Title: Alias (vol.1)
Year Published: 2009
Length: 360 pages
Series? Yes and completed
Format: paperback
Premise: Meet Jessica Jones. Once upon a time, she was a costumed super hero. But 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 superhuman cases. When she uncovers the potentially explosive secret of one hero’s true identity, Jessica’s life immediately becomes expendable. 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? – from Amazon.com
Review: The series ran from 2002 to 2004 and is one of the first titles to be released under the Marvel Max imprint. This volume collects issues #1 to 9 in the series. Writer Brian Michael Bendis is the five-time recipient of the Eisner Award and after reading this I understand why.
This is a character driven series. At the time that I read it, it was unlike anything I’d read before in this genre. The stories are easy to follow plot-wise and the dialogue is exceptional. Jessica is a woman with emotional baggage. We don’t know the complete story of why she dropped the costume but throughout the course of the series her background is fleshed out in piece-meal fashion.
For language sensitive readers, Jessica likes to swear. A lot. It never felt gratuitous because it fits right in with her personality. Reason number one why this is under Marvel Max label. Jessica is a wreck when it comes to her personal life. She’s too fond of the bottle and she has one night stands that leave her emotionally vulnerable. In contrast as an investigator, she’s great at solving cases with discretion and sincerely likes to help others.
Her cases are interesting with a few being politically suspenseful and amusing. Must say that they are somewhat predictable but fun to read nevertheless. I bought the complete series after reading this one. This is one of my favorites from Marvel (and the only one under this imprint) and I’m a DC comics fan girl. So all the elements I enjoy in my reading: angst (check), great dialogue (check), flawed characters (check) makes this a wonderful read. Newbies to the genre, this is a good one to start with if interested. The artwork is excellent and the dialogue compliments it very well. I love this series.
Hm. I do like a good graphic novel once in a while, but $ 25 for something that is mainly pictures? I am afraid I am too mean for that.