Netflix recently announced that their next Marvel series, Jessica Jones, will debut on November 20th. Now, I’m pretty sure a lot of people are thinking “Who is Jessica Jones and why should I care?” It was only a few months ago, we were wondering if Netflix’s first Marvel foray (Daredevil) could be any good. And given that the last time anyone had seen him on-screen, he was played by a cratering Ben Affleck, it was a fair question. But at least people knew who he was. Jessica Jones has the added challenge of being virtually anonymous to anyone who hasn’t read the comics. However, I’m here to say that this is a series you should definitely give a chance.
A little background into the character: in the comics, Jessica is a former Avenger with the powers of flight and super strength. The show is rumored to be based on the Alias storyline, from Marvel’s R-rated MAX comics, so we’ll likely join her story after she’s retired from avenging/hero-ing to open a one-woman detective agency. However, what really makes this comic tick is that it explores the dark side and realities that come with being a mid-level superhero. Jessica is haunted by failures, personal trauma and being a minor celebrity in a world uncomfortable with those who are different.
She’s a compelling character in a gripping story where superhuman abilities take a backseat to plot. In fact, long patches of story go by where you almost forget that she has superpowers, because being able to punch people really, really hard doesn’t necessarily help you discover who’s blackmailing Captain America or figure out why you keep screwing up relationships. Her fists are helpful, but she handles adversity primarily by being the most clever and intuitive person in the room. This is not a story about carelessly flying about, saving the world and dishing out quips—it’s a story about a person realizing that there are ways to fight for good without wearing a cape.
Part of the attraction of the Alias story is that it deals with some of the things that we’ve always wondered about. Things like, “What is it like being set up on a blind date with a superhero?” or “How do you actually get a hold of the Avengers if you aren’t one of them?” The day-to-day realities are sometimes more fun than the heroic storylines, which is a subject mined beautifully by the TV show the Venture Bros., where the villains have unions, henchmen enroll in support groups, and heroes struggle with kids who are embarrassed by them, paying the rent or living in trailers. In the same theme, Jessica Jones is satisfying because we see her struggle with issues to which we can all relate, problems that can’t simply be punched away. She gets drunk, has a bad relationship with her mom, curses a lot, makes dumb decisions in her dating life and gets sent to voicemail by superheroes.
At the same time, though, there’s a satisfying amount of action, intrigue and drama. Alias really pulls off a great film noir detective story with just the right dash of humor, grit and cameos. Jessica conveys such depth, smarts, wit, self-deprecation and kick-ass, that one can’t help but root for her.
Much will probably be made about this being the first Marvel project starring a female lead. However, there’s a lot more to like here. The story doesn’t work because she’s a woman—the story works because it’s a great story whose protagonist happens to be female. Kristen Ritter is a fantastic choice to portray her—her brief run on Breaking Bad as a tough, smart, vulnerable woman battling demons should be a compelling preview for her role as Jessica. With her talent and the wonderful source material, this is a project with the potential to be something really amazing.
We still have a few months before we’ll be able to see for ourselves. There’s plenty of time to pick up the comics, if you haven’t read them. But when November 20th rolls around, you’ll be cheating yourself if you don’t tune in to or at least give Jessica Jones a chance. I know I will.