Jessica Jones gets a new Marvel crime novel series that leans into The Defenders territory

Disney has announced and released Jessica Jones: Breaking the Dark, the first in a new series of novels that will continue the story of the retired superhero turned private investigator. Perhaps the most exciting part of this book is that it also features Luke Cage, meaning it could move into familiar territory with The Defenders.

This book is aimed at adults and is a gritty thriller with a mystery at its center that not everyone will be able to stomach. It’s an interesting direction for Disney to move in, but Jessica Jones has always been a character with stories right on the line between what young Marvel fans will enjoy and stories that are really only aimed at an adult audience.

Find your new murder mystery fix with a Marvel character

The plot of the book sees Jones tackle a case from a young mother of teenage twins whom she’s sure were changed in some way while visiting their father in the UK. Their skin is too perfect, they’ve lost all hints of their personalities, and they can’t stop talking about a girl named Belle. After finding this girl in the isolated town of Barton Wallop, Jones knows there’s much more to this case than meets the eye.

As is always the case with a Jessica Jones story, we get to see the underbelly of a world where superheroes are commonplace as we follow a self-destructive detective who has a soft spot for those with power abusing it. Luke Cage is also mentioned in the book’s blurb, which gives me hope that this series will explore The Defenders network and see Jones team up with old allies, even if it’s just a guest appearance.

You can pick up your copy directly from Disney or through the much more convenient Amazon listing. There’s even an audiobook version on Audible if you don’t have the time to pause to read a few chapters each day, which is how I’ll be digesting this book. So far, we have no date for when the next book will be released because Disney is likely seeing how well this one sells.

I believe the now-canceled Jessica Jones TV show was fantastic, addressing some real issues through its story arcs that Marvel hasn’t touched upon anywhere else. The titular character is vulnerable yet strong and is portrayed in a way that I think most of us can identify with.

Having Jessica Jones return in a new series will allow fans like me to dive into her adventures and experience the darker side of the Marvel universe once again. Based on what we know of the plot, this book seems like it will dive deep into the darkness of the world that Marvel movies gloss over and highlight what can happen when powerful beings use their abilities to fulfill their darkest desires.