Jessica Jones
Encyclopedia
Jessica Campbell Jones Cage 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.
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, 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." 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. 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. In Ultimate Spider-Man #106, she appears as a senior at Peter Parker
's school.
character, 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.
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 rape
d 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.
.
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.
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. The two are married in New Avengers Annual #1. Jones retained her maiden name.
, 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.
'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.
'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. Osborn helps Luke recover Danielle, and Luke gives the baby back to Jessica. 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. She later assists the Avengers in rescuing Clint after being captured by Norman Osborn. 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.
, Echo, Molly Hayes
, Deadpool, She-Hulk
, and multiple others. Ultimately, Squirrel Girl
is chosen as Danielle's nanny. 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.
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.
Marvel Comics
crossover
, Jessica is married to Scott Lang.
#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.
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
.
screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg
is developing a series for ABC
titled, AKA Jessica Jones.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
, created by writer Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis is an American comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim for his self-published, Image Comics and Marvel Comics work, and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics, with his books selling consistently highly for over a...
and artist Michael Gaydos
Michael Gaydos
-Biography:At Marvel he has worked with Brian Michael Bendis on Alias and the last storyline of its follow up, The Pulse. He has also illustrated the mini-series Powerless and Daredevil Redemption,...
. Jones debuted in the series Alias
Alias (comics)
Alias is a comic book series created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos. It was published by Marvel Comics under Marvel's MAX imprint for a total of 28 issues from 2001 to 2004....
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 MAXMAX (comics)
MAX is an imprint of Marvel Comics aimed at a niche 'adults only' audience, launched in 2001 after Marvel broke with the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system...
imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
series Alias, which bears no relation to the television series
Alias (TV series)
Alias is an American action television series created by J. J. Abrams which was broadcast on ABC for five seasons, from September 30, 2001 to May 22, 2006...
of the same name. The character and series were created by writer Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis is an American comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim for his self-published, Image Comics and Marvel Comics work, and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics, with his books selling consistently highly for over a...
and artist Michael Gaydos
Michael Gaydos
-Biography:At Marvel he has worked with Brian Michael Bendis on Alias and the last storyline of its follow up, The Pulse. He has also illustrated the mini-series Powerless and Daredevil Redemption,...
. Alias ran for 28 issues from 2001 to 2004, with most covers drawn by David W. Mack
David W. Mack
David W. Mack is an American comic book artist and writer, best known for his creator-owned series Kabuki. Mack is known for his unique painted and collage-like work...
. Jones and other characters from the series moved to Bendis' subsequent series, The Pulse
The Pulse (comics)
The Pulse is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics, written by Brian Michael Bendis, about the people who work on "The Pulse", a weekly section in the fictional Daily Bugle newspaper, focusing on superheroes....
.
In a 2005 interview, Bendis claimed that "[o]riginally, Alias was going to star Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman
Spider-Woman
Spider-Woman is the codename of several fictional characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Marvel Comics' then-publisher Stan Lee, said in 1978, shortly after Spider-Woman's debut in Marvel Spotlight #32 Spider-Woman is the codename of several fictional characters...
), 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." 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. 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
Ms. Marvel
Ms. Marvel is the name of a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and designed by artist Gene Colan, the non-powered Carol Danvers debuted as a member of the United States Air Force in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 and as Ms. Marvel—a...
; in some respects, she is something of a pastiche
Pastiche
A pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre or technique that is a "hodge-podge" or imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...
of the two women.
In a Marvel Comics podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
, Bendis expressed his desire to incorporate Jones into the parallel universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and updated versions of the company's superhero characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. The imprint was launched in 2000 with the publication of the series...
imprint. In Ultimate Spider-Man #106, she appears as a senior at Peter Parker
Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man was a superhero comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2009. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Spider-Man comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint...
's school.
Origin
Introduced in the Marvel Universe as a retconRetcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
character, Midtown High student Jessica Campbell was present when Peter Parker
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
was bitten by the irradiated spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
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
Human Torch
The Human Torch is a fictional character and superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he is a member of the superhero team the Fantastic Four, debuting in The Fantastic Four #1...
.
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
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
, she was placed in foster care and adopted by the Jones family. Months later she awoke, stirred by the first coming of Galactus
Galactus
Galactus is a fictional character appearing in comic books and other publications published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character debuted in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue story later known as "The 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
Flash Thompson
Eugene "Flash" Thompson is a supporting character in Marvel Comics’s Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 ....
. 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
Sandman (Marvel Comics)
Sandman is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. A shapeshifter endowed through an accident with the ability to turn himself into sand, he eventually reformed, and became an ally of Spider-Man...
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.
