Jessica Jones #6
(W) Brian Michael Bendis (A) Michael Gaydos (CA) David Mack
Parental Advisory
In Shops: Mar 08, 2017
SRP: $3.99
With the reveal of how and why Jessica’s life has been destroyed, with the reveal of who the new bad guy is in Jessica’s life, can Jessica put the pieces back together or is it just too late? Guest-starring Captain Marvel.
David Mack kills, as usual, with his cover art for Jessica Jones #5 which sets a great tone and gets you into the mood for the story that Brian Michael Bendis is going to weave for us about the currently on the outs Jessica Jones. The set up is the kind of film noiresque opening that you’d want for a murder mystery with superhuman undertones. It starts in a police station with Jessica’s client’s husband in custody for killing his wife and drinking her blood and refusing to talk to anyone but, Jessica. As gruesome as the first page’s story set up sounds it draws a hard line when it comes to the tone and gets you ready to read more. Her client’s husband not only confesses to the crime but, tells Jessica that he’s from an alternate reality, which is totally plausible for all of us comic book readers. Bendis tells this story with a bit of skepticism that calls into question what we know can happen. I liked that I couldn’t tell if he was being genuine or if it was a red herring and something else was going on.
Meanwhile, Luke Cage is on a mission of his own, still unaware of the truth behind Jessica’s mission and worries about his friends and his daughter. The panels involving Cage left me uneasy because nothing every goes right in comic book land and him thinking that he and Jessica would be over for good if he doesn’t see his daughter means that Jessica isn’t going to make it back with his daughter. Back at the station, Jessica is still trying to figure out what’s going on with her client’s husband as he weaves a tale of “Cosmic Calamity” and paints the superheroes of her world as villains who killed every other reality to save their own. Their conversation plays over and over in her head, filling her with dread and flashbacks of it keep her up at night which adds to the tension of the story. This issue comes to an end with a secret meeting between Jessica and Ms. Marvel in the sketchiest car ride shakedown ever and Jessica still unsure of what her next move should be since the lingo on her face says she just wants her family back.
Michael Gaydos serves up some wicked good artwork for a tense and dark story. There is a sense of dread beyond the words and his lines made it possible. Each panel has so much detail embedded in at that it takes a moment to snap out of it after the last page because you’re so immersed in the story.
Overall this issue was pure fire. It evoked actual emotion and managed to create tension, dread, and mystery. It was a full color, well drawn, well written, film noir mystery in comic book form and I was here for it. As a whole, I was still on edge when I finished reading and it took a moment for me to calm down enough to write my review. The issue felt real and there’s something marvelous about picking up an issue of a comic book and having fit take hold of you by pulling you into the story.
Story: Brian Michael Bendis Art: Michael Gaydos
Story: 9.9 Art: 9.8 Overall: 9.8 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Jessica Jones #5
(W) Brian Michael Bendis (A) Michael Gaydos (CA) David Mack
Parental Advisory
In Shops: Feb 08, 2017
SRP: $3.99
Jessica made some tough choices to save her husband and child from the clutches of the latest hateful madness that has hit the Marvel Universe. But was it enough? Another all-new chapter from Jessica’s original creators. The new adventures of Jessica Jones that you’ll only find right here.
Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.
Ben
Black History In Its Own Words (Image Comics) – Criminally, I’m behind on Ronald Wimberly’s work, despite the fact that his recent Image Comics work, Prince of Cats (once a publication of Vertigo), has been making waves with its unique premise and gorgeous art. Black History In Its Own Words sounds like a great endeavor in the same effort as March, using the comics medium as a way to educate on important moments and figures in black history. We already know comics can be art, can be literature, but what about educational? Comics can be a teaching tool for reading and drawing, so it only makes sense it should take the next step in teaching all too important academia such as history, science, math, government, etc.
All-New Wolverine #17 (Marvel) – I’ve only read the first volume so far, but X-23 as the All-New Wolverine has one me over. She continues on the powerful themes of the original character, dealing with anger and finding more meaning in life than violence, while exploring her own unique personality. Most superhero comics have overdone action to the point that it’s no longer fun, but the creative team here manages to keep it so while not forgetting character development. Definitely one of the best among new Marvel titles.
