Brian Michael Bendis Returns for Jessica Jones: Alias Anniversary Series

Marking 25 Years of a Marvel Icon

Twenty-five years after launching the original Alias series in 2001, original creators Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos are stepping back into the gritty corners of the Marvel Universe. Entertainment Weekly first reported the news of the five-issue series, which boasts covers illustrated by David Mack.

“She is a very different Jessica Jones than the hot mess we introduced 25 years ago in the very first issue,” Bendis explained to the site. “Jessica’s responsibility to herself and to her cases and the kind of case that only Jessica can do has evolved as she has evolved. So an anniversary is a great opportunity to create a case that allows Jessica to re-explore the Marvel universe.”

Into Obscure Corners and Complex Family Dynamics

The narrative kicks off with a high-stakes missing persons investigation. Tasked with locating a superpowered child she suspects is a mutant, Jessica’s search pulls her far outside her usual urban environment. According to plot details reported by Entertainment Weekly, the trail leads through bizarre and obscure locales, including Latveria and the Savage Land. “She’s gonna head over to a perfect place where a leather jacket is completely inappropriate, and [it’ll] take her even further than that,” Bendis teased.

Those unfamiliar environments will test more than just her investigative stamina. The journey forces her to confront her personal life and responsibilities alongside Luke Cage and their children. “(‘[Jessica] can’t help but feel what that would feel like in her more complicated family dynamic with Luke Cage and the children,'”) Bendis told Entertainment Weekly. (“‘So she takes it upon herself to take this case with some help from some friends, and it immediately rips her life apart in every possible way.'”)

The emotional resonance of the character remains central to the creative team’s approach. (“‘Jessica has, since her debut, been something very different in my life,'”) Bendis noted. (“‘There’s something very emotional and intimate about the way [people] talk about her. It’s always been the best kind of conversation you could ever hope to have with readers. People see themselves in her and love her and root for her. All of that is in this series.'”)

Looking Ahead at Marvel Comics

Beyond the December launch of Jessica Jones: Alias, Bendis’s schedule at Marvel remains active. The writer recently returned to the publisher last year for a backup story in Avengers #800, followed by work on a Spider-Man story, a Superman story for DC and Marvel’s crossover, and contributions to Amazing Spider-Man #1000. Looking past the upcoming anniversary series, Bendis confirmed he is currently developing additional projects for the publisher, including one he describes as “the most beautiful thing” that already has “five issues drawn.”