Jessica Jones: Alias Vol. 1 with Keith Lehtinen
We’re back with another episode of Trade School! This time, we’re talking about Jessica Jones: Alias Vol. 1! Our host this week is Keith Lehtinen!
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Edited by Case Aiken
Scored by Bret Eagleston
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Outline
Introduction to Alias Volume 1 (00:00)
Keith Lettanen introduces the comic book review of Alias Volume 1, focusing on Jessica Jones.
Discusses the significance of the Marvel Max imprint and its boundary-pushing nature.
Expresses personal connection to Jessica Jones as a character and her impact on other characters.
Character Relationships and Themes (02:46)
Highlights the importance of Jessica Jones' relationship with Luke Cage, noting it as a significant romantic relationship in comics.
Discusses the complex nature of both characters as flawed individuals with genuine feelings for each other.
Mentions the detective noir theme of the comic, depicting Jessica's struggles and interactions with other superheroes.
Key Storylines and Developments (05:34)
Describes a standout story arc involving a missing girl, emphasizing the depth of Jessica's character.
Discusses the emotional and complex narrative that challenges the typical superhero trope.
Points out the significance of Jessica's interactions with characters like Daredevil and Carol Danvers, enhancing the story's depth.
Conclusion and Future Discussions (08:13)
Concludes with a strong recommendation to read Alias Volume 1 for its character study and narrative.
Teases the next episode will focus on a non-Marvel comic, indicating a shift in discussion topics.
Encourages engagement with the comic book community and mentions reviewing new comics in the upcoming episodes.
Transcription
00:00
Welcome to Certain Point of View's Trade School, where each episode a different host talks about a comic book trade paperback that they loved and why they love it.
00:08
Hello, I am Keith Lettanen, host of Certain POV comic book review show. We have issues. I am recording another episode of Trade School, and I thought deeply about what I want to do. I had a couple different ideas of things I wanted to review, but I had to get one of my favorite comics out of the way. I been kind of putting this one off, and for this, we are going back to Marvel, and we're going to talk about the Marvel Max imprint, and we're going to talk about a character that I thoroughly love, absolutely fucking adore her so much and is one of my favorite characters of all time and kind of shaped a lot of other characters I love. I see them a lot through her lens.
00:54
This is going to be about Jessica Jones, AKA Jewel, AKA I think she technically was by Power Woman. But we're going to Talk about Alias Volume 1 from Marvel Max. This is not going to be a book that a lot of people are going to be like, oh, I'm shocked. He wants to talk about this, or, I haven't heard of that one. We all know this book. Most of us watch the show because it's so good. But I got to talk about it. So first of all, written by Brian Michael Bendis, art by Michael Gatos, with Bill Sinkovitz, David Mack, Mark Begley, and Rodney Ramos, colors by Matt Hollingsworth, letters by Richard Starkings, Wes Abbott, Oscar Gongora, and Jason Levine, with some amazing David Mack cover art. By the way, Alias, if you don't know, as a Marvel Max book, is a little extreme.
01:41
It pushes a lot of boundaries of what is appropriate within a comic book. Unlike some Marvel Max books, which I don't really get on with, I'll be honest with you. This is one of my favorite comics of all time. My copy of it that I hold in my hand right now is kind of falling apart. It's. It's pretty. It's pretty boring. I should probably get a new one soon. But I love it. I love it so much. And Jessica just so quickly became one of my favorite comic book characters and one of my favorite TV characters. Like, as a side note, Kristen Ritter is just fucking incredible as Jessica Jones, and I love her so much. But we're here to talk about the comic, and this is our introduction to this character, and she's such an interesting, complex character, like a former hero.
02:27
And just like her being Kind of Avengers adjacent. And also dealing with the fact of, like, her being on the outside edge of superhero life and not being tied up in all the glamour of it all and everything I love. Early on, we get this interaction with her and Luke Cage, which I think is one of the most important relationships in Marvel comics. I'm biased because I'm a huge Luke Cage and a huge Iron Fist fan. Everybody knows that about me. I always say that Iron Fist and Luke Cage is the most important friendship in comics. But her and Luke Cage, I think could be one of the most important romantic relationships in comic books and just one of the most interesting ones, especially where how they start and just the awkwardness of this. I mean, like.
