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{{Short description|Comic book series that introduced Jessica Jones}}
{{About||the comic book publisher|Alias Comics|the Millarworld character|Kingsman: The Red Diamond#Characters}}
{{Primary sources|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| title          = Alias
| image          = Aliasomnibus.PNG
| imagesize      = <!-- default 250 -->
| caption        = Promotional art for cover of ''Alias'' #23<br />Art by [[David W. Mack|David Mack]] and [[Mark Bagley]]
| schedule       = Monthly
| Mystery        = first
| Superhero      = y
| multigenre     = y
| publisher      = [[MAX (comics)|MAX]] ([[Marvel Comics]])
| startmo        = September 
| startyr        = 2001 
| endmo          = November 
| endyr          = 2003
| issues         = 28
| main_char_team = {{ubl|[[Jessica Jones|Jessica Jones P.I.]]|[[Carol Danvers]]|[[Luke Cage]]|[[Ant-Man (Scott Lang)|Scott Lang]]|{{no wrap|[[Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)|Jessica Drew P.I.]] (''The Underneath'')}}|[[Purple Man]] (''Purple'')}}
| writers        = [[Brian Michael Bendis]]
| artists        = [[Michael Gaydos]]
| pencillers     =
| inkers         =
| letterers      = {{ubl|[[Richard Starkings]]|Oscar Gongora|[[Wes Abbott]]|Cory Petit}}
| colorists      = [[Matt Hollingsworth]]
| editors        = {{ubl|[[Stuart Moore]]|Kelly Lamy|Nanci Quesada/Dakesian|[[Joe Quesada]]}}
| creators       = [[Brian Michael Bendis]]
| TPB            = Omnibus
| ISBN           = 0-7851-2121-8
| TPB#           =
| ISBN#          =
| subcat         = Marvel Comics
| altcat         =
| sort           = Alias
| addpubcat#     =
}}
'''''Alias''''' is a [[comic book]] [[ongoing series|series]] created by writer [[Brian Michael Bendis]] and artist [[Michael Gaydos]]. It was published by [[Marvel Comics]] under Marvel's [[MAX (comics)|MAX]] [[imprint (trade name)|imprint]] for a total of 28 issues from [[2001 in comics|2001]] to [[2004 in comics|2004]].

The protagonist of ''Alias'' is [[Jessica Jones]], a former costumed [[superhero]] named Jewel who left that life behind to become a [[private investigator]]. The running thread is Jessica's character development, as her past and personality are revealed to the reader while, simultaneously, she tries to come to terms with them herself.

Characters from the series moved to Bendis' subsequent series ''[[The Pulse (comics)|The Pulse]]''. The series received generally positive reviews from critics.

''Alias'' was the basis of the [[Jessica Jones season 1|first season]] of the [[Netflix]] [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU) series ''[[Jessica Jones (TV series)|Jessica Jones]]'', which premiered in November 2015. ''[[Jessica Jones (comic book)|Jessica Jones]]'', a follow-up [[ongoing series]] to ''Alias'' created by Bendis and Gaydos as a [[tie-in]] to the [[Marvel's Netflix television series|television series]], began publication in 2016.

==Publication history==
''Alias'' was one of the titles that launched Marvel's "[[R rating (Motion Picture Association of America)|R-Rated]]" MAX imprint. It was written by Bendis and illustrated for most of its run by [[Michael Gaydos]], with covers by [[David W. Mack]]. Bendis relates in a text piece on the letters page of the book's final issue that it was one of the reasons the imprint 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?"<ref name="Alias#28">{{cite comic|writer=[[Bendis, Brian Michael]]|title=Alias|story=A Few Words From Bendis...|issue=28|publisher=Marvel Comics|date=January 2004|location=New York}}</ref>

Being under the MAX imprint imposed certain other limitations on what the creators could do in the series. Bendis gave this as one reason for ending the series and moving the characters to ''[[The Pulse (comics)|The Pulse]]''.<ref name="Alias#28"/>