Paul
Top Pick: Inhumans vs. X-Men #4 (Marvel) – This event has been a rock ’em sock ’em ride from the get go. The X-Men are fighting for their survival and they are definitely not holding back. The action has been non stop as the X-Men have taken out the Inhuman’s heavy hitters, but they may have underestimated the Nuhumans and their ability to push back. It’s only going to get more cut throat as this goes on and I can’t wait to see where this goes.
Jessica Jones #5 (Marvel) – When I started reading this title, I was a little annoyed that Marvel took Jessica back to her “darker” self, after everything that was established with her and Luke Cage. But I have bee enjoying this title, and the last issue definitely cleared some things up for me. I’m liking the set up of the “big bad” in this title and I am curious to see what the end game is. I very good title that I recommend.
The Unworthy Thor #4 (Marvel) – Odinson is held prisoner on the Collector’s ship; a strange hammer within his reach, but the Collector wants the power for himself. And to make matters worse, Proxima Midnight and Black Swan have crashed the party. I’ve been enjoying this book, but really just want to see Odinson get his hands on this hammer already!
Justice League of America: Rebirth #1 (DC Comics) – I’ll be honest, the Rebirth titles I was reading didn’t hold my interest (though I do want to go back to Red Hood, Birds of Prey and Teen Titans as I lost track of them) but I am intrigued by the team line up of this book. I read the Rebirth stories for The Ray and Killer Frost, which I enjoyed, and Black Canary and Vixen are favorites of mine, so I’m hoping this book can deliver.
Joe
Top Pick: Kingpin #1 (Marvel) – Matt Rosenberg has been of the best and most consistent writers lately. He has done some fantastic miniseries, and we get him on a big Marvel ongoing. Finally! With how he wrote the character on the CW2 miniseries, and it being the best thing to happen to that event, my expectations are through the roof for this book. Be excited.
Moonshine #5 (Image Comics) – This has been a solid and underrated book by Azzarello about mobsters, Appalachia, and werewolves. It is such an original tale that has packed an intriguing mystery about city slickers coming to the mountains with booze and blood involved.
Detective Comics #950 (DC Comics) – The oversized anniversary special that is priced at $3.99, that is a beautiful concept everyone should follow. I love this series, and James Tynion IV hasn’t let me down yet. I don’t expect him to anytime soon.
The Unworthy Thor #4 (Marvel) – It’s been so far so good for the return of Jason Aaron writing Odinson, and there’s only a few issues remaining. Will Thor get his original hammer? Or at least the ultimate version? Will he ride off into the sunset and allow Jane to remain the God of Thunder? I suspect a new ongoing. I can’t wait to find out.
The Flash #16 (DC Comics) – Finally the Rogues have returned! Josh Williamson has done a solid job with this series, but now that the Rogues have returned, it’s getting even better.
Alex
Top Pick: Ninjak #24 (Valiant) – This is the first time that Ninjak has been my top pick in a long time, if ever. Matt Kindt has always been consistent with his writing on the series, but with the last issue he kicked it up a gear, and I can’t wait to see where he takes us with this issue.
All-Star Batman #7 (DC Comics) – Scott Snyder and Jock gave me Batman #44, which remains one of the best issues of Batman I have ever read. Needless to say, I’m excited to get a whole story from these two.
Divinity III: Shadowman #1 (Valiant) – Honestly, this was a toss up between this and Detective Comics #950, with this issue coming out on top because of it’s relation to the main Divinity III miniseries. The more content I can get from the Stalinverse, the happier I am.
Red Hood And The Outlaws #7 (DC Comics) – An unsung gem in DC’s line up, this darkly funny (whether it’s supposed to be or not) series has become one of the ones I look forward to the most each month.
Brett
Top Pick: Black History In Its Own Words (Image Comics) – Ron Wimberly takes us through a look at Black History framed by those who made it. As a white guy with a large gap in my knowledge, I’m looking forward to filling in some of that.
