Every story ebbs and flows, and after the jam-packed Alias: Red Band #3, your expectations are going to be high. Last issue took a mostly street-level narrative and threw a demon into the mix, which is where the latest issue starts. With your pulse up at the start, can the fourth issue deliver as the last one did?
The answer is not quite, but it’s not bad either. Alias: Red Band #4 opens right where we left off, with Typhoid Mary and Jessica Jones running into a meat locker from a butcher who turned into a demon. Neither character is equipped with powers to easily face something like this, especially after Typhoid Mary throws six knives into its back. It’s an intense opening action sequence, pulled off splendidly by artist Geraldo Borges.
The only edge Jessica gets in this fight is the power of being a mom. The demon makes the wrong move by saying children will be led to slaughter, which sets a level of rage in Jessica she can’t hold back, putting her fists through the beast. The first seven or so pages are taken up by this fight, and the demon itself gives them a key clue to keep the detective work moving forward.
“Here’s Johnny!”
Credit: Marvel
Before they can get on with the detective work, writer Sam Humphries slows things down with the cops taking Jessica in. It’s here that we see Jessica at her most vulnerable. The scene change is great, with a thick gutter on the left containing only a few words, and Jessica looking forlorn, her head down, in cuffs. It’s a scene with Luke Cage that adds a bit of realism to the situation and reinforces Jessica and Luke’s love.
Borges gets to drop some excellent art throughout the issue after that opening action sequence, like a full-page splash of Typhoid Mary kicking butt, and a page of repeated panel work and subtle character acting we’ve seen in previous issues.
This issue falters in its plotting, with extended time spent in certain areas that limit the detective element, a major part of what makes previous issues so great. So much time fighting at the start, and then later connecting with Luke ends up making the story feel a bit stuck. The ongoing cutaways to the future, where Jessica faces a trial, also add little. Throw in the ongoing, unnecessary polybagging of the “Red Band” approach that offers a few swears but nothing that necessarily needs to be censored, and it’s one of the weaker issues in the story arc so far.
Alias: Red Band #4 remains an enjoyable chapter thanks to its strong character work and excellent artwork, but it lacks the urgency and mystery that elevated the previous issue. Humphries spends more time exploring Jessica’s emotional state and relationships, which yields some effective moments, particularly with Luke Cage. The tradeoff is a story that feels less focused on unraveling its central mystery. Borges keeps every page engaging, whether he’s depicting demonic violence, subtle character acting, or superhero action. While this chapter feels more like a bridge than a breakthrough, it still leaves enough intrigue to keep readers invested in the road ahead.
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