In a 2005 interview, Bendis revealed that originally, ''Alias'' was plotted to be an explicitly out-of-continuity story following a reinvention of [[superhero]] [[private investigator]] [[Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)|Jessica Drew]] returning to her P.I. roots, before deciding to have his reinvention simply be a new unrelated brunette P.I. also named Jessica,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbr.com/wwc-day-1-spider-love-bendis-on-spider-woman-origin-and-new-ongoing-series/ | title=Spider-Love: Bendis on 'Spider-Woman: Origin' and New Ongoing Series | first=Jonah | last=Weiland |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] | date=August 5, 2005 | access-date=2011-02-06}}</ref> deciding the character had a "distinct background and voice from Drew's", giving the character the new surname "Jones" while still keeping the first name "Jessica" (after Drew) on the basis of how "two [people] can have the same first name".<ref name="CBR">{{cite web | url=https://www.cbr.com/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-61/ | title=Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #61 | first=Brian | last=Cronin |publisher=Comic Book Resources| date=July 27, 2006 | access-date=2011-02-06}}</ref>

Previously, Bendis commented:<ref>''Powers'' #11, letters pages</ref>

: "I was at one time toying with doing Jessica Drew because she has the best hair of any superhero in comics, but this book is entirely different than what that idea was to be. This character is totally different in every way but sexual gender. And there's that Jessica name that's not going to help me convince anyone. Any writer can tell you that the development process can be a sparkling and surprising one. You start in one place and end up in an entirely different one. I was also toying with a pornographic version of ''[[Dial H for Hero]]'', doesn't mean that this is that book either."

Some of the flashbacks to Jessica Jones's past are drawn in the style of classic 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s Marvel Comics issues.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

==Story arcs==
==="Alias Investigations" and "B Level" (issues #1–9)===
{{anchor|"Alias Investigations: B Level"|Alias Investigations: B Level|"Alias Investigations"|Alias Investigations|"B Level"|B Level}}Tasked to look for a missing woman, [[private investigator]] [[Jessica Jones]] finds herself caught in a conspiracy involving [[Captain America]] and the [[President of the United States]].<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Bendis, Brian Michael|artist=[[Gaydos, Michael]]|title=Alias|story=Alias Investigations|issue=1-5|publisher=Marvel Comics|date=November 2001 - March 2002|location=New York}}</ref> Subsequently, she is hired to find the recently missing [[Rick Jones (character)|Rick Jones]].<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Bendis, Brian Michael|artist=Gaydos, Michael; [[Sienkiewicz, Bill]]|title=B Level|story=Come Home Parts 1 - 4|issue=6-9|publisher=Marvel Comics|date=April - July 2002|location=New York}}</ref> The first issue introduces her relationship with [[Luke Cage]], whom she sleeps with after meeting him at a bar. The arc also establishes Jessica's friendship with [[Carol Danvers]], who attempts to set her up with [[Ant-Man (Scott Lang)|Scott Lang]]. Other characters appearing in the arc include [[Daredevil (Marvel Comics character)|Matt Murdock]] and [[Man Mountain Marko]].

==="Come Home" (issues #11–15)===
{{anchor|"Come Home"|Come Home}}Jessica Jones is assigned to look for a missing girl rumored to be a [[Mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutant]] in a small, prejudiced town. She discovers the girl is a runaway and brings her home.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Bendis, Brian Michael|artist=Gaydos, Michael; [[Bagley, Mark]]; [[Mays, Rick]]|title=Alias|story=Come Home Parts 1 - 4|issue=11-14|publisher=Marvel Comics|date=September - December 2003|location=New York}}</ref>

Issue #15 overlaps with ''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]]'' (Vol 2) #36, which was also written by Brian Michael Bendis.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Bendis, Brian Michael|artist=[[Maleev, Alex]]|title=Daredevil|date=October 2002|story=Out: Part 5|publisher=Marvel Comics|location=New York|volume=2|issue=36}}</ref> Both issues depict the same scene, in which a disguised [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)|Natasha Romanova]] visits Matt Murdock at his law office, from two different perspectives. The ''Alias'' scene focuses on Jessica and Luke Cage, who argue about their relationship while stood guard outside Murdock's office, while the ''Daredevil'' version of the scene depicts his conversation with Natasha. The issue goes on to show Jessica's first date with Scott Lang.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Bendis, Brian Michael|artist=Gaydos, Michael|title=Alias|story=Come Home Part 5|issue=15|publisher=Marvel Comics|date=January 2004|location=New York}}</ref>

