Jessica Jones

Power Woman
Promotional art for cover of The Pulse #14. Art by Mike Mayhew. Pictured clockwise from the top left: Jessica as Jewel; with husband Luke Cage; with her newborn daughter Danielle; as Knightress
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Alias #1 (November 2001)
Created by	Brian Michael Bendis Michael Gaydos
In-story information
Full name	Jessica Campbell Jones Cage
Team affiliations	New Avengers The Pulse Magazine Alias Private Investigations Daily Bugle
Partnerships	Luke Cage
Notable aliases	Jewel, Knightress, Coma Girl, Power Woman
Abilities	Flight Superhuman strength and physical resistance

Jessica Campbell Jones Cage^[1] is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe, created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos. Jones debuted in the series Alias as an embittered former superheroine who had used the aliases Jewel, Knightress, and currently Power Woman. After hanging up her costume, she became the owner and sole employee of Alias Private Investigations.

Publication history

Jessica Jones debuted in the Marvel MAX imprint series Alias, which bears no relation to the television series of the same name. The character and series were created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos. Alias ran for 28 issues from 2001 to 2004, with most covers drawn by David W. Mack. Jones and other characters from the series moved to Bendis' subsequent series, The Pulse.

In a 2005 interview,^[2] Bendis claimed that "[o]riginally, Alias was going to star Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman), but it became something else entirely. Which is good, because had we used Jessica, it would have been off continuity and bad storytelling." Previously, Bendis commented, "I was at one time toying with doing Jessica Drew [in Alias] because she has the best hair of any superhero in comics, but this book is entirely different than what that idea was to be."^[3] Although both statements make clear that Drew was a part of Bendis' earliest conception of Alias, by the time he was actively developing the title, Jones was his central character, one with a distinct background and voice from Drew.^[4] Despite this, the character draws much from Drew, in terms of character history and experiences, and also has some similarities with the character of Carol Danvers; in some respects, she is something of a pastiche of the two women.

In a Marvel Comics podcast, Bendis expressed his desire to incorporate Jones into the parallel universe Ultimate Marvel imprint.^[5] In Ultimate Spider-Man #106, she appears as a senior at Peter Parker's school.

Fictional character biography

Origin

Introduced in the Marvel Universe as a retcon character,^{[citation needed]} Midtown High student Jessica Campbell was present when Peter Parker was bitten by the irradiated spider that gave him his powers. She had a crush on him, and had just plucked up the courage to speak to him when he was distracted by the bite. She also had a celebrity crush on teen heart-throb Johnny Storm.

Soon thereafter, Jessica was riding in a car with her family when they collided with a military convoy carrying radioactive chemicals. Her family was killed and, after spending several months in a coma, she was placed in foster care and adopted by the Jones family. Months later she awoke, stirred by the first coming of Galactus outside her hospital room.

Jessica later discovered that the radioactive materials she was exposed to in the accident had granted her super strength, limited invulnerability, and flight (which she never fully mastered during her superhero career). The Joneses re-enrolled Jessica at Midtown High, where she was ostracized by her classmates, especially Flash Thompson. Peter Parker (who had since become Spider-Man) sensed in Jessica a kindred spirit — someone who had also lost family due to a tragic circumstance. Jessica mistook his kind attention and lashed out at him, believing he was merely pitying her. At that time, she found out she had superpowers.

She later witnesses a fight between Spider-Man and the villain Sandman in her own class. This inspires her, in a way she cannot put into words, to try to use her abilities in a positive light.^[6]

Heroic career

Promotional art for cover of Alias #28. Art by David W. Mack and Mark Bagley.

As Jewel, Jones was an upstart heroine with a fairly uneventful career until she intervened in a disturbance at a restaurant involving longtime Daredevil foe Zebediah Killgrave, the Purple Man. Killgrave effortlessly placed Jones under his mental control, a situation that would continue for several months. Though she was not sexually assaulted herself, Killgrave enslaved and humiliated Jones, forcing her to watch as he raped a succession of college coeds whom he had abducted and mind-controlled for his amusement. Killgrave also forced Jones to beg him to have sex with her, often until she broke down in tears, only to deny her, as a form of psychological abuse. After eight months under his control, Jones began to lose the distinction between his will and her own, developing a kind of Stockholm Syndrome.

In the midst of a temper tantrum, the Purple Man sent Jones to kill Daredevil, erroneously directing her to the Avengers Mansion. Since Daredevil is not an Avenger, Jones attacked the first hero she saw there in a red costume — the Scarlet Witch. The mind-control began to wear off and Jones attempted to flee, but she was caught and received a severe beating at the hands of the Vision (the Scarlet Witch's then-husband), and Iron Man. She escaped death due to the intervention of the only Avenger who actually knew her, Carol Danvers, who took her to safety.

Jones remained in a coma for months, under the care of S.H.I.E.L.D., while also undergoing psychic therapy with Jean Grey of the X-Men. In addition to assisting her emergence from the coma, Grey placed a special mental command in Jones' subconscious that would protect her from further mind control. During this time Jones developed a doomed romantic relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Clay Quartermain, who would prove to be a valuable friend and contact for her later in life.

