Alias Omnibus (Marvel Comics) [Hardcover]

Brian Michael Bendis (Author), Michael Gaydos (Author), Jose Villarrubia (Colorist)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2006 | Series: Alias

Once upon a time, Jessica Jones was a costumed super-hero, just not a very good one. Her powers were unremarkable compared to the amazing abilities of the costumed icons that populate the Marvel Universe. In a city of Marvels, Jessica Jones never found her niche. Now a chain-smoking, self-destructive alcoholic with a mean inferiority complex, Jones is the owner and sole employee of Alias Investigations - a small, private-investigative firm specializing in super-human cases. In her inaugural arc, Jessica's life immediately becomes expendable when she uncovers the potentially explosive secret of one hero's true identity. But her wit, charm and intelligence just may help her survive through another day. Thrust into the midst of a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels, has Jessica burned too many bridges to turn to old friends for help? Plus: Jessica travels to upstate New York to investigate the disappearance of a teenage girl rumored to be a mutant in a prejudiced small town, goes on a date with the Astonishing Ant-Man, teams up with Jessica Drew, the original Spider-Woman; and confronts the demons of her past! Collects Alias #1-28, What If? Jessica Jones had Joined the Avengers.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 592 pages
• Publisher: Marvel (March 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785121218
• ISBN-13: 978-0785121213
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 7.6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,747,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Brian Michael Bendis is an award winning comics creator and one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For the last eleven years, Brian's books have consistently sat on the top of the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel's popular AVENGERS franchise by writing every issue of the NEW AVENGERS plus debuting the hit books MIGHTY AVENGERS and DARK AVENGERS along with the wildly successful 'event' projects HOUSE OF M, SECRET WAR, SECRET INVASION, and SIEGE.
This summer will see the blockbuster new line-ups for AVENGERS and NEW AVENGERS.
Other recent projects include the groundbreaking SPIDER-WOMAN MOTION COMIC, that debuted number one on iTunes TV sales chart and the New York Times best selling HALO graphic novel.
Brian is one of the premiere architects of Marvel comic's Ultimate line of comics. A line of comics specifically created for the new generation of comics reader. He has written every issue of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN since it's best selling launch in 1999, and has also written ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR, X-MEN, MARVEL TEAM UP, ORIGIN, SIX and the ENEMY trilogy.
He is creator of the JINX line of crime comics published by image comics. This line has spawned the graphic novels GOLDFISH, FIRE, JINX, TORSO (w/ Marc Andreyko) and TOTAL SELL OUT.
Brian's other projects include the Eisner award winning "POWERS" (w/Mike Oeming) from Marvel's creator owned imprint ICON, and the Hollywood tell all "FORTUNE AND GLORY'. Entertainment Weekly gave both projects an "A." SONY and FX networks are currently developing POWERS for series with Brian as exec producer.
Brian is currently adapting his spy graphic novel FIRE for Universal Pictures as a starring vehicle for Zac Efron.
Brian is a member of Marvel studios creative committee, which consults on their numerous ongoing film projects. He has consulted on IRON-MAN and IRON MAN 2 and is currently consulting on THE FIRST AVENGERS: CAPTAIN AMERICA, THOR and THE AVENGERS
Brian has won five prestigious EISNER awards, including 'Best Writer of the year' two years in a row. He has also won over two dozen Wizard comic awards. Brian is the recipient of the Cleveland Press 'Excellence in Journalism' Award and was named "Best Writer of the Year." by Wizard Magazine and Comic Buyer's Guide for three consecutive years.
He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Alisa, his gorgeous daughters Olivia and Sabrina and his dogs Lucky, Max and Buster.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the Best Bendis Book I've Read May 5, 2006

By Andrew VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

It's strange how such an important comic can be so relatively obscure. This is the book responsible for launching Marvel's MAX imprint, which is pretty much their answer to DC's wonderful Vertigo line. Not only is Alias responsible for MAX, but it introduces us to Jessica Jones and is a very intriguinjg read as well.