==="The Underneath" (issues #10, 16–21)===
{{anchor|"The Underneath"|The Underneath}}[[J. Jonah Jameson]] hires Jessica to uncover [[Spider-Man]]'s identity.<ref name="Alias#10">{{cite comic|writer=Bendis, Brian Michael|penciller=Gaydos, Michael|inker=Gaydos, Michael; Vey, Al|title=Alias|story=The End|issue=10|publisher=Marvel Comics|date=August 2002|location=New York}}</ref> Later, [[Mattie Franklin]], the latest [[Spider-Woman]] and Jameson's stepdaughter, goes missing and Jessica is asked to find her. In the course of her investigation she discovers that Mattie is embroiled in a criminal underworld producing Mutant Growth Hormone, a drug designed to give ordinary people super-powered abilities. Along the way, Jones meets an unexpected ally in fellow private investigator Jessica Drew, the original Spider-Woman, who is also investigating Franklin's disappearance. Meanwhile, Jessica's relationship with Scott Lang becomes strained after an encounter with [[Madame Web]] dredges up bad memories from her past.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Bendis, Brian Michael|penciller=Gaydos, Michael|inker=Gaydos, Michael; Vey, Al|title=Alias|story=The Underneath|issue=16-21|publisher=Marvel Comics|date=January - June 2003|location=New York}}</ref>

==="The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones" (issues #22–23)===
{{anchor|"The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones"|The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones}}Issues #22-23 depict Jessica's teenage years, revealing that she attended Midtown High School with Peter Parker, whom she secretly had a crush on and was present when he was bitten by the spider that gave him his powers. Jessica, then known as Jessica Campbell, loses her parents and brother in a car crash involving truck carrying hazardous materials. After waking up from a coma, Jessica is taken in by the Jones family, and soon discovers that she has developed super-powers. The story ends with Jessica deciding to become a superhero.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Bendis, Brian Michael|artist=Gaydos, Michael|title=Alias|story=The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones|issue=22-23|publisher=Marvel Comics|date=July - August 2003|location=New York}}</ref>

==="Purple" (issues #24–28)===
{{anchor|"Purple"|Purple}}Family members of those murdered by the [[Purple Man]] ask Jessica to find evidence of those murders that he never confessed to. Jessica is initially reluctant, due to her history with the Purple Man. After drinking and ending up at Luke Cage's apartment, Jessica tells Luke about her history with the Purple Man. During her career as a superhero called Jewel, Jessica encountered the Purple Man at a restaurant. He mind-controlled Jessica for eight months, forcing her to bathe him, watch him have sex with other women, and making her beg for his attention. One day, in a fit of rage the Purple Man ordered Jessica to go and kill superheroes. Although the ensuing fight broke the mind-control over her, Jessica was mistaken for a threat by the Avengers and badly beaten. [[Jean Grey]] helped Jessica awaken from her resulting coma, and implanted a psychic defense in her mind in case of future encounters with the Purple Man.<ref name="Purple">{{cite comic|writer=Bendis, Brian Michael|penciller=Gaydos, Michael; Bagley, Mark; Mays, Rick|inker=Gaydos, Michael; Bagley, Mark; Mays, Rick; [[Thibert, Art]]|title=Alias|story=Purple|issue=24-28|publisher=Marvel Comics|date=September 2003 - January 2004|location=New York}}</ref>

After confronting the Purple Man in prison, he escapes and Jessica is forced to deal with him and her past trauma. Jean Grey triggers Jessica's psychic defense, allowing her to defeat him. In the aftermath of the fight, Jessica tells Scott Lang that she is three months pregnant, and that he is not the father. Later that day, Luke arrives to confess his feelings for her. She tells him that she is pregnant with his child, and the series ends with them about to begin a new chapter of their lives.<ref name="Purple"/>

