JESSICA JONES: PURPLE DAUGHTER #1 | PUBLISHER: MARVEL COMICS | FORMAT: SINGLE ISSUE | AUTHOR: KELLY THOMPSON | ARTIST: MATTIA DE IULIS | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Current Jessica Jones scribe Kelly Thompson ended the digital exclusive Blind Spot on a huge cliff hanger. Now Thompson continues the narrative in Jessica Jones: Purple Daughter. As the title suggests, former Avengers Luke Cage and Jessica Jones’ daughter, Danielle, happens to be purple. Cage reacts as any man might in such a situation, with his parentage thrown into question. He acts cold and distant towards Jessica, whilst she reacts in the only way she knows how, by hitting the bottle, before she galvanises herself into investigating the mystery in the hope of salvaging her fractured family.
Kelly Thompson expertly establishes the event that has torn Luke and Jessica’s lives apart and the ensuing trauma of that. As a reader, you feel the doubt, the anger and the helplessness that these characters feel. As a mother, Jessica is placed in the most horrifying position that a parent can be placed in. Absolute and unconditional love for her child whilst having to face her worst nightmare every time she looks at her baby. Jessica Jones creator Brian Michael Bendis’ great talent was humanising his characters, but Thompson has taken it to a whole other level.
The artwork by Mattia de Lulis is simply wonderful. There’s a photographic realism to his work that suits the story and characters perfectly. The characters are the focus of every panel with the background being less distinct unless it serves the scene. This allows the reader to be really drawn in by the story without becoming distracted by superfluous details. The use of colour, shading, and lighting is also used to the utmost effect, creating a truly convincing piece of neo-noir on the printed page. If Marvel Comics should ever revisit the Noir universe, a Jessica Jones caper set amongst seedy whiskey-soaked, smoke-filled bars in New York’s criminal underworld is a must.
After Brian Michael Bendis’ triumphant run, Kelly Thompson’s assured direction of Jessica Jones looks set to flourish. Bendis created a cynical, flawed, world-weary, reluctant superhero. It’s exciting to see what facets Thompson will bring to one of Marvel Comics most interesting characters.
