What do you think?
Rate this book
Marvel Kingswell Novels
[The She-Hulk Diaries] [By: Acosta, Marta] [June, 2013]
JANUARY 1CURRENT No job, no boyfriend, no permanent place to live, no car, and most of my clothes are held together with staples and duct tape. Bank account almost wiped out. Many of my former associates have expressed a desire that I never darken their doorways again for legal and financial reasons.She-Hulk got us got us kicked out of the Avengers Mansion. People keep posting videos online of her New Year's Eve twirling, flaming telephone poles in Times Square, climbing the Empire State Building while dangling Anderson Cooper, dancing wildly at parties, and commandeering a motorcycle cop's ride to do wheelies across the Brooklyn Bridge.Saying there are two sides to Jennifer Walters's personality is an understatement. When she hasn't morphed into a 650-pound, crime-fighting, hard-partying superhero, she's a single lawyer trying to get her act together. Hilarious and action-packed, The She-Hulk Diaries tells her story, as she juggles looking for Mr. Right and climbing the corporate ladder by day with battling villains and saving the world by night. Maybe she'll finally take on a case that will define her career. Maybe she won't meet one Mr. Right, but two, and she'll have to choose. Maybe bad guys will stop trying to destroy the planet so she can read her Perez Hilton in peace."An absolute delight. Those who are unfamiliar with Bruce Banner's wayward cousin are in for a treat . . . Whether you like She-Hulk straight up, comedic, or a combination of both, The She-Hulk Diaries is the She-Hulk endeavor for you." --Peter David, long-time writer of The Incredible Hulk , She-Hulk , and X-Factor and author of Pulling Up Stakes
Paperback
First published June 18, 2013
31 people are currently reading
1056 people want to read
About the author
Marta Acosta
22 books569 followersMarta Acosta lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was a feral reader, roaming the stacks of the public library.
She received a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Stanford University and has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, and Spaces Magazine.
Marta lives with her husband, spawn, and their crazy dogs. An avid gardener, she likes independent films, funny novels, loud music and lively conversations.
She’s always happy to hear from readers, even the ones who point out typos.
She received a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Stanford University and has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, and Spaces Magazine.
Marta lives with her husband, spawn, and their crazy dogs. An avid gardener, she likes independent films, funny novels, loud music and lively conversations.
She’s always happy to hear from readers, even the ones who point out typos.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
December 1, 2016
This was different than I thought it was going to be but it was fun and rather comical in many parts =)
Jen is just trying to find a job and be normal, that is when she's not her alternate ego who wears BeDazzled thongs and breaks things. She would be known as She-Hulk or Shulky. Jen has a best friend Dahlia who is funny as hell and has a little dog named Rodney that has his own style!
The book is written in diary form - hence the name of the book! Jen also lists pros and cons of a lot of things in the book. Her and Dahlia drink a lot of Joocey Jooce too. It's a place that is always packed but something funny is going on, literally.
Anyhoo, I love how Jen talks about herself and Shulky. Jen also takes martial arts classes which the law firms don't care for when she gets all cray in the courtroom.
Great things about my neighborhood:
1) Dahlia's salon and pet-sitting condo are nearby.
2) So many eateries I never have to cook.
3) Azzan, one of my all-time fave martial arts instructors, teaches at the gym five minutes away.
4) Excellent access to public transit and two secret passageways to tunnel system.
5) Lots of activity and always something to do.
Negative things about my neighborhood:
1) Because Dahlia is nearby, she always expects me to bring her lunch.
2) Buying takeout everyday is an unnecessary expense, and I should learn to cook.
3) Whenever I see Azzan on the street, he criticizes me for not training more.
4) So expensive that I'll have to move somewhere else unless I get a job with a huge salary.
At one point Jen moves into one of Hawkeye's secret homes, but She-Hulk blows it up. lol
There are mentions of Tony Stark and the Avengers Mansion. All in all I thought the book was good, not great for me but good none the less. And of course, there is some bad people to take out!
I would love to see more books something like this one written about She-Hulk!
And uh, I love that green lipstick on the cover ;-)
Jen is just trying to find a job and be normal, that is when she's not her alternate ego who wears BeDazzled thongs and breaks things. She would be known as She-Hulk or Shulky. Jen has a best friend Dahlia who is funny as hell and has a little dog named Rodney that has his own style!