==Collected editions==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Title
! Material collected
! Date published
! ISBN
|-
| ''Alias Investigations: B Level''
| ''Alias'' #1–9
| May 2003
| {{ISBNT|978-0785111412}}
|-
| ''Alias'' Vol. 2: ''Come Home''
| ''Alias'' #11–15
| February 2003
| {{ISBNT|978-0785111238}}
|-
| ''Alias'' Vol. 3: ''The Underneath''
| ''Alias'' #10, 16–21
| June 2003
| {{ISBNT|978-0785111658}}
|-
| ''Alias'' Vol. 4: ''The Secret Origins of Jessica Jones/Purple''
| ''Alias'' #22–28
| November 2004
| {{ISBNT|978-0785111672}}
|-
| ''Alias [[Marvel Ultimate Collection|Ultimate Collection]] Vol. 1''
| ''Alias'' #1–15
| May 2009
| {{ISBNT|978-0785137320}}
|-
| ''Alias Ultimate Collection Vol. 2''
| ''Alias'' #16–28
| February 2010
| {{ISBNT|978-0785144908}}
|-
| ''Alias [[Marvel Omnibus|Omnibus]]''
| ''Alias'' #1–28, ''What If? Jessica Jones had Joined the Avengers''
| March 2006
| {{ISBNT|978-0785121213}}
|}
These have since been rereleased with the title of ''Jessica Jones: Alias''.

== Critical reception ==
The entire series received generally positive reviews from critics. According to Comicbook Roundup, the series received an average rating of 7.5 out of 10 based on 28 reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alias (2001) Reviews |url=https://comicbookroundup.com:443/comic-books/reviews/marvel-max/alias-(2001) |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=ComicBookRoundup.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Awards==
The series won the ''[[Comics Buyer's Guide]]'' Award for "Favorite Comic Series" in 2003, and the [[Harvey Award]] for "Best New Series" in 2002.

The series was also nominated for two [[Eisner Awards]] in 2004: "Best Continuing Series" and "Best Serialized Story" (for "The Secret Origin of Jessica Jones" & "Purple" in ''Alias'' #22–28).<ref>[http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner04.php 2004 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards], Comic Book Awards Almanac</ref>

==In other media==
''Alias'' was adapted into the [[Jessica Jones season 1|first season]] of the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] [[Marvel's Netflix television series|television series]] ''[[Jessica Jones (TV series)|Jessica Jones]]''. [[Carol Danvers (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Carol Danvers]] was replaced by [[Trish Walker]] (a [[composite character]] of Danvers, [[Foolkiller]], and [[Patsy Walker]]) due to the simultaneous development of ''[[Captain Marvel (film)|Captain Marvel]]'' (2019).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/twilight-screenwriter-sets-marvel-adaptation-for-tv-1118029209/ |title=Screenwriter Sets Marvel Adaptation for TV |last=Schneider |first=Micheak |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=December 17, 2010 |access-date=December 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218075410/http://variety.com/2010/tv/news/twilight-screenwriter-sets-marvel-adaptation-for-tv-1118029209/ |archive-date=February 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
===Inline citations===
{{Reflist}}

===General references===
*{{gcdb series|id=10240|title=Alias}}

==External links==
*{{comicbookdb|type=title|id=229|title=''Alias''}}
*Thomas, Brandon (September 25, 2009). [https://web.archive.org/web/20090928071129/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090925-ambidextrous-alias.html "Ambidextrous 312: Looking Back at Bendis' ALIAS"]. [[Newsarama]]
*Thomas, Brandon (October 5, 2009). [https://web.archive.org/web/20090928071129/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090925-ambidextrous-alias.html "Ambidextrous 313: Looking Back at BENDIS' ALIAS Pt. 2"]. Newsarama
*Ellis, Jonathan (2001). [https://web.archive.org/web/20060317121056/http://www.popimage.com/industrial/090501michaelgaydos.html "INTERVIEW: MICHAEL GAYDOS"]. PopImage. September 2001

{{Brian Michael Bendis}}
{{Jessica Jones}}
{{Luke Cage}}

[[Category:Comics by Brian Michael Bendis]]
[[Category:Comics about women]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into television series]]
[[Category:Comics set in New York City]]
[[Category:Crime comics]]
[[Category:Marvel MAX titles]]
[[Category:Speculative crime and thriller fiction]]