Customer Reviews

Alias Vol. 4: The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones

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What is there to say here that hasn't already been said about volumes one, two and three? Bendis' characterization, dialogue and storytelling are amazing, Michael Gaydos' pencils and inks are perfect, and the colors are great, as well.

But there is something else, because this is the bes volume of the series. This volume contains some great (heartrending, maybe, but great) flashbacks, and some of the best dialogue yet. It's impossible not to fall in love with Jessica Jones, despite her demeanor and her self-loathing.

Bendis, in an unusual move, introduced an all-new character to the Marvel Universe, fitting her into much of Marvel's history--this, before Marvel started on popping out a new character every month, as they are now; this was during the decade during which Marvel continually rehashed the same characters--and it worked so well.

This volume has the best story, the best characterizaton, the best dialogue, yet. The artwork is beautiful, as always, and the subtle (as well as the obvious) changes in artwork and style used to differ between different times are a nice touch, as well.

I started reading this book because Matt Hollingsworth gave it to me, and it has since become one of my favorites. I love reading it in public, just so I can tell people about it and say, no, it is not the TV series!

Despite having some impressive powers, Jessica Jones has never been your typical heroine. She's a trash-talking, normal-looking chick who has trouble making sense of life. In this final book, though, we get to make sense of hers. We finally learn how she became a hero, and the awful reason why she stopped being one.

Bendis is not big on action. He is not big on fantasy. What makes him one of the great writers today is that he is big on dialogue, and character. Jessica is a beautiful creation. Her insecurites make her stronger.

Bendis is also great at pulling obscure MU mythology out of the woodwork and making it interesting. Carol Danvers, the uber-heroine best known for being the lady Rogue stole her powers from, is the perfectly perfect foil for the troubled Jessica. The Purple Man, meanwhile, is pulled out from the archives to tear her down. Jean Grey, Luke Cage, Scarlet Witch, Nick Fury and the Ant Man also fill the pages. Great stuff.

I think this series reads much better in the trade format. If you liked (or loved) Bendis's take on Daredevil, you'll really get a kick out of this series because it covers much of the "underbelly" of the regular MU.

In this, the last TPB, we finally get a peek at how Jessica got her powers and why she gave up being a superhero, forever living in the shadows of "greater" heroes like the Avengers. Wonderful flashback scenes drawn by Mark Bagley, Bendis' artist on Ultimate Spider-Man. Great unexpected twists and turns starring the 3rd-rate MU villian, the Purple Man. You'll never look at him again the same after this.

The story also ties up Jessica's relationship with Luke Cage and sets the groundwork for the new series, The Pulse.

FYI: for the 16-and-older crowd as it is a MAX title, having plenty of cussing and sexual situations.

The fourth and final storyarc of Brian Michael Bendis' brilliant Alias reveals the origin of ex-Avenger turned burned out private investigator Jessica Jones and her connection to Killgrave AKA the Purple Man. Even though it only lasted for 28 issues, Alias was truly something special. Bendis' look at the underbelly of the Marvel universe made for compulsive reading, and the characterization of Jessica was the flawed human that readers could actually relate to. The relationship between Jessica and Luke Cage also gets tied up, and it sets the stage for Bendis' new series the Pulse; which has become a cult hit for Marvel. The art by Michael Gaydos still gives the book the same grittiness it's had since it's first issue saw the light of day, and the series comes to a satisfying end thanks to Bendis' brilliant (as usual) storytelling. His transformation of the Purple Man from third rate Marvel villain to mass murdering maniac must be seen to be believed. All in all, it's sad that Alias is over, and if you missed out on the series than you should definitely pick up all four volumes.

This is the 4th and final Alias TPB. It reveals a good deal about Jessica's past which ties in with the Purple Man story line. This series has been great all the way through, though I'd say the first and third TPB's were the best of the four. I hate to see it go but at least her character will continue on in The Pulse. I highly recommend any of the Alias books to someone wanting an entertaining and different look on the Marvel Universe.

Here you get the brief super-powered backstory, and what happened to Jewel, and why she gave up the whole hero thing.

Luke Cage and the very nasty depradations of the Purple Man appear as major parts. It is all quite sordid. What do you expect an egotistical super villain with mind control will get up to?