The book is written in diary form - hence the name of the book! Jen also lists pros and cons of a lot of things in the book. Her and Dahlia drink a lot of Joocey Jooce too. It's a place that is always packed but something funny is going on, literally.
Anyhoo, I love how Jen talks about herself and Shulky. Jen also takes martial arts classes which the law firms don't care for when she gets all cray in the courtroom.
Great things about my neighborhood:
1) Dahlia's salon and pet-sitting condo are nearby.
2) So many eateries I never have to cook.
3) Azzan, one of my all-time fave martial arts instructors, teaches at the gym five minutes away.
4) Excellent access to public transit and two secret passageways to tunnel system.
5) Lots of activity and always something to do.
Negative things about my neighborhood:
1) Because Dahlia is nearby, she always expects me to bring her lunch.
2) Buying takeout everyday is an unnecessary expense, and I should learn to cook.
3) Whenever I see Azzan on the street, he criticizes me for not training more.
4) So expensive that I'll have to move somewhere else unless I get a job with a huge salary.
At one point Jen moves into one of Hawkeye's secret homes, but She-Hulk blows it up. lol
There are mentions of Tony Stark and the Avengers Mansion. All in all I thought the book was good, not great for me but good none the less. And of course, there is some bad people to take out!
I would love to see more books something like this one written about She-Hulk!
And uh, I love that green lipstick on the cover ;-)
August 8, 2013
I'm going to melt into a puddle of rage and disappointment and forget this book exists.
June 26, 2013
It all started with a separation of self, a bad reputation, and a long lost love.
Chickflick meets superhero comic loving nerd reading. I went into this book expecting action jackson type comic level reading. What I got was a well done mix of superhero fun with romantic drama and a lot of laughable moments.I found myself snickering and enthralled after the first few pages. I had to stop so many times to share what Jen/Shulky were up too with my family. It was too good not to pass on. I had a lot of fun reading it, laughed out loud, and still find myself giggling over a few sections.
The evil villains were a bit disappointing. I thought there would be some huge battle and perhaps a few superhero types would jump in a join her. No, but there was one super duper, nasty, wicked, lawyer, hammerhead villain that made even the bad guys look good. Oh, she was so easy to hate. I didn't understand why the other villains were up to their shenanigans. What was the purpose of the water bomb or the fat making fashion show ? They seemed thrust into the story to fill a need for evil.
Jen aka Shulky is really messed up. Shulky has torn up the town and made herself a pariah with the Avengers. They threw her out and told her to get help, psychiatric help. Jen is a top lawyer, and Shulky is hearty party girl.
The two don't mix well and that causes major problems. She also has love problems, she was dumped, or not and holds some serious grudge against him when they meet up again. She might be a superbeast but she's all human in the lack of communication area.
I enjoyed the ride and plan on reading more superhero chickflick reads in the future.
Chickflick meets superhero comic loving nerd reading. I went into this book expecting action jackson type comic level reading. What I got was a well done mix of superhero fun with romantic drama and a lot of laughable moments.I found myself snickering and enthralled after the first few pages. I had to stop so many times to share what Jen/Shulky were up too with my family. It was too good not to pass on. I had a lot of fun reading it, laughed out loud, and still find myself giggling over a few sections.
The evil villains were a bit disappointing. I thought there would be some huge battle and perhaps a few superhero types would jump in a join her. No, but there was one super duper, nasty, wicked, lawyer, hammerhead villain that made even the bad guys look good. Oh, she was so easy to hate. I didn't understand why the other villains were up to their shenanigans. What was the purpose of the water bomb or the fat making fashion show ? They seemed thrust into the story to fill a need for evil.
Jen aka Shulky is really messed up. Shulky has torn up the town and made herself a pariah with the Avengers. They threw her out and told her to get help, psychiatric help. Jen is a top lawyer, and Shulky is hearty party girl.
The two don't mix well and that causes major problems. She also has love problems, she was dumped, or not and holds some serious grudge against him when they meet up again. She might be a superbeast but she's all human in the lack of communication area.
I enjoyed the ride and plan on reading more superhero chickflick reads in the future.
June 28, 2013
Here is a quote from someone who gave a positive review to this book, "Don’t let the comic book beginnings fool you, this is definitely a book for a mature and decidedly female audience. This book is classic Marvel meets Sex in the City."
Besides placing quote marks around "mature" and "female" this pretty much sums up why I'm giving it a negative review.
By the way, Marvel, a huge part of your fan base is female and so you don't need to pander to what marketing companies tell you women are like by changing our favorite characters.