The intensely violating nature of her experience with Killgrave, combined with the fact that no one noticed she had been missing for eight months, forced a demoralized Jones to give up being a costumed superhero.

Jones tried being a superhero one final time before giving up, adopting a darker identity as the Knightress. Intercepting a crime meeting between the Owl and a mafioso, she met up with fellow superhero Luke Cage. After defeating the Owl and his goons, she discovered that one of the thugs had brought his children with him. Jones took off her mask and revealed her identity to the cops so that they would allow her to look after the children for the night. Luke Cage went to her home later that night and the two had a long talk, the first step towards a lasting friendship.

Private eye

Main article: Alias (comics)

Jones, now no longer a superhero, opens a private detective agency and, given her background, was sought out by clients with superhero connections. Despite her wishes to leave the superhero life, she finds herself repeatedly drawn back into it. Longtime friend Carol Danvers set Jones up with Scott Lang (the second Ant-Man), and the two dated for several months. She also had an off-and-on affair with Luke Cage.

Having escaped from high-security incarceration, Killgrave, obsessed with Jones, attempts to break her spirit by making her experience her worst nightmares — that she had walked in on both Lang and Cage in bed with her friend, Danvers. This time, however, the mental defenses Grey had given her allow Jones to free herself from his control. She knocks him out and he is recaptured.

Cage admits his strong feelings for Jones, and she reveals to Luke that she is pregnant with their child; he is elated and the two enter into a committed relationship.

The Pulse

Main article: The Pulse (comics)

Jones takes a leave from the detective business and joins the staff of the Daily Bugle as a superhero correspondent and consultant, becoming a main character of the comic book The Pulse, and a contributor to the same-name fictional newspaper supplement within. A pregnant Jones is attacked by the Green Goblin after the Bugle reports that he is secretly industrialist Norman Osborn. In response, Cage retaliates and Osborn is irrevocably exposed as the Goblin upon his defeat and incarceration. Jones quits her job with the Bugle after publisher J. Jonah Jameson uses the paper to smear the New Avengers. Jones extracts payback by refusing the Bugle exclusive rights to cover her daughter's birth.

Jones and Cage are living together when she gives birth to their child, Danielle, whom they name after Luke's best friend, Danny Rand (Iron Fist). Cage proposes marriage, and Jones accepts.^[7] The two are married in New Avengers Annual #1. Jones retained her maiden name.

Civil War

In Marvel's crossover event Civil War, Jones and Cage are confronted by Iron Man and Ms. Marvel, who urge them to register with the authorities under the provisions of the Superhuman Registration Act. When asked if they intend to sign up, neither actually says "No," though they make their intentions to defy the law very clear, with Luke going so far as to compare the Act to slavery and Jim Crow segregation. In order to keep their child safe, Jones travels with her to Canada, while Luke stays in their home in Harlem. Having eluded the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents dispatched to apprehend him, Cage joins Captain America's "Secret Avengers." Despite the surrender of Captain America at the conclusion of the Civil War crossover, Cage remains underground as leader of the New Avengers.

Post-Civil War

As part of the New Avengers, Jones moves into Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum. At the end of New Avengers #31 (2007), Elektra is killed and is revealed to have been a Skrull. In the next scene, unbeknownst to Jones, her baby's eyes flash yellow-green. Later, following an attack on Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum by the forces of the demonic villain the Hood, Jones, shaken by the experience and desperate to protect her child, leaves the New Avengers and goes with her baby to Stark Tower to register under the Superhuman Registration Act, effectively ending her relationship with Luke Cage for the time being.^[8]

Secret Invasion

Jones is among the heroes who emerged from the crashed Skrull ship wearing her Jewel costume.^[9] The group of emerging heroes believe themselves to be the real ones, however it was shown that some of the group were Skrulls. This Jones, dressed as Jewel, is later revealed to be a Skrull.^[10] The real Jessica Jones, however, appeared in Secret Invasion #7, where she joined in the heroes fight against the Skrulls and was able to be reunited with her husband. After the Skrull surrender, the Skrull impersonating Jarvis disappears with their daughter, leaving Jessica desperate.^[11]

Dark Reign

Jessica, Luke, and Carol arrive at Bucky's home. The New Avengers, Fantastic Four, and Iron Fist begin searching for Danielle, attacking various villains, looking for any information regarding the Skrull Jarvis, namely his whereabouts and intentions. Jessica is unaware that Luke asks Norman Osborn for help in their search.^[12] Osborn helps Luke recover Danielle, and Luke gives the baby back to Jessica.^[13] Spider-Man recently re-revealed himself as Peter Parker to the New Avengers, leaving Jones shocked to see that her former classmate is Spider-Man. She then tells Peter of her former crush on him only to find out that he did not recognize her all this time, let alone remember her name, only remembering her as "Coma Girl", upsetting her.^[14] She later assists the Avengers in rescuing Clint after being captured by Norman Osborn.^[15] Jessica reveals that she was inspired to become a superheroine after witnessing an early battle between Spider-Man and the Sandman. Peter then tries to convince Jones to return to the life of a superhero, suggesting that she can provide a better example for her daughter by going into action as a hero rather than simply telling her daughter about her old career.^[16][17]

Heroic Age

Jessica, retaking her costumed identity of Jewel, became a member of the New Avengers when the title relaunched in June 2010.^[18] She and Luke begin searching for a nanny. Possible applicants were Hellcat, Echo, Molly Hayes, Deadpool, She-Hulk, and multiple others. Ultimately, Squirrel Girl is chosen as Danielle's nanny.^[19] In New Avengers #8, Jessica takes the name "Power Woman" to both honor her husband, Power Man (Luke Cage), and to be a role model for their daughter.