Heroic career
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
foe Zebediah Killgrave, the Purple Man
Purple Man
The Purple Man is a Marvel Comics supervillain. Originally a foe of Daredevil, he was introduced in Daredevil vol. 1 #4...
. 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 rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d 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
Stockholm syndrome
In psychology, Stockholm Syndrome is an apparently paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express empathy and have positive feelings towards their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them...
.
In the midst of a temper tantrum, the Purple Man sent Jones to kill Daredevil, erroneously directing her to the Avengers Mansion
Avengers Mansion
In the fictional Marvel Comics universe, Avengers Mansion has traditionally been the base of the Avengers. The enormous, city block-sized building is located at 890 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City.-Creative origin:...
. Since Daredevil is not an Avenger, Jones attacked the first hero she saw there in a red costume — the Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
. 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
Vision (Marvel Comics)
The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that...
(the Scarlet Witch's then-husband), and Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
. She escaped death due to the intervention of the only Avenger who actually knew her, Carol Danvers
Ms. Marvel
Ms. Marvel is the name of a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and designed by artist Gene Colan, the non-powered Carol Danvers debuted as a member of the United States Air Force in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 and as Ms. Marvel—a...
, who took her to safety.
Jones remained in a coma for months, under the care of S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
, while also undergoing psychic therapy with Jean Grey
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
of the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
. 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
Clay Quartermain
Clay Quartermain is a fictional character, a secret agent in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer-artist Jim Steranko, he first appeared in Strange Tales #163 Clay Quartermain is a fictional character, a secret agent in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer-artist Jim Steranko, he...
, 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
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
, she met up with fellow superhero Luke Cage
Luke Cage
Luke Cage is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Archie Goodwin and artist John Romita, Sr., he first appeared in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1...
. 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
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 CageLuke Cage
Luke Cage is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Archie Goodwin and artist John Romita, Sr., he first appeared in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1...
.
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
Jones takes a leave from the detective business and joins the staff of the Daily BugleDaily Bugle
The Daily Bugle is a fictional New York City newspaper that is a regular fixture in the Marvel Universe, most prominently in Spider-Man comic titles and their derivative media...
as a superhero correspondent and consultant, becoming a main character of the comic book The Pulse
The Pulse (comics)
The Pulse is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics, written by Brian Michael Bendis, about the people who work on "The Pulse", a weekly section in the fictional Daily Bugle newspaper, focusing on superheroes....
, and a contributor to the same-name fictional newspaper supplement within. A pregnant Jones is attacked by the Green Goblin
Green Goblin
The Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
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
J. Jonah Jameson
John Jonah Jameson Junior is a supporting character of Spider-Man in the .Jameson is usually the publisher or editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, a fictional New York newspaper and now serves as the mayor of New York City...
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. The two are married in New Avengers Annual #1. Jones retained her maiden name.
Civil War
In Marvel's crossover event Civil WarCivil War (comics)
Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover storyline built around a self-titled seven-issue limited series written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, which ran through various other titles published by Marvel at the time...
, Jones and Cage are confronted by Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
and Ms. Marvel
Ms. Marvel
Ms. Marvel is the name of a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and designed by artist Gene Colan, the non-powered Carol Danvers debuted as a member of the United States Air Force in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 and as Ms. Marvel—a...
, 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
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and Jim Crow segregation
Jim Crow laws
The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities, with a supposedly "separate but equal" status for black Americans...
. In order to keep their child safe, Jones travels with her to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, 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
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
'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 StrangeDoctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
's Sanctum Sanctorum
Sanctum Sanctorum
The Sanctum Sanctorum is a fictional building in the Marvel Universe. It first appeared with Doctor Strange in his debut in Strange Tales #110 .-Location:...
. At the end of New Avengers #31 (2007), Elektra
Elektra (comics)
Elektra Natchios, usually referred to only by her first name Elektra, is a fictional character in publications from Marvel Comics.Elektra is a kunoichi – female ninja assassin – of Greek descent. She wields a pair of bladed sai as her trademark weapon. She is a love interest of the superhero...
is killed and is revealed to have been a Skrull
Skrull
The Skrulls are a fictional race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The Skrulls first appeared in Fantastic Four #2 and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
. 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
Hood (comics)
The Hood is a fictional character, a supervillain, and a crime boss in the . Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell, the character first appeared in The Hood #1 .-Publication history:...
, 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.
Secret Invasion
Jones is among the heroes who emerged from the crashed Skrull ship wearing her Jewel costume. 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. 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.Dark Reign
Jessica, Luke, and Carol arrive at BuckyBucky
Bucky is the name of several fictional characters, masked superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe. The original, James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby as a sidekick character in Captain America Comics #1 , published by Marvel's 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics...
