A review by leelah
Jessica Jones: Alias, Vol. 1 by Brian Michael Bendis

4.0

I decided to treat myself with new reprint version of original Alias run before Netflix release, with new covers by David Mack. It looks pretty damn awesome, but if you have old trades, beside some new sketches and intro by Jeph Loeb there is no significant additional content.
Vol. 1 and covers issues #1-#9 in two separate stories- cases Jessica handles as ex-superhero, train-wreck private detective.
These stories are not vital for overreaching arc, but they are setting the base, showing us who Jessica is and they are tying it to Marvel universe, specifically Avengers. Noir feel and realistic dialogue paired with darker coloring with accents on plum, dark purple shades-you know, bruise colors (which is so meta I can't even...), makes Alias one of grittiest Marvel comics.

Alias is part of original Marvel MAX imprint, so you know what to expect. Adult themes with cursing and sexual situations which was rare to see in 616-verse.
I like Bendis Daredevil run- but his, quiet, understated and smart writing truly shines here. You see... it's easy to forget Jessica has superpowers- she is down on her luck, hard-working, underpaid girl with terrible romantic choices she can't entirely blame on huge amounts of alcohol. Which, of course, makes her different than more famous Marvel characters, but also more human and easy to relate to. Jessica deals with issues like lack of selfrespect, feeling inadequate, abuse and guilt which was grounbreaking in 2001. and relevant so many years later.
I hope TV show will make more reader pick this entire run since it's Bendis's best work (imho) and one of the best character development stories out there.