The hero formerly known as Jewel,Jessica Jones, has since hung up the cape and cowl, but not her need to help others. Happily marriedtoLuke Cage and still very much entrenched in the hero scene, Jessica seems to be living some form of a stable life, but trouble is never far away.Variants#1,written by Gail Simone, drawn and colored by Phill Noto, with lettering by VC's Cory Petit, throws the hero back into the line of fire.
Variants #1 depicts Jess's life years after the horrors she faced as the unwilling accomplice of the infamous puppet master, Zebediah Killgrave, aka the Purple Man. At Daredevil's behest, Jess comes to the aid of one of Killgrave's victims and receives a dire warning that could spell doom for herself, her family, and everyone she loves. Naturally, this puts Jess on edge. But before she can prepare for the impending conflict, she meets alternate versions of herself!
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The concept of the multiverse has become a dominating trend in recent years, reaching a fever pitch in 2022. It seems that every major comic book character wants a piece of the multiverse pie. Jessica Jones is the latest in the Marvel canonto throw her hat into the ring.
Jessica is her caustic, sarcastic yet moral self, bristling at the slightest provocation. Her characterization as the deeply troubled hero who copes with her trauma by being antisocial, hyper-competent, cold, and confrontational doesn't exactly break new ground -- especially since one of her variants she meets immediately has the exact same attitude and wardrobe. But, the introduction of Captain America Jessica is promising, as is the premise of Jessica being forced to reopen old wounds as Killgrave resurfaces as a threat.
Simone captures Jessica's essence well, balancing her hardened if heavy-handed cynicism with her vulnerability and humanity. The sequence where Jess tries on varying shades of lipstick under the watchful eye of the sales clerk is one of the best instances of this softer, more insecure, and human side of the otherwise badass and uncompromising character. Similarly, her more compassionate side is forced out by Daredevil as both hero and attorney, calling on her to assist one of his clients, a girl similarly manipulated by the Purple Man. Jess and Daredevil's relationship here is an uneasy one, their trust in one another is tested thanks to Daredevil's lie-detecting powers, yet the respect between them is plain as day.
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Powerhouse artist Phil Noto takes the reigns inVariants #1. His line art is elegant, smooth, fluid, and pretty to look at. He sticks to realistic body proportions with just enough stylistic liberty to keep everything easy on the eye and purely in the realm of fiction. He uses a soft, muted color palette with occasional washes of color, especially blue and fuschia. But, for the most part, he keeps things grounded with an appropriately sad, drab beige.
Variants #1demonstrates an excellent understanding of an often underutilized character, exploring her mindset and morals in the aftermath of a harrowing event. Unfortunately, its use of the multiverse leaves viewers wanting more. Time will tell if these different versions of Jessica's character and the alternate worlds they inhabit can be given the attention they deserve.
