Brian Michael Bendis has built a strong reputation in the comics industry by focusing his writings on characters who exist in the periphery of a world of super-heroes. Ultimate Spider-Man's strength stems from Bendis's exploration of the people in the title character's life -- including Peter Parker -- and not the action and powers themselves. Powers is about cops who get stuck with cases involving super-heroes. And Alias is similar in tone to Powers, bringing realism to the genre through the flawed eyes of one of the rejects from the colorful world above. Jessica's overwhelemed attitude makes it easy to empathize with her life, and she serves as a gateway in the darker side of wonder.
Jessica Jones has never been what one would call comfortable with life, but things seem to be going well for her now. She's even dating a nice guy. But things threaten to get ugly once again when she discovers a costumed intruder in her home one night. She tries to learn about the unnamed figure -- hero or villain? -- but she comes up empty. So she's forced to turn to a source with access to a lot more in the way of information, and the answers he provides simply draw Jessica further into a mystery.
Gaydos's unusual style brings a important element of realism to this title. Sure, we're still dealing with a Marvel title in which some people can fly or chat with insects, but without that sense of realism, Bendis's exploration of the darker underbelly of a society with super-heroes wouldn't work nearly as well. The darker colors reinforce the foreboding mood of this issue nicely too. But the most important contribution Gaydos offers here is his portrayal of Jessica. On the surface, she's entirely average. Cute but not stunning. Not all that curvy or buxom. In other words, she's presented as a real person, an average woman who's has an unusual job and extraordinary friends.
Bendis is building up a major story arc here in the first chapter. By the end of the issue, it's clear that Jessica is getting into something that's way beyond her. But Bendis only hints at the immensity of it all; at first, the home invasion seems like a random event, an odd little anecdote from the life of someone living in the New York of the Marvel Universe. I can't wait to learn more about the greater plot that Bendis has brewing.
Easily the highlight of the issue was Jessica calling Scott because she was a little freaked over the break-in. That moment when she apologized for calling him, and his subsequent confession about revelling in the moment... it all rang so true. Jessica seems so innocent in that moment as her feelings for Scott grow that one can't help but adore her, flaws and all.
