When Jessica Jones debuted under Marvel’s MAX imprint in 2001, it gave us a superheroine that hadn’t been seen before in the Marvel Universe. She reads as an obstinate, unfeeling woman that uses alcohol, sex and other forms of self-destruction to endure the effects of psychological torture she withstood at the hands of a villain, Purple Man—the fall-out of the events led to the Jessica Jones we know today.
Once a member of the suit-wearing roster that included Power Man, Iron Fist, Ms. Marvel and even the Avengers, she retired to take on a more practical role in society: first as a private detective and then an investigative journalist. Her traumatic past involving the death of her family left her orphaned, but also left her with irradiated powers such as super strength, bullet deflection and flight which she utilized as Jewel in her early years. She eventually reckons another power through X-Men’s Jean Grey which allows her to block mind-control techniques.
Throughout the span of Jessica Jones issues we discover that she is a major part of the Marvel Universe, and one of the most remarkable female characters of the MCU. She takes on the vigilante role of Knightress for a short period, and in later comics the title of Power Woman as an honor to her husband, Power Man (Luke Cake) and an inspiration to their daughter, Danielle. There is a cunning likability in Jessica’s devil-may-care attitude that is made iconic through the television series Jessica Jones and The Defenders, and even in the first appearance issues, but the maturity in her chronological development forms a person with compassion, sincerity and relatable human motivations to protect the ones she loves.
Although Jessica Jones is relatively new to the Marvel Universe at just under 20 years, she’s already got a faithful following and plenty of immersive material to delve into. If you’re a fan of the series and want to know more about her, or a long-time fan looking to revisit the best of her storylines, there is absolutely something for you on this list.
Jessica Jones

Jessica Jones opens in her first solo series in a decade after the Marvel Now changes in the multiverse, placing her at the forefront of Alias Investigations as private eye. Jessica is trying to make sense of what normal could be in a world of super-powered oddities and dangers that have already impacted her life, and the life of her child with Luke Cage, Danielle. These stories venture into the personal and professional world of a hard-luck woman whose steel composure gets the job done while leaving her with all the toughest choices.
Brian Michael Bendis’ dedication to the story of Jessica Jones takes the best qualities of the Alias years while updating information in the noir-style, gritty, truth-seeking detective drama that we know and love her for. Gaydos’ seedy stylizing of New York City gives this comic a strong, abstract mystery that adds to the journey that has made Jessica Jones so popular on the page and the screen.
Collection: Jessica Jones #1-12
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Michael Gaydos

New Avengers

While Jessica Jones appears in both Avengers Team and New Avengers, she is a staple member of the latter, headed by Luke Cage. He’s acquired a super-heroic team with Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Victoria Hand, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, Doctor Strange, Daredevil and The Thing. Jessica and Luke balance their heroics with parenthood, investing in the aid of Squirrel Girl as the nanny of their child. By the end of these issues she and her family have been put the ringer, and Jessica is back in the costumed-crusader role that she stepped out of so many years before.
Although she is a supporting team member, Jessica has a host of fantastic issues where she is featured, including a showdown with Dr. Doom during a dinner date and the adoption of the title “Power Woman.” For the Jessica Jones fan, this is a quintessential read and a fantastic group team-up.
Collection: New Avengers (2010) #1-34
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: various

The Pulse

Directly following the events of Alias, Bendis picks up this sequel with a pregnant Jessica Jones working for the Daily Bugle’s recent sectional: The Pulse. She’s at the helm as an investigative journalist on the request of J. Jonah Jameson, whose negative feelings about suited heroes is ruining the paper’s popularity. Her first case is to find out who the super-powered person behind a co-worker’s murder is, and a recent rash of disappearances at Oscorp is the only lead.
In Secret War, Nick Fury’s clandestine schemes cumulate and fall straight into Jessica and Luke Cage’s personal lives, leaving Luke hospital-bound and Jessica and their unborn child in the hands of international enemies. With the help of Danny Rand, Captain America and Spider-Man, we see the shared universe shift and expand to accommodate even more intricacy, including the birth of Danielle Cage.
In New Avengers Annual #1, Jessica Jones’ relationship to Luke Cage is the highlight of the issue, as they marry in the presence of their heroic friends and family.
Collection: Pulse #1-9. 11-14. New Avengers Annual #1
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: various

Jessica Jones: Alias

Jessica Jones is the sole employee of Alias P.I., a private investigating company that she built from the ground up after retiring her costumed identity from the hero business. Her expertise is in the defunct world of superhuman cases, which gets her into all sorts of high-powered trouble, and sets her up to cross paths with many of Marvel’s most famous heroes. Captain America makes an appearance, but the cases get even more intensive as she delves into noir-type cases involving mutants and outliers on the fringes of the city. In many ways, it’s as if she never left the business at all.
Bendis had authorship over Daredevil and Luke Cage when he brought about Alias, so there are plenty of cameos within and a gateway to Jessica Jones’ introduction to the Marvel Universe and her highly-publicized relationship with Power Man/Luke Cage. The attitude and personality of this Jessica Jones is what the television series seems to have pulled from, making it a perfect place to begin for those who are looking for a recognizable storyline with familiar characterization.
Collection: Alias #1-28
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Bill Sienkiewicz