03:17
And there's a lot more real from this. I'm trying not to be too specific because it's a Marvel Max book, but it's a lot more real than a lot of things you would find at other relationships beginning. And it's two very flawed people who actually genuinely like each other and also do really horrible things. Jessica is just a weird fucking person and she's got problems and she's. She's damaged. And this whole first arc is just her running a detective agency just being just. It's very straight up detective noir interacting with other characters. There's some great stuff with Captain America. There's some great stuff with Daredevil as well. And I love the way Daredevil is in her. Her life, the way she sees him. I think that's one of the more interesting angles.
04:10
And there's a lot of really interesting just stories to be told here that are superhero adjacent. One with Rick Jones, which was absolutely crazy. Yeah. Just really great. It's hard to. I don't want to go over every single one of them, but there's just some really good stories here. And I specifically like the establishment of her friendship with Carol Danvers. And Carol being a good friend, but also being that friend none of us want to have. I think it's really fun too. And one of my favorite bits is there's a full page with a ton of dialogue of her just on the toilet. And it's just such a great, like, encapsulation of her character. She's not here to impress you. She's not here to be sexy. And I really love her so much. I think my favorite part of this book is the.
05:05
What I believe is the last story. And I should be clear. I'm looking at the 1 through 15 volumes. So this is a 15 issue volume. So that's why I'm trying to be vague, because there's so much to go over. But there's one story at the end where this girl goes missing that who believes she's a mutant. And Jessica ends up basically following her, finding her. And it's more complicated than just saving the girl. And we find out why. And there's just this incredible scene with her and the girl at the end. And it's one of my favorite Jessica Jones scenes in comics ever where the girl is just absolutely devastated. And Jessica's trying to talk her out of, like, out of basically blaming herself for everything.
05:55
And there's a moment where she's just talking to her and she's just like, you know, she's trying her best. And the girl says, what the fuck? Or what the fuck kind of superhero are you? I'm just like, yes, that's Jessica. I love her so much. She is the absolute best. This book rules. And a lot of people will know this run for the second volume, the one that basically starts the Purple man saga and stretches across that, because that's obviously what was adapted for the TV show. It's one of the most legendary stories of all time. But Alias volume one is worth a look itself because it's just. It's such a good character study of her. It's such a great development of the world around her, incorporating characters we know. And it's just slipping her in without it really seeming like a problem.
06:46
And I remember when I first read it, I thought she was just a character that was always there and I just didn't notice and I didn't realize. No, that's not the case. It's just done so naturally that it feels like it. But yeah, and it just leads to a lot more fun and then just again, one of the most tragic stories in volume two in comics. And God, it's so good. And it's also very cathartic and just, oh, I love this book. I'm not gonna ramble anymore. Just make sure to check it out. If you haven't. But let's be honest, you have. But if you haven't, please read it because it's just. It'll change what you think of comics. I promise my next episode will not be about a Marvel comic. I already have my next one in mind, so don't worry about that.
07:24
In the meantime, make yours Marvel and happy reading. Alright, Josue, let's go through our new comic day stack. We have a lot to review.
07:35
I know maybe we've gone too far.
07:38
Let's see Marvel, of course, dc.
07:41
I got Image, Dark Horse, Black Mask, Boom. Idw, Aftershock, Vault, of course, Mad Cave, Oni, Valiant, Scout, Magma, Behemoth.
07:54
Wow, that's a lot. Well, all we need now is a name for our show. We need a name for a show about reviewing comic books every week. Something clever, but not too clever.
08:05
Like a pun. It's kind of cheesy.
08:07
Yeah, it's something that seems funny at first, but we might regret later on as an impun False decision. A few dozen episodes in.
08:13
Yeah, we'll think of something.
08:14
Join Keith and Osway for we have Issues, a weekly show reviewing almost every new comic released each week. Available on Geek Elite Media and wherever you listen to your podcasts, cpov Certainpov. Com.
Transcribed by https://fireflies.ai/