Jessica Jones Explained: MCU Powers & Her Role In ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2

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The trailer for Daredevil: Born Again finally showed fans what they’ve been waiting for: Krysten Ritter returning as Jessica Jones. While Marvel enthusiasts likely know her already, others might be wondering who she is. Ritter previously starred as Jessica Jones in the Netflix series before Disney+, meaning a lot of her backstory has already been told. Viewers might need a quick refresher before the new season begins.

Jessica Jones played a central role in the team-up series The Defenders on Netflix, which brought together the storylines from Iron Fist, Luke Cage, The Punisher, and the first Daredevil series. For a while, it was unclear if these shows were officially part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, but they have now been confirmed as canon – meaning they take place in the main MCU timeline. Specifically, they’re set on Earth-616, also known as Earth-199999. While you don’t necessarily need to watch The Defenders before Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, there are some details that will be helpful to know beforehand.

Jessica Jones’ MCU Powers & Origin Story Explained


Netflix

Krysten Ritter’s portrayal of Jessica Jones makes her powers almost invisible. She deliberately avoids showing off her abilities, only using them when she has no other choice. Unlike typical superheroes, she doesn’t wear a costume or use a superhero name, often saving the day in everyday clothes like jeans and a leather jacket. This actually helps her, as people tend to underestimate her at first glance. When it comes to close combat, very few characters – even those with superpowers in the Marvel universe – can beat her.

Jessica isn’t a particularly talented fighter, but she’s incredibly strong, tough, and recovers quickly from injuries. She compensates for her lack of training with sheer resilience and the ability to withstand a lot of punishment. Instead of being a proactive crime fighter, she operates – and is usually the only employee of – a private investigation firm called Alias Investigations. When working on cases, she’ll use her powers when necessary to protect herself or solve the mystery, and sometimes even resorts to brute force, like ripping doors off their hinges.

Jessica Jones’s superpowers weren’t natural; she wasn’t born with them like many Marvel heroes. Instead, she gained them through dangerous, unwanted genetic experiments performed on her after a near-fatal car accident that tragically took the lives of her family. Driven to ensure their deaths weren’t in vain, she initially became a vigilante. However, a long and damaging relationship with the mind-controlling Kilgrave left her deeply disillusioned, leading her to abandon heroism and become a private investigator. The series begins with Jessica already working as a PI.

How the MCU’s Jessica Jones Differs From the Marvel Comics


Marvel Comics

The TV show Jessica Jones stays remarkably true to the comic book source material. While adaptations always involve some changes, the show’s version of Jessica has been adjusted for television. One key difference is that the show only hints at Jessica’s past as a superhero, while the comics thoroughly explore it. Comic book readers see her work under names like Jewel and even see her in costume. Another difference is that the comic book Jessica Jones can fly, a power the MCU version hasn’t shown.

The Marvel comics explain that Jessica Jones’ ability to fly weakens if she doesn’t practice it. When she stops being a superhero and becomes a private investigator, her flight ability becomes very limited, but it fully returns when she starts fighting crime again. The Netflix series shows Jessica making impressively large jumps, landing on things like fire escapes that are beyond a normal person’s reach. While these jumps could simply be due to her strength, it’s also possible she was using what little remained of her flight ability after not using it for a long time.

As a huge fan of both versions of Jessica Jones, I’ve always been fascinated by the differences in how she got her powers. Both origins involve an accident, but in the comics, it wasn’t just the accident – experimental chemicals played a big role too. It’s my understanding that Netflix altered this for the show because it was a little too close to Daredevil’s origin story. They wanted Jessica to feel distinct and stand on her own, especially as a key player in the Defenders team, and giving her a different backstory was a smart way to do that.

Why Jessica Jones Is Returning For ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2

The upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series was initially planned as a fresh start for the character, with Charlie Cox reprising his role. However, the creators decided it would be better to continue the story from where Daredevil Season 3 left off. This means that characters like Jessica Jones and the other Defenders, who were previously considered unnecessary, now have a place in the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. After all, they still live in New York City, and their stories can’t be completely dismissed.

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In the season finale of Born Again, Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk is using his position as Mayor of New York to cause trouble, prompting Daredevil to ask for help taking down the Kingpin. The group that assembles at Josie’s Bar seems small and unlikely to succeed, making the situation feel hopeless. That’s why Jessica Jones’ return is so important. Although she’s no longer fighting crime as a vigilante, she still cares deeply about justice and can significantly strengthen Matt Murdock’s team, even on her own. Her reappearance raises the question of whether other members of the Defenders might also show up as Daredevil: Born Again continues.

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2026-02-01 01:18