You thought this series was dead? It was just resting, waiting for a big juicy new thing for Marvel to release... So hey, Marvel's Jessica Jones releases tomorrow on Netflix. How about that, eh? Almost like we planned it. Funny how that worked out, eh?
We stayed fairly silent on Ant-Man, but we covered Daredevil pretty intensively, so I'm back to do the same for the second of the four Netflix heroes. Here's everything you need to know about Jessica Jones.
For those who may not have seen it, here's the latest Jessica Jones trailer:
Unlike Daredevil, who had several outings in other media before his defining role in the MCU with his Netflix series, Jessica Jones could be considered a relative unknown to those who enjoy the standard Marvel fair. She's not an Avenger, she's not a Guardian, and come the arrival of her series, she's not even a costumed super hero. But she is a wonderful character, who is integral to the Netflix Defenders and more than deserves to have her own series in the more mature side of the MCU. But who is Jessica Jones?
Jones, Alias: Jewel
Jessica first appeared in her own series, Alias, which was a part of the Marvel MAX imprint, intended for mature audiences. Marvel initially snubbed the idea of printing Alias, considering it to be too mature, dark and foul mouthed. That changed when marvel's Publishing President Bill Jemas read the script and asked in disbelief why it couldn't be published. Shortly after, the MAX imprint was founded, with Alias a part of it's initial line up.
Alias focused on Jessica Jones as a private investigator, operating 'Alias Investigations', where she specialises in taking on superhuman related cases. As she solves small cases in Hells Kitchen, she enters into a relationship with bar owner Luke Cage, which working alongside Matt Murdock on one case. During the events of Alias, we learn that Jessica is an ex-superhero who went under the name Jewel, who quit after a traumatic event at the hands of The Purple Man. More on all of these characters in a bit.
Alias focused on Jessica Jones as a private investigator, operating 'Alias Investigations', where she specialises in taking on superhuman related cases. As she solves small cases in Hells Kitchen, she enters into a relationship with bar owner Luke Cage, which working alongside Matt Murdock on one case. During the events of Alias, we learn that Jessica is an ex-superhero who went under the name Jewel, who quit after a traumatic event at the hands of The Purple Man. More on all of these characters in a bit.
Image Credit: heroicuniverse.com
In the Netflix series, Jones will be portrayed by Krysten Ritter, who is most notably known for her role of Jane in Breaking Bad, where she played the tragic love interest of Aaron Paul's Jesse Pinkman. Ritter has also starred in 27 Dresses and Don't Trust the B----- in Apartment 23. This version of Jones will find her running Alias Investigations in Hell's Kitchen following the events of The Battle of New York (The Avengers), whilst nursing an alcohol problem. It will also focus on her dealing with giving up being a superhero, as well as the return of Kilgrave, otherwise known as the Purple Man, and the psychological torment that will mean for her and the people around her.
The Colour Purple
Dr. Zebediah Killgrave, also known as The Purple Man, is a mutant who naturally produces pheromones that can directly influence and control the actions and thoughts of anyone around him. Originally a Daredevil enemy in the early 60's, Killgrave's rap sheet includes soviet espionage, controlling a woman to marry and produce a child for him, working alongside Doctor Doom to attempt to mind control the entire planet and attempting to re-invent a young mutant into a messiah figure to control the world with a new religion. Killgrave is, for lack of better words, a bit of a bastard.
Killgrave then falls on hard times in his criminal career and goes into hiding, presumed dead by many. During this time, Killgrave uses his mind control powers to influence people to better his own selfish lifestyle, including a younger superhero called Jewel, who he imprisons for a period of eight months. Other this time, he forces her to beg for sex and freedom, which he never gives her. Her imprisonment ends when he forces her to attack the Avengers, which ends with Jessica getting beaten in a brawl by Scarlet Witch, and then helped to block Killgrave's pheremones by Jean Grey. Jones later founds Alias Investigations and quits the supehero life. Shortly after, Killgrave returns and attempts to mentally torment Jones, who overcomes his abilities and beats him to within an inch of his life, before Daredevil imprisons him on The Raft, a high security supervillain prison.
Killgrave then falls on hard times in his criminal career and goes into hiding, presumed dead by many. During this time, Killgrave uses his mind control powers to influence people to better his own selfish lifestyle, including a younger superhero called Jewel, who he imprisons for a period of eight months. Other this time, he forces her to beg for sex and freedom, which he never gives her. Her imprisonment ends when he forces her to attack the Avengers, which ends with Jessica getting beaten in a brawl by Scarlet Witch, and then helped to block Killgrave's pheremones by Jean Grey. Jones later founds Alias Investigations and quits the supehero life. Shortly after, Killgrave returns and attempts to mentally torment Jones, who overcomes his abilities and beats him to within an inch of his life, before Daredevil imprisons him on The Raft, a high security supervillain prison.