Besides placing quote marks around "mature" and "female" this pretty much sums up why I'm giving it a negative review.
By the way, Marvel, a huge part of your fan base is female and so you don't need to pander to what marketing companies tell you women are like by changing our favorite characters.
February 17, 2020
First off, a little history: Despite being a heterosexual male, I grew up on stories about heroines; protagonists of the opposite gender. Many of my crushes in my younger years were on actresses who played strong ladies: Hilary Duff (Lizzie McGuire), Anne Hathaway (Princess Diaries and Ella Enchanted), and even Amy Jo Johnson (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers). In more recent years, I've enjoyed (some) of the various adventures of DC and Marvel's superheroines, such as the fairly recent Captain Marvel film, or the first season of Supergirl, though I had to stop watching the latter early in the second season due to some serious shark jumping. Still, when done right, female superheroes can be just as fun as engaging as male ones, if not more so.
Recently, an uncorrected proof--disclaimer alert!--of this book found its way into my hands. Since I made February 2020 my official month of superheroes, I was overjoyed; such a book would go perfect with all of the other novels--including some of the prose variety--that I've been reading that feature DC and Marvel's do-gooders saving the day time and time again. When I started this the other day, I only had time to read one chapter; I didn't pick it up again until today, so, I mostly read it in one day.
Sounds like it would be quite the read, right? In a word: NO! The protagonist/narrator is a spoiled brat who can't keep her clothes on, and many of the other characters are just as despicable, which is unacceptable for a superhero story. All of the language and sexual references were annoying, not to mention a shock to my old-school sensibilities.
I give it two stars because at least the writing was good; still, that doesn't make this book worth checking out, as you can find well-written stories that are much more engaging and morally sound at pretty much any library or bookstore. Even for superhero prose, this was garbage.
Recently, an uncorrected proof--disclaimer alert!--of this book found its way into my hands. Since I made February 2020 my official month of superheroes, I was overjoyed; such a book would go perfect with all of the other novels--including some of the prose variety--that I've been reading that feature DC and Marvel's do-gooders saving the day time and time again. When I started this the other day, I only had time to read one chapter; I didn't pick it up again until today, so, I mostly read it in one day.
Sounds like it would be quite the read, right? In a word: NO! The protagonist/narrator is a spoiled brat who can't keep her clothes on, and many of the other characters are just as despicable, which is unacceptable for a superhero story. All of the language and sexual references were annoying, not to mention a shock to my old-school sensibilities.
I give it two stars because at least the writing was good; still, that doesn't make this book worth checking out, as you can find well-written stories that are much more engaging and morally sound at pretty much any library or bookstore. Even for superhero prose, this was garbage.
March 13, 2014
This is the first novel that we’ve read for our Ladies Comic Book Night book club, but the decision to read it should be an obvious one.
Apparently, the She-Hulk Diaries as well as Rogue Touch, are Marvel's attempt to "target women readers with stories of dynamic female super heroines who split their time between fighting villains and searching for a decent guy to date." [X]. I can't say this concept impressed me, any more than their attempt to bring in Black female readers by marrying Storm off to Black Panther [X]. But for the sake of my ladies at the club, I was willing to overlook my dislike for anything chick-flicky in nature in order to read this book. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed. I can't say it was the greatest read ever and I would love to read more like this, but it was pretty entertaining.
We also had the opportunity to interview author Marta Acosta on Twitter at our recent meeting.
First of all, if you are a previous She-Hulk fan you might find this a bit disconcerting. Acosta chose to separate the She-Hulk and Jennifer Walters personalities, with the greater focus being on Jen as she tries to sort out her personal life and career. I only vaguely knew She-Hulk before reading this and decided to check out the new She-Hulk #1 by Charles Soule to see if my recollections of her were correct. As in, I was certain I remembered her being all green, all the time, which turns out to be the standing canon.
Shulky makes appearances from time to time as the unapologetic party girl who's antics have gotten her kicked out of the Avengers Mansion. The bifurcated personality is addressed in visits to a psychiatrist, where Jen adamantly refuses to accept that she and She-Hulk are the same people.
We were pleased with Acosta's decision to split the personalities when she explained her rationale:
"It was also commentary on internal conflicts women have. Society gives us mixed messages & punishes women who don't conform. The more I thought about She-Hulk, the more I saw her as Jen's superego, being the woman we're told NOT to be. She-Hulk is big, loud, sexual, funny, strong. She's not a nice easy to manage little girl but a powerful woman."
