The second Marvel Netflix series, Jessica Jones, went online today. While the previous series focused on Daredevil, a character that’s more widely known, this new series focuses on a relatively newer character in the Marvel universe.
Jessica Jones, who is played by Krysten Ritter (Big Eyes, Don’t Trust The B**** In Apt. 23), debuted in the Marvel Max series Alias back in 2001. She was created by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos.
In the comics, Jessica actually went to school with Peter Parker and became the superhero Jewel just a few years after Spider-Man swung onto the stage. But Jessica later rejected her superhero past and became a private investigator in New York. Her powers include super-strength and flying.
Marvel and Netflix showed the first episode at New York Comic Con last month and it’s clear that Jessica Jones is not kid-friendly, just like Daredevil. In that first episode, Jessica is paid to find a young girl and discovers horrible news - Kilgrave (David Tennant) has returned to New York City. Kilgrave has the power to convince anyone to do anything, even kill themselves and he used Jessica as a tool prior to the start of the series. Jessica knows that she has to stop Kilgrave before he destroys more lives.
The first episode also introduces Luke Cage, played by Mike Colter, who eventually marries Jessica (in the comics, anyway). Even though Luke will get his own series next year, it’s clear that he will be hanging around Jessica’s life and isn’t just making a cameo here.
Jessica Jones was developed for television by Melissa Rosenberg, who worked on Dexter, The OC, Birds of Prey and the Twilight movies. All 13 episodes of the first season are up.
Marvel and Netflix are planning two more shows - Luke Cage and Iron Fist (which still doesn’t have a star) - before bringing all four together for The Defenders mini-series. Daredevil is also getting a second season, which will debut next year.
In the meantime, it’s time to start Jessica Jones (if you haven’t already).