Black #4 (Black Mask Studios) – The series has been an interesting one, and while not perfect, each issue has been thought provoking with a depth not usually found in superhero comics.
Death Be Damned #1 (BOOM! Studios) – Seven outlaws have killed Miranda Coler and her family, but her death turned out to be a little less permanent than they expected. A western tale of revenge is exactly what I’ve been looking for.
Divinity III: Shadowman #1 (Valiant) – This latest “event” miniseries from Valiant has been absolutely amazing. Any opportunity to get more about this world, I’m excited.
The Fissure #1 (Vault Comics) – El Sueño, Texas was a single street town withering under the shadow of the Mexico-U.S. Barrier. Then the pavement split, and a massive crack spread from one end to the other, rapidly swallowing El Sueño whole. Young couple Avery Lee Olmos and Hark Wright fight to escape the mysterious sinkhole and the malevolent force that beckons from its depths. Writer Tim Daniel has kicked ass with these types of stories and this debut from Vault Comics is one I’ve had my eye on for quite some time.
This week, DST continues their comic shop beautification project by shipping not one, but four amazing-looking products to your local comic shop! From Batman: The Animated Series, the Man-Bat bust and Nurse Harley statue! From Justice League Unlimited, the Black Canary PVC diorama! And from Marvel Comics, Jessica Jones as Jewel!
Batman The Animated Series Man-Bat Resin Bust
A Diamond Select Toys release! Beware the Man-Bat! The newest resin bust in the epic line based on Batman: The Animated Series depicts scientist Kirk Langstrom as his monstrous alter-ego, the Man-Bat! Measuring over 6 inches tall and approximately 8 inches in diameter, this detailed bust is set on top of an art-deco base inspired by the show’s distinctive architecture. Limited to only 3000 pieces, it comes packaged with a certificate of authenticity in a full-color box. Sculpted by Varner Studios! (Item #AUG162554, SRP: $59.99)
Batman Animated Series Premier Collection Nurse Harley Quinn 12” Resin Statue
A Diamond Select Toys release! Hello, nurse! On the TV classic Batman: The Animated Series, Harley Quinn played dress-up almost as often as she wore her now-iconic jumpsuit. And this all-new 12-inch resin statue depicts one of her most memorable clothing swaps – a nurse’s disguise! Nurse Harley blows a kiss to her next patient while wearing a short, white mini-dress and standing on a logo disk base. Limited to only 3,000 pieces, this statue comes packaged with a certificate of authenticity in a full-color window box. Sculpted by Clayburn Moore! (Item #AUG162553, SRP$ 149.99)
DC Gallery Justice League Black Canary PVC Figure
A Diamond Select Toys release! The heroines of the DC Animated Universe are expanding their roster! As seen on Justice League Unlimited, this 9-inch scale PVC figure of the Black Canary depicts Dinah Lance unleashing a sonic scream at her opponent, wearing her classic, comic-inspired leather jacket and tights. Figure is in scale to all Gallery and Femme Fatales PVC figures, and comes packaged in a full-color window box. Sculpted by Varner Studios! (Item #AUG162555, SRP: $45.00)
Marvel Gallery Jessica Jones as Jewel PVC Diorama
A Diamond Select Toys Release! Before she was a hard-boiled detective and the star of her own TV show, Jessica Jones was Jewel, an up-and-coming superhero, part-time Avenger and full-time fashion plate! This 9-inch scale PVC diorama of Jewel depicts the superheroine with her purple hair and white jumpsuit, blowing a kiss of purple stars. In scale to all Gallery and Femme Fatales PVC figures, Jewel comes packaged in a full-color widow box, and features a detailed sculpt and paint applications. Sculpted by Alejandro Pereira. (Item #NOV162441, SRP: $45.00)
Jessica Jones is on the case!
Fans of Marvel’s Jessica Jones, a Netflix Original Series, can now add the tough-as-nails private investigator to their collections! Luke Cage joins her to make for a formidable duo!
Collect them this winter! Pop! Marvel: Jessica Jones are out now!
Talk about a triple-threat!