Image Credit: exiledingeeksville.com
In the Netflix series, Kilgrave (Note the slightly different spelling) will be played by David Tennant, most known for his role as the 10th Doctor in Doctor Who, as well as a number of other roles in the Harry Potter franchise, Broadchurch and Casanova. Although he lacks the purple skin of his comic counterpart, Tennant's Kilgrave will retain the purple clothing and all of the abilities he has in the book. Whilst details of the back story have been kept vague, Ritter's Jones clearly knows exactly who Kilgrave is and is terrified of his return to her life. Haunted by his voice and his signature colour, Jones will become the subject of Kilgrave's sick game.
Cage Fighter
Luke Cage, otherwise known as Power Man, is a classic 1970's Marvel hero. After being sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit, he volunteers for superhuman testing which goes wrong after the machinery involved is tampered with. Cage developed superhuman strength and durability, which he uses to escape prison and embarks on a career in superhero activity, later teaming up with a martial artist called Danny Rand, aka Iron Fist. He moves around the country saving people and solving crimes before coming back to Hell's Kitchen.
There, he meets Jessica Jones, and after a one night stand, bonds with her whilst working with Matt Murdock. The pair work together to defeat The Purple Man on two separate occasions, which causes them fall in love. They later get married and have a child, whilst continuing to be superheroes and working with The Avengers. Later, they hang up their costumes to live a normal life. But a hero's work is never done, and the pair have continued to jump back into using their powers on multiple occasions, whilst struggling to find a suitable superhuman babysitter for their daughter, Danielle.
There, he meets Jessica Jones, and after a one night stand, bonds with her whilst working with Matt Murdock. The pair work together to defeat The Purple Man on two separate occasions, which causes them fall in love. They later get married and have a child, whilst continuing to be superheroes and working with The Avengers. Later, they hang up their costumes to live a normal life. But a hero's work is never done, and the pair have continued to jump back into using their powers on multiple occasions, whilst struggling to find a suitable superhuman babysitter for their daughter, Danielle.
Image Credit: comiclegion.com
In the Netflix series, Cage is played by Mike Colter, who is also known for his role as Spartan Locke in the Halo franchise. Colter's take on Cage sees him as a bar owner at the beginning of Marvel's Jessica Jones, who much like in the comics, turns a one night stand into a romantic relationship. From promo material, Cage will be present throughout the series, helping Jones deal with the coming conflict with Kilgrave and assisting in her investigations. Colter will of course be headlining his own Netflix TV series tentatively titled Marvel's Luke Cage, which will presumably go into further detail about Cage's past exploits and move toward the forming of the Defenders.
The Hellcat Cometh?
Patsy Walker is a woman with enhanced psionic abilities who can sense mystical phenomenon and energy. She can used projected forcefields to defend against magical attacks, and dons the pseudonym of Hellcat in order to fight against mystical foes. She also employs the use of a summon-able costume, retractable claws and martial arts training for close combat situations. In the past, she has been a member of the comic book Defenders and has also been trapped in Hell alongside Bobbi Morse, aka Mockingbird. She also applied to be Danielle Cage's babysitter.
Image Credit: screenrant.com
In the Netflix series, Patsy Walker is played by Rachael Taylor, who is known for her roles on 666 Park Avenue and Greys Anatomy. This version of Walker is a former model and child star who is Jones's best friend and now works as a radio host in Hell's Kitchen. There is currently no word on whether Marvel intend to suit Walker up as the Hellcat in this series, or whether that will wait for the Luke Cage series or even the Defenders. However, Taylor's version of Walker is far, far different from the comic book counterpart, so it is entirely possible that this may not be the case.
Hell's Kitchen is a Small Place...
There's no question; From the promo material, Jessica Jones will be as gritty and dark as Daredevil before it, operating as close to the original Alias comics as fans could hope for. Like the comics it's based on, Marvel's Jessica Jones will of course be crossing over the other MCU media in it's 13 episode run, most notable Marvel's Daredevil. Given that all four of the upcoming Netlfix series and the Marvel's Defenders mini-series are all set in the familiar landscape of Hell's Kitchen, it is likely that locations from the Daredevil series will overlap for use in Jessica Jones. For example, locations such as the police station seen at the end of Daredevil and the hospital seen multiple times in the series will be the same locations as those used in Daredevil. As for an appearance from the blind guardian himself, the possibility hasn't totally been ruled out, but signs are unlikely.
