Jessica Jones review: The Secrets of Maria Hill

Reviewing the latest Jessica Jones issue, titled “The Secrets of Maria Hill.”

Jessica Jones: The Secret of Maria Hill

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Art: Michael Gaydos

Cover Art: David Mack

The new Jessica Jones Trade Paper Back (TPB) The Secrets of Maria Hill has finally come out. It follows Jessica Jones’ first story arc titled Uncaged. Previously, Jessica Jones saved countless lives but, in return, sacrificed her personal life. The ending of Uncaged left a couple of very important questions unanswered. Among them is how Jessica Jones is going to put the pieces of her life back together and, more importantly, if the damage can’t be repaired. And with the title The Secrets Of Maria Hill you have to wonder what kind of secrets will we find out about a former high ranking S.H.I.E.L.D employee.

Synopsis

Jessica Jones is known as crap talking, take no prisoners bad-@$$ woman. But even Jessica Jones has her sentimental moments. After finishing a case for S.H.I.E.L.D. and her best friend Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel) Jessica has to pick up the pieces of her life. Jessica had to lie and keep secrets from her husband (Luke Cage) in order to save lives. If that wasn’t bad enough, Jessica took their daughter Danielle and didn’t let Luke know where she was taking her. And when Luke found his daughter, he told Jessica’s mother that he wouldn’t forgive her for what she did. But, WAIT, it get’s worse. While her life is in shambles, Jessica goes to her office to find Maria Hill sitting on her toilet bleeding from a gunshot wound.

Maria Hill needs Jessica Jones’ help. Unfortunately for Maria Hill, Jessica Jones hates her. During the Marvel Civil War, Maria Hill sent S.H.I.E.L.D. agents with tanks to arrest her husband. Not something Jessica will ever forgive despite Maria’s apology. Jessica has a choice to make. Does she help Maria Hill and accept the large sum of money she was offered OR does Jessica tell Maria Hill to kick rocks? Come on, we all know Jessica Jones was going to take the case. Now, Jessica has to help Maria Hill find out who’s trying to kill her on top of trying to repair the wedge between her and Luke.

Review

image source: “news.marvel.com”

Jessica Jones’ ongoing series started off with a new chapter in her life. No longer was she an unknown former superhero. She was now a former Avenger who has helped save the world. Becoming easily recognized means she can no longer move around the city inconspicuously. Jessica now has to rely on her powers more than she did in her run of Alias and be craftier than she’s ever been.

Bendis does a great not giving away whether or not Luke and Jessica will get back together. First off, Luke Cage is a stubborn man. He may love Jessica with all his heart, but it’s hard for him to accept that taking their daughter and lying to him was for a good cause.  Every time it seems like things are going back to normal, something happens to make you think again. This was one of the things that kept me anticipating the next issue of Jessica Jones.

If the Luke Cage and Jessica Jones dynamic isn’t enough to bring you in, the main story will be. We learn a lot about who Maria Hill is and who she was before she was a high ranking member of S.H.I.E.L.D. Maria is so much like Nick Fury when it comes to being a liar and manipulator it’s actually kind of funny. We also find out a few secrets about Maria Hill’s past that are both shocking and sad.

Rating: 8

The Secrets Of Maria Hill is a really good story that continues with the Jessica Jones theme readers have come to love. It’s still a mystery and Jessica is still Jessica. If I had to pick a fault out of the book is that it seemed a bit all over the place at times and some of the explanations being used were kind of silly. Also, after this book, I would be perfectly OK if I never saw another Life Model Decoy ever again. One amazing thing that did come out of this was the build-up for the next story arc. The last three pages will makes any Jessica Jones fan’s heart drop a bit.

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What did you think of The Secrets of Maria Hill? Let me know in the comments below.