Daredevil, Punisher, and Elektra round-out the latest Pop!s from Marvel’s original Netflix series!
Be on the hunt for the chase variant Punisher holding Daredevil’s mask!
Collect them this winter! The Pop! Marvel: Daredevil TV are out in February from Funko.
Like every issue of Jessica Jones so far, something is really off with the characterizations in this series. Jessica Jones #4 opens with Misty Knight dissecting his and Jessica’s relationships and calling her “broken”. I took Misty for a kinder, more heroic figure, but maybe not in this story. Later in the issue, the shot of Luke hugging Misty end up in a press barrage condemning his erratic behavior. Someone might be manipulating Luke and/or Misty, and we’re probably not going to find out until this fairly decompressed story arc wraps up after six issues.
Jessica Jones is a really difficult comic to write about on an issue to issue basis because the new series is mystery driven instead of character driven. Certain folks might seem to be written out of character for the sake of the overall plot. But as writer Brian Michael Bendis, artist Michael Gaydos , and colorist Matt Hollingsworth unpeel layers of this onion of a mystery arc, the interactions start to shine through, especially Jessica’s blend of misanthropy and heroism which endeared me to her the first time I read Alias in college. A moldy old Bendis running gag since his days on Ultimate Spider-Man of D-list supervillains loudly proclaiming their innocence gets some new life when Jessica tackles Leapfrog and immediately asks the cops if she can help with their case featuring one of her dead clients. Even though her relationship with Luke is majorly strained, Jessica doesn’t retreat into herself, but wants to atone for her mistakes and help out.
This whole idea of Jessica helping out while being super snarky about it and making jokes 
comparing superheroes to head cheerleaders slides neatly into Jessica Jones #4’s reveal that Jessica Jones is a deep cover SHIELD operative. Or she’s basically what Jessica Drew was in Bendis mid-2000s Avengers comics, but with no family connection to HYDRA. This is why she had to send Dani off to her mom, went to jail, has a strained relationship with Luke, and pretended to think about joining Allison Greene’s organization. The reveal isn’t particularly groundbreaking, but gives the events of the previous issues some logical basis and also redeems the friendship between Carol and Jessica. It’s very messed up, but also quite heroic that Jessica is throwing her happy home life away to take down a big HYDRA cell while using her attitude of resentment towards superhero and their trappings as a way to keep her cover. Except Allison Greene isn’t just your run of the mill HYDRA accountant and yet another mystery that Bendis keeps slightly out of reach to get us to pick up issues 5 and 6. It’s refreshing that Jessica isn’t a criminal though.
Like Alias, the big (or probably medium sized in the long run) moments don’t happen in superhero slugfests, but in the middle of intense conversations. And even though he mainly goes for conventional grid layouts, Gaydos makes Bendis’ verbal tete-a-tetes more memorable with a well-placed facial expression, including Luke having a longing look about Jessica when Misty insults her or Carol’s look of surprise about Allison Greene’s leadership position in an unknown organization.
Without rehashing the events of Civil War II, this look shows that Carol know she’s on thin ice and letting a terrorist organization run around and kill innocent New Yorkers and superhumans wouldn’t be good for her approval rating as the new “top cop”. Hollingsworth mutes the color tone of her costume showing that she truly is there for Jessica as a friend and ally and not a high soaring hero like in previous issues. His use of dark blues in the early scenes with Luke and Misty show the coldness that Luke may feel towards Jessica as well as the web of intrigue around them and was one time the colors of Jessica Jones #4 stood out to me.
When Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos aren’t teasing and prodding readers for a fourth straight issue, Jessica Jones #4 is a celebration of its lead character’s heroism in the face of adversity and with a healthy dose of snark. And, on a more negative note, the portrayal of Misty Knight as jealous and cantankerous continues to confirm my theory that Bendis bases his characterization of classic Marvel heroes on what his plot demands. This is why most of his best work either is rooted in other creators’ work (Frank Miller for Daredevil, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko for Ultimate Spider-Man) or involves his own creations like Jessica Jones, Echo, or Miles Morales.
