Alias (comics)
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Alias is a comic book created by Brian Michael Bendis and published by Marvel Comics under their MAX imprint.
Alias was written by Bendis and illustrated for most of its run by Michael Gaydos, with covers by David Mack. It ran for 28 issues between the years 2002 and 2004, and was collected in four trade paperbacks, and in 2006, in one large hardcover omnibus. Characters from the series moved to Brian Michael Bendis' new comic book, The Pulse, which was promoted and widely seen as a continuation of Alias under a new name.
The main character of Alias is Jessica Jones, the former costumed superhero Jewel, now private investigator. This juxtaposition sets the tone for the series, which aims to present the dark underbelly of the Marvel Universe. However, the running thread from the first to the last issue is Jessica's character development, as the layers of her past and personality are revealed to the reader while, at the same time, she herself is trying to come to terms with them.
Alias was one of the titles that launched Marvel's MAX imprint, and was reported to have been one of the reasons why MAX was created. Marvel Publishing President Bill Jemas read a draft of the script for the first issue of Alias (which, characteristically, starts with the word "fuck") and exclaimed "Why couldn't we publish this?" So Marvel set up the MAX line to carry such "R-Rated" material.
However, being under the MAX imprint imposed certain other limitations on what Bendis could do in the series. Specifically, he was not allowed to use many of Marvel's most famous characters, such as Spider-Man (with the exception of one minor cameo). Bendis gave this as one reason for ending the series and moving the characters to The Pulse.
The series was recognized with the Squiddy Award for Best Comics Series in 2002 and 2003, the Comics Buyer's Guide Award for Favorite Comic Series in 2003, and the Harvey Award for Best New Series in 2002.
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[edit] Collections and story arcs
[edit] Alias (#1-9)
Asked to look for a missing woman, Jessica finds herself caught in a conspiracy involving Captain America and the president of the United States. Later, her friend Carol Danvers hooks her up with Scott Lang, a.k.a. Ant-Man. Subsequently she is hired to find the recently missing Rick Jones.
[edit] Come Home (#11-15)
Jessica Jones is assigned to look for a missing girl rumoured to be a mutant in a small, prejudiced town.
[edit] The Underneath (#10, 16-21)
J. Jonah Jameson asks Jessica to uncover Spider-Man's identity. Later, Mattie Franklin, the latest Spider-Woman, goes missing and Jessica is asked to find her. When she does, she discovers a criminal underworld that sells the drug known as the Mutant Growth Hormone.
[edit] The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones (#22-28)
Jessica's origins, including her source of powers, how she became a superhero, and why she quit are revealed. Her past with the Purple Man is also revealed, and she must confront him when he escapes from prison.
[edit] Collected Editions
- Alias Vol. 1 ISBN 0-7851-1141-7
- Alias Vol. 2: Come Home ISBN 0-7851-1123-9
- Alias Vol. 3: The Underneath ISBN 0-7851-1165-4
- Alias Vol. 4: The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones ISBN 0-7851-1167-0
- Alias Omnibus (Collects Alias #1-28 and What If? Jessica Jones had Joined the Avengers) ISBN 0-7851-2121-8