However, Rosario Dawson, who played Claire Temple in Daredevil, will be making an appearance in the series, which makes sense in many ways. Not only was she previously romantically involved with Luke Cage, but will possibly be seen attending to battle wounds for either Jones or Cage, given her identity as Night Nurse, of which has become slightly more grounded for use in the MCU.
However, Rosario Dawson, who played Claire Temple in Daredevil, will be making an appearance in the series, which makes sense in many ways. Not only was she previously romantically involved with Luke Cage, but will possibly be seen attending to battle wounds for either Jones or Cage, given her identity as Night Nurse, of which has become slightly more grounded for use in the MCU.
Image Credit: expertcomics.com
As to where it fits into the chronology of the MCU, the series will take place after the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, much like Daredevil did. What is unclear is if the series will take place after both Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man, which are two films that happen chronologically after one another, with Ant-Man serving as a direct lead in to next years Captain America: Civil War. Although Marvel have had previous success with MCU on the small screen with Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter, it is unlikely that these two series and their characters will directly cross over with Jessica Jones.
Some Speculations
However, one way in which the larger MCU could affect Jessica Jones is with the rise of the Inhumans, as seen in Agents of SHIELD. For those who may not know, the Inhuman population is Marvel's way of reclaiming characters who have been labelled as mutants in the past. Jessica herself may end up being an Inhuman herself, although her original origin story says that her powers were gained from radiation exposure to harmful chemicals. And of course, Kilgrave can be fully expected to be an Inhuman, given that his supernatural pheromone ability had previously been called a mutation in the comic books.
Another potential cross-over reference is with the Super Soldier Program. Luke Cage technically counts as part of one of the Super Soldier experiments like Captain America, The Winter Soldier, Red Skull, Hulk, The Abomination, Deathlok and Scorch. Cage was subjugated to a similar physical enhancement experiment that Steve Rogers and co. were partial to at other points in the MCU. Whether this gets explored in this series or his own has yet to be seen, though.
Another potential cross-over reference is with the Super Soldier Program. Luke Cage technically counts as part of one of the Super Soldier experiments like Captain America, The Winter Soldier, Red Skull, Hulk, The Abomination, Deathlok and Scorch. Cage was subjugated to a similar physical enhancement experiment that Steve Rogers and co. were partial to at other points in the MCU. Whether this gets explored in this series or his own has yet to be seen, though.
Image Credit: www.superherohype.com
Although it is highly unlikely, there are multiple opportunities for other MCU characters to make their appearance. For example, in Alias, Jones does battle with Scarlet Witch, believing her to be Daredevil. Whilst under the possession of Killgrave, Jones is tasked with killing the Avengers. Given that we don't know when the series will take place in relation to Age of Ultron, it is highly unlikely that there will be a Scarlet Witch/Jessica Jones fight, but it's inclusion would please fans of Alias.
Similarly, this would also mean that Jones would have to be aware of who Daredevil would be, meaning a potential for Matt Murdock to make a cameo appearance. Even though no such cameo has been confirmed, it is in the realm of possibility, given that they will later team up in The Defenders.
Similarly, this would also mean that Jones would have to be aware of who Daredevil would be, meaning a potential for Matt Murdock to make a cameo appearance. Even though no such cameo has been confirmed, it is in the realm of possibility, given that they will later team up in The Defenders.
Image Credit: newsarama.com
Also, drawing back to my previous 'Things You Should Know' on Daredevil, do you remember that crazy ass, batshit insane character I mentioned? Well, he's in Jessica Jones. Will Simpson, otherwise known as Nuke, will appear in the series, played by Wil Traval. Sadly, he won't be a crazy super experiment gone wrong, instead being played as a volatile NYPD officer. There probably isn't room for crazy, balls to the walls antics seen here, then. Shame.
Marvel's Jessica Jones premieres tomorrow, 20th November 2015, on Netflix. All 13 episodes will be instantly available for streaming. Check back in the coming days for a Pop Culture Club series review.
Marvel's Jessica Jones premieres tomorrow, 20th November 2015, on Netflix. All 13 episodes will be instantly available for streaming. Check back in the coming days for a Pop Culture Club series review.
By Mike Owen
@ThatMikeOwen
The Editor in Chief of Foul Entertainment, Mike edits most of what you see on the site. He runs the production of our podcasts, and currently pens Pop Culture Club and The Death of Video Games
@ThatMikeOwen
The Editor in Chief of Foul Entertainment, Mike edits most of what you see on the site. He runs the production of our podcasts, and currently pens Pop Culture Club and The Death of Video Games