play around with panelling which also did a great job of conveying tension and mood, especially during intense dialogue exchanges
A highlight for me in terms of the art for this story was Matt Hollingsworth's work as a colorist. I already added his work in Hawkeye (2012) and he brings the same warmth and cohesiveness to this work. As someone who struggles with a lot of modern comics colouring Hollingsworth's phenomenal work in everything of his I've read
Also, shoutout to Bill Sienkiewicz's work on the superhero portraits throughout the rick jones episodes because those were absolutely stunning.
Brian Micheal Bendis and Michael Gaydos in Alias craft a deeply human exploration of a woman trying her best to make a living and help people despite the shit that's slug her way. And it's excellently done.
In Jeph Loeb's introduction to this volume he described Alias as the best of the Marvel MAX line and wandering through this melancholic character-centric superhero noir I could understand why he holds this book in such high esteem.
It's been a while since I read a comic that burrowed into me so thoroughly. Bendis and Gaydos craft such an honest portrait of a fundamentally kind woman facing soul-crushing bullshit on the daily. I'm a sucker for street-level stories in superhero settings, my love of Kurt Buisick's Marvels and Hawkeye (2012) attests to that, and Alias captures exactly what I love about these types of stories. The seamless blend of grounded noir storytelling and the world of Marvel was brilliantly pulled off. Jessica works with heroes like Ms. Marvel and Captain America but even after pulling off a heroic feat and helping someone in need she still goes home to her crappy apartment and works her occasionally rewarding but often depressing hob
Jessica is such a well-rendered protagonist. I live for messy female characters and Jessica is a great one. shes self-destructive and lost
Michael Gaydos's art perfectly evokes the sombre brooding of the story. His freeform sketchy line art and liberal use of inky black shadows give weight and mood to his art that was just a delight to take in. Gaydos and Bendis also loved to play around with panelling which also did a great job of conveying tension and mood, especially during intense dialogue exchanges
A highlight for me in terms of the art for this story was Matt Hollingsworth's work as a colorist. I already added his work in Hawkeye (2012) and he brings the same warmth and cohesiveness to this work. As someone who struggles with a lot of modern comics colouring Hollingsworth's phenomenal work in everything of his I've read
Also, shoutout to Bill Sienkiewicz's work on the superhero portraits throughout the rick jones episodes because those were absolutely stunning.
Brian Micheal Bendis and Michael Gaydos in Alias craft a deeply human exploration of a woman trying her best to make a living and help people despite the shit that's slug her way. And it's excellently done.
amandabnolan's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stitchandwitch's review against another edition
4.0
I'm so in love with this character in all her incarnations.