The opportunity to spend more time with Jen is handled well as she manages her social life and her career. The latter collides with her love life when she comes face to face with a former rock star flame who has apparently been crooning his love to her since their weekend of romance, but is now engaged to Jen's new nemesis, Amber. Amber is my biggest complaint in the book, as she comes off as the one-dimensional bitch queen archetype. Still, the rest of the book is engaging enough to overlook this. It's particularly fun when Jen does let Shulky out to play. Although she's been banished from the Avengers Mansion, she's still called on to handle the menial criminal tasks and of course, the Jade Goddess will party hard afterward.
As I said, this was an entertaining read. It didn't impress itself upon me as a female reader, since it's not really my style, but it has successfully introduced me to a new character whom I'm now regularly reading in her comic form. I'd say that's a win. Well played, Marvel. Well played.
See more reviews at
The BiblioSanctum
Apparently, the She-Hulk Diaries as well as Rogue Touch, are Marvel's attempt to "target women readers with stories of dynamic female super heroines who split their time between fighting villains and searching for a decent guy to date." [X]. I can't say this concept impressed me, any more than their attempt to bring in Black female readers by marrying Storm off to Black Panther [X]. But for the sake of my ladies at the club, I was willing to overlook my dislike for anything chick-flicky in nature in order to read this book. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed. I can't say it was the greatest read ever and I would love to read more like this, but it was pretty entertaining.
We also had the opportunity to interview author Marta Acosta on Twitter at our recent meeting.
First of all, if you are a previous She-Hulk fan you might find this a bit disconcerting. Acosta chose to separate the She-Hulk and Jennifer Walters personalities, with the greater focus being on Jen as she tries to sort out her personal life and career. I only vaguely knew She-Hulk before reading this and decided to check out the new She-Hulk #1 by Charles Soule to see if my recollections of her were correct. As in, I was certain I remembered her being all green, all the time, which turns out to be the standing canon.
Shulky makes appearances from time to time as the unapologetic party girl who's antics have gotten her kicked out of the Avengers Mansion. The bifurcated personality is addressed in visits to a psychiatrist, where Jen adamantly refuses to accept that she and She-Hulk are the same people.
We were pleased with Acosta's decision to split the personalities when she explained her rationale:
"It was also commentary on internal conflicts women have. Society gives us mixed messages & punishes women who don't conform. The more I thought about She-Hulk, the more I saw her as Jen's superego, being the woman we're told NOT to be. She-Hulk is big, loud, sexual, funny, strong. She's not a nice easy to manage little girl but a powerful woman."
The opportunity to spend more time with Jen is handled well as she manages her social life and her career. The latter collides with her love life when she comes face to face with a former rock star flame who has apparently been crooning his love to her since their weekend of romance, but is now engaged to Jen's new nemesis, Amber. Amber is my biggest complaint in the book, as she comes off as the one-dimensional bitch queen archetype. Still, the rest of the book is engaging enough to overlook this. It's particularly fun when Jen does let Shulky out to play. Although she's been banished from the Avengers Mansion, she's still called on to handle the menial criminal tasks and of course, the Jade Goddess will party hard afterward.
As I said, this was an entertaining read. It didn't impress itself upon me as a female reader, since it's not really my style, but it has successfully introduced me to a new character whom I'm now regularly reading in her comic form. I'd say that's a win. Well played, Marvel. Well played.
See more reviews at
The BiblioSanctum
June 24, 2013
As a She-Hulk fan I am disappointed but sadly not surprised by this offering from Marta Acosta.
My major complaint (that Jen and She-Hulk are NOT different entities) was actually addressed late in the piece, but the fact remains that Jen never saw 'Shulky' (a nickname I tired of immediately) as separate from her.
The reveal about Sven and Amber made me roll my eyes as the use of Doom here felt lazy and obvious. And leaving one of his clones running around? Not even the bratty OOC She-Hulk masquerading as my favourite superhuman lawyer would be so irresponsible.
This book might have worked as a romance about a shy lawyer re-meeting her steamy science-rockstar-good-with-kids one night stand, I just wouldn't have read it. As it stands, Marvel allowed one of my favourite female role models to be distorted and reduced to a scattered ditz, and after she was unceremoniously killed off in the recent Age of Ultron event it's even more galling. Not to mention the fact that the only other female super hero even mentioned ONCE was Black Widow, meanwhile I couldn't go five pages without reading about Tony Stark. Jen is one of a pantheon of wonderful female characters who are consistently misused at best or ignored at worst.