Powers and abilities

As a result of the chemical spill, Jessica Jones possesses superhuman strength and resistance to injury and the ability to fly at sub-sonic speeds. The exact limits of her strength and durability have not been defined, but she was able to lift a two-ton police car with apparent ease. She was not able to fully withstand a Venom Blast from Jessica Drew nor a severe beating by Iron Man and the Vision.

Jessica was vulnerable to telepathic attack which led to her ordeal at the hands of the Purple Man until mental barriers were put in place by Jean Grey to grant her better resistance.

In addition to her superhuman powers, Jessica is a skilled detective and investigative journalist.^[20]

Other versions

Ultimate Jessica Jones.

House of M

In the House of M Marvel Comics crossover, Jessica is married to Scott Lang.

Ultimate Jessica Jones

In Ultimate Spider-Man #106, Jones appears as a senior student in the school Peter Parker attends. She is the executive producer of the school's television network. She later becomes jealous of Mary Jane Watson's superior film skills. It is also stated that she may be at least suspicious of Peter Parker's identity as Spider-Man, based on Mary Jane's observations in Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #3.

What If

In What If Jessica Jones Had Joined the Avengers?, Jones accepts Captain America's offer to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. and, perceiving that something is amiss with Wanda Maximoff (the Scarlet Witch), she alerts the other Avengers, ensuring that the catastrophic events depicted in Avengers Disassembled and the House of M never occur. Jessica marries Captain America.

In other media

Television

In December 2010, it was reported that Twilight screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg is developing a series for ABC titled, AKA Jessica Jones.^[21]

Bibliography

• Alias #1-28
• The Pulse #1-14
• Amazing Spider-Man #653-654
• Avengers Academy #6
• Avengers Vol. 4 #1, 10-13, 12,1
• Avengers vs. Pet Avengers #2
• Black Panther Vol. 4 #18
• Captain America Vol. 5 #26, 50
• Daredevil Vol. 2 #48, 83
• Fantastic Four #588
• Heroes for Hire Vol. 3 #3-4
• Heroic Age: Heroes #1
• I Am An Avenger #1-2
• Marvel Assistant-Sized Spectacular #2
• New Avengers Vol. 1 #3, 14-15, 22, 28-31, 33-34, 36, 38, 47-51, 55, 58-60, 62-63 Annual #1-3, Finale #1
• New Avengers Vol. 2 #1-Present
• New Avengers: Luke Cage #1=3
• Thunderbolts #157
• Wolverine Vol. 4 #5.1
• Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades Handbook #1
• Young Avengers #1-8, 12, Special #1

References

1. ^ In New Avengers #50, she is called "Jessica Jones Cage" (no hyphen).
2. ^ Weiland, Jonah (August 5, 2005). "Spider-Love: Bendis on 'Spider-Woman: Origin' and New Ongoing Series". Comic Book Resources. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=5475. Retrieved 2011-02-06. 
3. ^ Powers #11, letters pages
4. ^ Cronin, Brian (July 27, 2006). "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #61". Comic Book Resources. http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2006/07/27/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-61/. Retrieved 2011-02-06. 
5. ^ "Marvel Comics podcast". http://www.marvel.com/rss/podcasts/Ult_SM_100_Bendis.mp3. Retrieved 2011-02-06. 
6. ^ Amazing Spider-Man #600 (2009)
7. ^ The Pulse #14
8. ^ New Avengers Annual #2 (2008)
9. ^ Secret Invasion #2 (May 2008)
10. ^ Secret Invasion #5 (August 2008)
11. ^ Secret Invasion #8 (December 2008)
12. ^ New Avengers #48
13. ^ New Avengers #49
14. ^ New Avengers #51
15. ^ New Avengers Annual #3
16. ^ Amazing Spider-Man #601 (October 2009)
17. ^ The battle between Spider-Man and the Sandman occurred during the villain's first published appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #4 (September 1963).
18. ^ "Jessica Jones is a New Avenger". Comic Book Resources. March 4, 2010. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25081. 
19. ^ New Avengers #7
20. ^ Alias #1-28
21. ^ Schneider, Micheak (December 17, 2010). "Screenwriter Sets Marvel Adaptation for TV". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118029209. Retrieved 2010-12-17. 

External links

• Jessica Jones at Marvel.com
• Bendis Interview at Comic Book Resources (August 2005)
• Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed: Which Jessica for Alias?