‘Jessica Jones’: A Guide to All of the Reluctant Hero’s Powers

Adam Salandra
TV Streaming
TV Streaming Marvel Netflix

Jessica Jones may insist that she’s not a hero, but her unique powers beg to differ.

The Marvel anti-heroine (Krysten Ritter) survived a car crash as a child that ultimately killed her parents, but experiments conducted on her afterward granted her superhuman abilities. Before Jessica Jones returns to Netflix for a second season on March 8, let’s take a look at all of the private investigator’s powers.

Superhuman Strength

What Jessica Jones lacks in size, she definitely compensates for in superhuman strength. The accident gave her the ability to use her strength in unbelievable ways, including lifting the back of a moving car, smashing through marble with her fist, and holding an elevator on her own. Her strength has naturally helped her during combat, allowing her to overpower enemies and throw them across a room. But her unnatural strength doesn’t make her invincible and she’s been overpowered before. Not only was she occasionally beaten by people who were under her enemy Kilgrave’s control, but she was overpowered by former ally Will Simpson while she was injured in Season 1.

Krysten Ritter in Netflix's 'Jessica Jones'
Krysten Ritter in Netflix's 'Jessica Jones'

Enhanced Speed

Jessica is as fast as she is strong, exhibiting superhuman speed in all sorts of situations. The hero claims she can run a mile in under four minutes and had little trouble catching up to a moving car during Season 1. She also saved a young girl from being a hit by a car by speeding across the street in under a second. And who has time to stop for breath when there are bad guys to beat? Jessica ran across New York during the first season from Niku to the Shlottman residence without needing a break.

Krysten Ritter in Netflix's 'Jessica Jones'
Krysten Ritter in Netflix's 'Jessica Jones'

Enhanced Durability

You can’t keep a good hero down, and thanks to Jones’ powers of resilience, she’s often able to survive bad-guy beatings without a scratch. The power also helps keep her uninjured when she’s using her super strength to smash her fists through mirrors and windows. But nobody’s perfect, and Jones is susceptible to injuries from explosions and gunshots. But even the latter has to hit her in just the wrong spot to negatively impact her. When she was shot by Audrey Eastman in Season 1, the bullet grazed her shoulder and only caused her brief pain.

Colby Minifie and Krysten Ritter in Netflix's 'Jessica Jones'
Colby Minifie and Krysten Ritter in Netflix's 'Jessica Jones'

Regenerative Healing Factor

Even if Jones’ enhanced durability fails her, she has the power to heal faster than average humans. The P.I. can heal minor bruises and injuries in just a few hours, while bigger issues (like breaking her ribs after being hit by a truck in Season 1) can be healed in just a day. This power is also handy when it comes to the hero’s drinking problem. Jones likes to numb her pain with alcohol, but her regenerative powers help to reduce her hangover time and eliminate the destructive long-term effects of booze.

Krysten Ritter in Netflix's 'Jessica Jones'
Krysten Ritter in Netflix's 'Jessica Jones'

 

Flight

Arguably one of the most coveted superpowers in existence, flying is another one of Jones’ abilities. Well, sort of. Unfortunately, she hasn’t quite perfected this one yet and refers to it more as “guided falling.” Although she can propel herself off of things at different speeds, she has trouble sticking a safe landing. But she has at least managed to perfect her jumping abilities, having leaped between buildings and onto rooftops and balconies. During Season 1, she saved Robyn and members of the Kilgrave Victim Support Group from hanging themselves by jumping onto a pipe on the ceiling that held the nooses and breaking them free.

Adam Salandra
Adam Salandra is an Entertainment Editor for FANDOM. When he's not covering the latest in pop culture, you can find him playing with his French Bulldog pup or hovering over the table of food at any social gathering.