Story: Brian Michael Bendis Art: Michael Gaydos Colors: Matt Hollingsworth
Story: 6 Art: 8 Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read
Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
We’re bringing back something we haven’t done for a while, what the team thinks. Our contributors are choosing up to five books each week and why they’re choosing the books.
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.
Alex
Top Pick: Voracious: Feeding Time #2 (Action Lab Entertainment) – Is anybody surprised by this? I mean… it’s not like I make a secret of the fact I absolutely love this series.
Ninjak #23 (Valiant) – Another unsurprising pick – there is usually always at least one Valiant book on my pull list each week, and I’ve been looking forward to this arc based entirely on the return of Master Darque (according to the name of the story, anyway).
All-Star Batman #6 (DC Comics) – Scott Snyder is still the best current writer of Batman, and for me this series exemplifies that.
Doctor Strange/Punisher: Magic Bullets #2 (Marvel) – A team-up that makes no sense? Sure. But the first issue was actually solid, and just because the team up makes no sense on paper doesn’t mean it won’t kick ass as a story.
Joe
Top Pick: Southern Bastards #16 (Image Comics) – Big Boss BBQ is back, and I cannot wait! After the last tense issue we got, I am so excited to see what happens with Roberta and Boss. This is one of the best books out there, and we didn’t get enough from Aaron and Latour in 2016.
God Country #1 (Image Comics) – A new series from Donny Cates with some awesome looking art by Geoff Shaw. I cannot wait to see what this is all about. From the teases of pages Cates has shared on social media alone, I am pumped.
The Mighty Thor #15 (Marvel) – The big war is coming! This cover by Dauterman is so beautiful. No shock there. This is one of Marvel’s best and most consistent series also by Jason Aaron, and with The Unworthy Thor soon ending, I cannot wait to see where they go with Jane, Odinson, Loki and more!
Inhumans vs. X-Men #2 (Marvel) – I didn’t think I would be typing this ever when I finished Death of X, but #1 was really solid. I hope that trend continues since Lemire and Soule are both highly capable. Also it reminds me I miss Roccafort on Ultimates.
Green Valley #4 (Skybound) – Wow what a crazy twist from that “wizard” in the last issue. There seems to be a bigger and crazier story from Landis going on here, and I hope this issue gives us some more weird awesome stuff. This is a miniseries, but it will run 9 issues, and I have enjoyed all of them so far.
Brett
Top Pick: Libby’s Dad (Retrofit Comics) – An absolutely fantastic indie/small press comic that focuses on teenage girls gossiping about one of their fathers. It’s an interesting comic and then you get to the end with its twist that makes your gut sink. So fantastic.
Red Dog #2 (451 Media Group) – A sci-fi series focused on a boy on a mining colony and the aliens that they have to deal with. The first issue was a solid read and I’m expecting this one to be just as entertaining. If you like sci-fi, you should check this one out.
The Rift #1 (Red 5 Comics) – A pilot is pulled through time and if he’s not sent back in time it spells disaster. A cool time travel story with some nice swerves.
The Skeptics #3 (Black Mask Studios) – Cold War fun that’s as entertaining as it is cool and stylish.
Invisible Republic #14 (Image Comics) – A reporter trying to get to the heart of the story behind a revolution and the fallout from his discoveries. The story feels even more appropriate today.
Shay
Pick of the Week: Justice League of America: Vixen #1 (DC Comics) – Mari McCabe is giving me life in the backstory bonanza and I am here for all of it!!!
Justice League vs Suicide Squad #4 (DC Comics) – I need to know how this all shakes out and what Amanda has gotten everyone into this time!
Motor Crush #2 (Image Comics) – Domino Swift may very well be my dreamland spirit animal and I love it!
Jessica Jones #4 (Marvel) – Jess wants to protect her family from pure evil by pushing them away and we all know how that usually turns out.
Jessica Jones #4
(W) Brian Michael Bendis (A) Michael Gaydos (CA) David Mack
Parental Advisory
In Shops: Jan 11, 2017
SRP: $3.99
Jessica Jones latest case has revealed a new hidden evil in the Marvel Universe. An evil so terrifying she was willing to rip her family apart to save them from it. But was the sacrifice enough? Another all-new blistering chapter of Marvel’s premier detective.