's home. The New Avengers, Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
, and Iron Fist begin searching for Danielle, attacking various villains, looking for any information regarding the Skrull Jarvis
Edwin Jarvis
Edwin Jarvis is a fictional supporting character in the Marvel Comics titles, The Avengers, Iron Man, and Spider-Man.-Publication history:...
, namely his whereabouts and intentions. Jessica is unaware that Luke asks Norman Osborn for help in their search. Osborn helps Luke recover Danielle, and Luke gives the baby back to Jessica. 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. She later assists the Avengers in rescuing Clint after being captured by Norman Osborn. Jessica reveals that she was inspired to become a superheroine after witnessing an early battle between Spider-Man and the Sandman
Sandman (Marvel Comics)
Sandman is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. A shapeshifter endowed through an accident with the ability to turn himself into sand, he eventually reformed, and became an ally of Spider-Man...
. 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.
Heroic Age
Jessica, retaking her costumed identity of Jewel, became a member of the New Avengers when the title relaunched in June 2010. She and Luke begin searching for a nanny. Possible applicants were HellcatHellcat (comics)
Hellcat is a fictional character published by Marvel Comics. She premiered as the star of a teen romantic-comedy series and was later integrated into Marvel superhero franchises such as the Avengers and the Defenders....
, Echo, Molly Hayes
Molly Hayes
Molly Hayes , is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics award-winning series, Runaways. She was created by author Brian K. Vaughan & artist Adrian Alphona, and debuted in Runaways #1 with most of the other main characters...
, Deadpool, She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
, and multiple others. Ultimately, Squirrel Girl
Squirrel Girl
Squirrel Girl, real name Doreen Green, is a fictional character and superhero in the . Her first appearance was in Marvel Super-Heroes #8 , in a story plotted and drawn by Steve Ditko and scripted by Will Murray. Her ability to control squirrels is surprisingly powerful and has allowed her to...
is chosen as Danielle's nanny. 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 DrewSpider-Woman (Jessica Drew)
Spider-Woman is a fictional character, a superheroine in the Marvel Comics Universe. The character first appeared in Marvel Spotlight #32 , and 50 issues of an ongoing series titled Spider-Woman followed...
nor a severe beating by Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
and the Vision
Vision (Marvel Comics)
The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that...
.
Jessica was vulnerable to telepathic attack which led to her ordeal at the hands of the Purple Man
Purple Man
The Purple Man is a Marvel Comics supervillain. Originally a foe of Daredevil, he was introduced in Daredevil vol. 1 #4...
until mental barriers were put in place by Jean Grey
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
to grant her better resistance.
In addition to her superhuman powers, Jessica is a skilled detective and investigative journalist.
House of M
In the House of MHouse of M
House of M is an eight-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics in 2005. Written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, its first issue debuted in June 2005 as a follow-up to the events of the Planet X and Avengers Disassembled...
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
, Jessica is married to Scott Lang.
Ultimate Jessica Jones
In Ultimate Spider-ManUltimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man was a superhero comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2009. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Spider-Man comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint...
#106, Jones appears as a senior student in the school Peter Parker
Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man was a superhero comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2009. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Spider-Man comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint...
attends. She is the executive producer of the school's television network. She later becomes jealous of Mary Jane Watson
Mary Jane Watson
Mary Jane Watson, often shortened to MJ, is a fictional supporting character appearing, originally, in Marvel comic books and, later, in multiple spin-offs and dramatizations of the Spider-Man titles as the best friend, love interest, and one-time wife of Peter Parker, the alter ego of Spider-Man...
'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.S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
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
Avengers Disassembled
"Avengers Disassembled", referred to in some participating series as "Disassembled", is a crossover event between several Marvel Comics series. The general idea is that the major heroes are assaulted, not just physically, but emotionally...
and the House of M
House of M
House of M is an eight-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics in 2005. Written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, its first issue debuted in June 2005 as a follow-up to the events of the Planet X and Avengers Disassembled...
never occur. Jessica marries Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
.
Television
In December 2010, it was reported that TwilightTwilight (2008 film)
Twilight is a 2008 American romantic vampire film based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novel of the same name. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the film stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. It is the first film in The Twilight Saga film series...
screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg
Melissa Rosenberg
Melissa Anne Rosenberg is an American screenwriter. She has worked in both film and television and has been nominated for two Emmy Awards, and two Writers Guild of America Awards. She won a Peabody Award...
is developing a series for ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
titled, AKA Jessica Jones.
External links
- Jessica Jones at Marvel.com
- Bendis Interview at Comic Book Resources (August 2005)
- Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed: Which Jessica for Alias?