WHAT IF...? JESSICA JONES #1 — Justina Ireland reimagines the hard-boiled P.I. as the one-time Spider-Girl

Jessica Jones wants a drink and a quiet life, but a radioactive accident from another timeline made her Spider-Girl first. Now, a familiar villain is back in her face. Writer Justina Ireland and artist David Messina bring the grit and the powers back together in this new Marvel one-shot.

You know the rule with Jessica Jones: she is done. She’s the tough, private investigator who bartends in Hell’s Kitchen and would rather drink in silence than wear a mask again. But in this timeline, the timeline is different. Long before she became the P.I. we know, she was bitten by that radioactive spider.

Teenage sensation Spider-Girl is a closed chapter. She’s retired. The trauma of that era is buried under years of cynicism and cheap whiskey. She wants to leave that part of her life behind, but the past has a way of crawling through the window. Something is stalking her again, and it smells like trouble and green paint.

Writer Justina Ireland knows how to write a person trying to outrun their history. She pairs that with David Messina’s clean, dynamic art. When the dust settles, we’re asking if an out-of-shape, retired hero can handle a threat like the Green Goblin. It’s not about power levels; it’s about survival instinct.

Justina Ireland has a knack for finding the humor in the dark, and David Messina’s art keeps the action grounded. Lucas Werneck’s cover art is the one to grab for your shelf—it’s moody and distinct. It’s a quick, punchy read that respects the source material while taking a bold swing at a classic scenario.