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, the 28 issues of Alias tell the story of Jessica Jones, a former superhero who hung up her cape after deciding that she didn't have what it takes to be a hero. Her powers, which include superstrenght and flight, are good, but nothing special. Furthermore, she is too self-destructive; she doesn't believe in herself and she has tons of personal issues, going all the way back to her high school days. Even her "origin story" gives her reason to doubt herself. Now she runs Alias Investigations, a private detective agency. Her cases take her to the darker side of the Marvel universe that don't usually get shown in the mainstream books live The Avengers or The Fantastic Four. The first case we see her on shows her finding a missing woman... who just so happens to be sleeping with none other than Captain America! Another case has her tracking down a missing girl who is rumored to be a mutant. However, she learns that there may be more to the story when she discovers that the town the girl went missing in is full of racists who hate everyone from Jews to mutants.

Along the way, we are given hints of Jessica's past. Her relationship with best friend Carol Danvers (whoose aliases include Ms. Marvel) is dysfunctional at best, she has angry sex with Luke Cage, and begins dating Scott Lang/Ant-Man, another hero with a questionable past, and the relationship is a rollercoaster for both. Occasionally, she acts as bodyguard for Matt Murdock, who had just been outed in the press as Daredevil.

Eventually, Jessica confesses the story of her origin to Cage, and the tale of how she got her powers is heartbreaking. Furthermore, she describes her early adventures as the superhero Jewel, and how an encounter with the mind-controlling Purple Man had lasting consequences on her mental state and which nearly led to a crisis with the Avengers.

Bendis' stories are very well-written and engaging. Jessica's cases are interesting, but it's her personality that is truly captivating. She smokes and drinks heavily for someone who once made it her job to protect people, and her relationships with others are very unhealthy. The fact that the book is published under the R-rated MAX imprint allows people to fully "express" their feelings through the ability to use hard-core swearing (and Bendis doens't hold back on the cussing). It turns out that the superheroes of the Marvel universe can have some pretty dirty mouths. As for the art, it takes some getting used to. I admit that it fits the dark and gritty tone of the story, but there were times when I wasn't sure what was going on.

This HUGE omnibus collects all 28 issues of the series in addition to the What If...? issue detailing what would have happened if Jones had joined the Avengers. While I really enjoyed the 28 issues of Alias, the What If...? issue was only OK, and (SPOILER!!) I find it very hard to believe that Jessica could have single-handedly prevented the events of Avengers: Disassembled. Still, it's enjoyable enough to see Jessica happy in a completely different environment.

This book is expensive, but it's pretty worth it. In addition to 29 issues presented in oversized format, we are treated to sketches, an interview with Bendis, Bendis' pitch for the series, and an introduction from Allen Heinberg, writer for The OC and creator/writer of Young Avengers.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of Bendis' best work March 30, 2006

By N. Durham HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Forget House of M, forget his monumental run on Daredevil, and forget his long run on Ultimate Spider-Man; Brian Michael Bendis was at his best with Alias. No, it has nothing to do with the show of the same name; Alias was the first title under Marvel's mature themed MAX line, and it shows the gifted writer at his very best. The series introduces us to Jessica Jones, a former Avenger turned private investigator who has her share of problems. Her personal life is in shambles because of her mysterious past and job. She's a so-so alcoholic and chain smoker. She has one night stands with Luke Cage. She goes on a date with Scott "Ant-Man" Lang. Needless to say she's not the typical Marvel heroine, and that's why Alias worked. It shows us the grittier underbelly of the Marvel universe in this collection. From Jessica stumbling upon a murder and a plot involving the secret identity of Captain America, to her traveling upstate to find a missing mutant girl; this all leads up to the excellent conclusion where Jessica's past is revealed, and she comes face to face with the once laughable Purple Man: a master of mind control who in Bendis' hands becomes one of the most fearsome villains in recent memory. There's nothing to not like about Alias if you're a Marvel fan, and Michael Gaydos' artwork is as gritty and Bendis' storytelling. This massive collection collects all 28 issues of Alias, as well as Bendis and Gaydos' new age What If? one-shot in which Jessica Jones remains an Avenger, and her life takes a very different turn, and there's some nice extras here as well. Alias also re-vitalized former Hero for Hire Luke Cage, as well as current Spider-Woman Jessica Drew; both of which have become favorite characters of Bendis. All in all, if you are a die hard fan of the series and either missed some issues or don't own the TPB's, this is definitely worth the price tag.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Read it in 2 days June 28, 2006

By Particle409

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Worth the $, lives up to the hype. If you need a comic in which a supervillian gets fubared every other page, this isn't for you. If you like excellent character development, excellent plot, excellent dialogue, great art, pick this up. One of the best books I've read from Marvel, also one of Bendis' best work. Again, not the normal formulaic stuff, this is really good.