Some of the best scenes in the original Alias series were interrogations either with Jessica Jones doing the asking, or someone else. They put writer Brian Michael Bendis’ ear for dialogue on display and allowed artist Michael Gaydos and colorist Matt Hollingsworth to create conflict in a way that didn’t involve your run of the mill superhero punchfest. And Jessica Jones #3 is another memorable interrogation sequence, and Bendis continues to shroud the plot in mystery with the introduction of Alison, who bailed Jessica out of jail and wants to get all the dirt on superhumans. She’s also a bit of a Jessica Jones fangirl, which is a change from people not knowing who she is and fits in with Jessica’s increased popularity in pop culture landscape thanks to her Netflix show.
An interrogation is just two (or three in this case) people in a room talking so setting is important.With Hollingsworth’s greens and browns, I could smell how dank and disgusting the dungeon-like room was where Jessica was being held. There’s a little bit of a street level HYDRA vibe to the palette, but Alison doesn’t tell Jessica whose payroll she’s on or really anything personal about her. (I hope that she isn’t Dazzler with a new look, but that would be super out of left field.) As far as villains go, she isn’t that bad spending most of her time poking fun at her henchman Spot along with his creepiness and bad hygiene. She also lets Jessica go across the street to her office without laying a hand on her. Alison is brimming in confidence, and Gaydos makes her facial expressions open with big smiles and an in-charge kind of spirit compared to Jessica’s furrowed brows and smirks. She thinks that Jessica’s disaffection with the superhero community, especially after getting imprisoned, being estranged from her husband Luke Cage, and the fact that she runs and hides from anyone in a costume will make her give up all the dirt on them.
In fact, Alison gives a perfect surface level reading on who Jessica Jones is. She’s sarcastic, has a hate/hate relationship with her superpowers, and isn’t the biggest fan of the superhero community. Alison thinks she can use these traits so that Jessica will give her what she wants. But what she doesn’t know is that she has nice (If currently strained.) friendships with Carol Danvers and Spider-Man, and that Captain America vouched for 
her as a heroic person twice in Alias after he kept his identity a secret and triumphed over Killgrave once and for all. And even if she hates every superhero currently, Jessica Jones is no one’s puppet, and Gaydos shows this with little side panels of her busting out of her interrogation chair. Luckily, he and Bendis don’t go the cliché route of her fighting Alison and go the eerier way and have Jessica go free and immediately see her office across the street.
To pad out the issue, Bendis and Gaydos lead off the issue with a crazy cold open with Jessica on the run and getting saved by her daughter Dani, who is now Captain America and says “death” when she meant “dad”. Alternate universes have been mentioned quite a bit in Jessica Jones, and this is our first glimpse of one even if it might just be a dream. Hollingsworth’s almost bleached out palette, and Gaydos’ more active panels of Jessica jumping and dodging shows that this isn’t your usual scene from Jessica Jones comic before returning the shadows and sarcasm. There is also a Luke Cage subplot where he meets up with Detective Costello, who is investigating the murder of Jessica’s client. Their scenes are mostly connecting dots for yet another showdown between Luke and Jessica, but it’s refreshing to see Costello assume Jessica’s innocence in the situation unlike a lot of the clueless cops in Alias.
Jessica Jones #3 plays to the strengths of Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Gaydos, and Matt Hollingsworth in dialogue, expressions, and color palette while continuing to dig readers deeper into a multiversal mystery hole. I enjoyed how laidback, yet slightly overconfident a villain Alison was even though most of her appeal comes from her status as a human mystery.
(I may have an outlandish theory that she is an aged up, embittered version of Layla Miller, who is from another timeline or the Ultimate Universe because, like Alison, she “knows stuff”, was a mutant P.I. with X-Factor once upon a time, and is also a Brian Michael Bendis co-creation.)
Story: Brian Michael Bendis Art: Michael Gaydos Colors: Matt Hollingsworth
Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
