by Randy Lander

ALIAS #1 Highly Recommended (10/10) Marvel Comics/MAX Comics imprint Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artist: Michael Gaydos Colors: Matt Hollingsworth Letters: Comicraft Editor: Stuart Moore Price: $2.99 US/$4.50 CAN When it comes to high expectations launches, Brian Michael Bendis is quickly becoming the go-to guy for Marvel. First Ultimate title? Bendis. New Elektra ongoing? Bendis. First MAX title? Bendis. Alias is a good example of why he gets that call time and again, because he always delivers. This reads more like his early work on Jinx than Powers or Ultimate Spider-Man, a look into the more realistic and seedy side of private investigations with moody artwork, and the super-hero elements are about as important here as the character of Spawn was to spinoff Sam and Twitch. Forget about this being Marvel super-heroes or the launch of a new mature line, cut away all the controversy and hype both positive and negative, and you're left with one thing: Another great first issue from Bendis and company. Jessica Jones has a lot in common with Bendis protagonists Jinx Alameda or Goldfish, people stuck in a crappy way of life but unable to really get out of it. Despite her social standing and resulting self-loathing, though, Jessica has the will and integrity to make her a likable hero, notably the refusal to take any bullshit from those who would mess with her and a decent streak that shows through when a vulnerable client comes to her for help. And though she may have a history as a super-heroine, her life now is pretty far removed from that, with very little indication in this issue that she really uses her powers much at all anyway. Honestly, I expected something great from Bendis, as he has rarely let me down. I wasn't as sure about Michael Gaydos, a name I didn't recognize, but he turns in a terrific performance here. When I first glimpsed his work, I was reminded of the work of Charlie Adlard, but as it turns out, he has more in common with the artwork of Bendis himself, and that is definitely a good thing. The story is told in little moments and facial expressions, and Gaydos handles that subtlety well. A particularly good example sees Jessica taking in her new client: While the two of them are talking, we get quick flashes on jewelry, clothes, hair and we can see what Jessica is thinking even as her discussion is going in a completely different direction. And the much-hyped sex scene is handled with much subtlety as well, although the pictures and the narration make it perfectly clear what is going on. Matt Hollingsworth also deserves a lot of credit for his beautiful work on the book, capturing a dark and gritty feel without making the book too dark to read, and doing some particularly nice work on the videocamera point of view shots toward the end. This issue is something of an introductory issue, and as such, the plot is relatively light. Jessica's introduction is every bit as convincing and telling as the ones that introduced Goldfish or Jinx, and I loved the interaction with Cage and Jessica as well. The true hook of the first story is revealed on the final page, and it was a shocker that I didn't see coming, as well as a clever way to avoid yet another "someone important is murdered" hook that has always been a bit of an easy macguffin for mystery stories. As the first book in the MAX line, this book is under some close scrutiny. But really, the mature line was not used as an excuse to go hog wild. Bendis's dialogue is sprinkled with the profanity we usually see in his creator-owned work, which gives the atmosphere a lot more credibility, and the sex scene is less implied than it would have been in a regular Marvel book, but it certainly isn't guilty of pandering, as some worried the line might be. Instead, it's Bendis with a few less limitations, writing a story of interesting characters and situations. Which is never bad, really. Email Randy Lander comments about this review.