Alias: Red Band #1 is the Jessica Jones Revival We Need (Review)

by

Jessica Jones, a well-known but often overlooked Marvel character, is returning in a new comic series that her dedicated fans will likely enjoy. First introduced 25 years ago in the popular series Alias, Jessica has become a fan favorite thanks to her skills as an investigator and her compelling backstory. She’s appeared in other comics since Alias, including Jessica Jones (which benefited from the success of the Netflix show) and The Variants.

Jessica Jones has occasionally appeared in stories alongside other grounded heroes, but her presence has been limited lately since her husband, Luke Cage, became mayor of New York City. However, with a new live-action appearance planned for the upcoming season of Daredevil: Born Again, Marvel is capitalizing on the momentum by bringing back the Jessica Jones comic series. Fans of the original series will be pleased to know that Alias: Red Band #1 perfectly captures the spirit and feel they’ve been missing.

Rating: 4 out of 5

PROS CONS
Fantastic characterization for Jessica Jones Slower start to story
Accessible for new and old readers Not much action

Alias: Red Band #1 is Jessica Jones Exactly as You Remember Her

The first issue of Marvel’s Alias: Red Band features the work of Sam Humphries, Geraldo Borges, Arthur Hesli, and Cory Petit. Jessica Jones is facing a difficult time, having given up her private investigator license to support her husband’s efforts to reform the police department. However, she unexpectedly discovers a murder while visiting an old neighbor. This leads to friction with Luke Cage, who strongly urges her to stay away from the case. Despite their disagreement, Jessica ultimately decides to cope with the situation by heading to a local bar.

Jessica is enjoying a drink when she’s approached by Typhoid Mary, who shares a disturbing secret: the recent deaths are more complex than anyone knows, and there’s more than one person responsible. Mary asks Jessica to investigate, promising to deliver her own brand of justice to the killers. Despite her reservations about working with Mary, Jessica agrees to take the case. As Jessica begins her investigation, the story jumps forward a month to reveal Jones testifying before the New York City Council about the very case she’s just started.

Alias: Red Band #1 is a Cautious, But Great First Step in Jessica Jones’ New Era

I enjoy superhero comics, but I especially love books like Alias. It’s set in the exciting Marvel Universe, but feels more grounded and realistic in its characters, settings, and conflicts. From the very start, this series fully embraces its mature ‘Red Band’ label. With Jessica’s strong language and the disturbing crimes she investigates, Alias stands out from other Marvel titles. Marvel has been focusing on adult-oriented books, and Alias truly feels like the perfect fit for the Red Band imprint.

This book is excellent at introducing readers to Jessica, regardless of whether they’re new to her story or have followed it before. It quickly establishes her as a complex character – flawed, but with a strong sense of right and wrong. The story powerfully conveys the frustrations Jessica faces as the First Lady of New York City, highlighting how her own ambitions and identity are overshadowed by her husband’s position. Jessica’s compelling personality truly drives this book, and I believe it will be a key element in the success of the series going forward.

I definitely want to acknowledge Geraldo Borges’ excellent work. Even with limited action, his artwork powerfully conveys Jessica’s emotions – her fear, confusion, and anger as she runs. Arthur Hesli then builds on that work brilliantly, particularly in the scenes where Jessica uncovers the shocking crime. It’s challenging to recreate the atmosphere of the original Alias, but this team is clearly putting in a tremendous effort. The honest dialogue and the increasingly complex mystery surrounding Jessica make this new version a strong continuation of the Alias story.

Whether you enjoyed her earlier work or the Netflix series, and are excited to see her in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Alias Red: Band #1 is a great read for Jessica Jones fans. It’s a solid, no-frills start to a new mystery. While revisiting familiar territory is tough, this comic successfully captures the spirit of the original series while still respecting the character’s development over the last twenty years. If you’re craving more Jessica Jones, this is the comic for you.

https://comicbook.com/comics/list/7-alternate-marvel-romances-that-should-be-canon/embed/#

Read More

2026-03-11 17:44