If you have not read Alias yet you are missing out on what is one of Brian Michael Bendis’ best books to date. Alias: Ultimate Collection, Book 1 contains issues 1-15 of the delightfully gritty world of Jessica Jones a down on her luck ex-cape turned private eye. Definitely not for kids, this title takes full advantage of Marvel’s MAX line of comic books for mature audiences and opens up a darker side of the Marvel Universe, where the bad guys are evil in the worst ways and even the good guys are kind of scummy.

Jessica Jones is the owner of Alias Investigations, a private detective service open to anyone willing to pay her fee. Alias’s hook is that Jones is no ordinary PI, she was once a heartbeat away from being a full-fledged Avenger, but fate and circumstance ended that part of her life abruptly. With her superhero past looming behind her future is always full of uncertainty. Everyone always wants to know why she gave up life most can only dream of, what kind of powers she has- and if she still has them. With her unique reputation she attracts a wide variety of clientele, from deadbeat husbands, crazed sisters, and the occasional familiar face from the Marvel Universe. Even though Jessica decided not to be an Avenger her past has a knack for popping up and like most people she finds it hard to move away from the social circle she once embraced.

Fans of Bendis’ work will have an easy time warming up to this book as it has many of his normal writing traits; witty dialogue, fun action sequences, and some unsettlingly dramatic moments. Michel Gaydos’ art matches the story well, however I’m not the biggest fan of some of his artistic decisions, some panels are obvious copies of earlier ones, and while that kind of thing happens in many comics I never like seeing it. The page layouts work really well and lend an extra hand to the art. Bill Sienkiewicz, David Mack, Mark Bagley, and Rodney Ramos also lend their talents to some striking sequences that include Jones’ previous life as a crime fighter and a runaway girl’s diary pages. As a whole the art pairs with the story extremely well and its faults are few and far between.

Alias is a good introduction to people who don’t normally read comics, and a great gateway from crime-fiction into super-hero books. Anyone who likes a solid mystery should check it out, it helps to already know some of the key characters in the Marvel universe, but it isn’t necessary to enjoy the story.

Tite: Alias: Ultimate Collection, Book 1
Collects: Alias Issues 1-15
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Brian Michael Bendis - creator writer
Michel Gaydos - art
David Mack - additional art, covers
Bill Sienkiewicz – additional Art
Mark Bagley - additional Art
Rodney Ramos - additional Art
Matt Hollingsworth - colors
Richard Starkings, & Comicraft’s Wess Abbott, Oscar Gongora, Jason Levin - letters