Your female audience expect and deserve better, Marvel.
My major complaint (that Jen and She-Hulk are NOT different entities) was actually addressed late in the piece, but the fact remains that Jen never saw 'Shulky' (a nickname I tired of immediately) as separate from her.
The reveal about Sven and Amber made me roll my eyes as the use of Doom here felt lazy and obvious. And leaving one of his clones running around? Not even the bratty OOC She-Hulk masquerading as my favourite superhuman lawyer would be so irresponsible.
This book might have worked as a romance about a shy lawyer re-meeting her steamy science-rockstar-good-with-kids one night stand, I just wouldn't have read it. As it stands, Marvel allowed one of my favourite female role models to be distorted and reduced to a scattered ditz, and after she was unceremoniously killed off in the recent Age of Ultron event it's even more galling. Not to mention the fact that the only other female super hero even mentioned ONCE was Black Widow, meanwhile I couldn't go five pages without reading about Tony Stark. Jen is one of a pantheon of wonderful female characters who are consistently misused at best or ignored at worst.
Your female audience expect and deserve better, Marvel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2025
Let the haters hate, cuz this was great! I mean it. It was quirky, irreverent, and funny. The story was fun, and the dialogue was pretty great. I’ve never dived into She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters as a character before, but I really enjoyed her. She’s sexy, strong, and savvy, which is everything I want in a heroine. What more can you really ask for? I think if anyone doesn’t like this book, they just might not be into girlie things (and what a bummer for them).
July 31, 2014
She Hulk is my favorite Marvel character, I love her witty ironic comics from the 80's and totally fell in love with her during the series written by Dan Slott She-Hulk, Vol. 1: Single Green Female.
I made it through the first 2 chapters, barely, then I realized that this is not the She Hulk that I know. See the great thing about She Hulk is that she is a character that retains her femininity while still kicking ass and never becoming a sex object. Unfortunately this story seems to have very little ass kicking and a whole lot of 'I need to find myself a man'. UH NO YOU DON'T, YOU'RE FRICKEN SHE HULK!
Also, is this story solely about Jen? That's like writing about Bruce Wayne and never Batman, they would never write that story for their male demographic so what makes them think that women want that story?
Here's the thing, you aren't going to draw women readers toward Marvel with this approach, because the women who read this genre are waiting for the next Bridget Jones or some other book with shoes on the cover. Maybe this type of book would work with a character like Mary Jane (see also Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Vol. 1, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Vol. 2. These book were actually enjoyable because her whole purpose is already set as the romantic interest.
I was still going to give this book a try but the end of chapter 2 proved to me that I should call it quits:
"Because while all the other superheroes are saving the world, I'm looking for a job and an apartment, and no one is inviting me to any parties either"
Well, gee that really makes me want to keep reading....said no comics fan ever.
So disappointing.
July 28, 2014
Reading THE SHE-HULK DIARIES was more painful than a green-fisted punch in the stomach by ol' "Shulky" herself. I also bought and read ROGUE TOUCH about the X-Men's Rogue and was similarly disappointed. What should be fun young adult books geared toward getting more teenage girls into comic books and superheroes is just a waste of paper.
I'm not sure who Marvel things these books are geared towards? Teenage girls? Adults? Comic fan boys? If it's young girls, then the main character shouldn't be an adult lawyer who randomly hooks up with guys. If it's for comic book fans, then the writer should actually be familiar with the character. Instead, in this book, She-Hulk has a secret identity, unlike the comics. In this novel, she also has two separate, distinct personas: Jennifer Walter, attorney, and She-Hulk, big green superhero. And never the two shall meet. The "diary entries" are written by Jennifer, and when she's referring to the She-Hulk, it's always (negatively) in the third person. This is very disjarring for fans of John Byrne's Sensational She-Hulk series from the 1980s and Charles Soule's She-Hulk series of today. Basically, she's not the She-Hulk I know...or have ever known.
Just who is author Marta Acosta and why was she chosen for this writing assignment? Has she ever read a She-Hulk comic book in her life? Did Marvel Comics not prep her on the character and her background? I think they just told her that She-Hulk is casually referred to as "Shulky" and to please use that a lot. (You'll soon tire of seeing it on the page.)
All of that aside, the book was still pretty crappy. It was directionless and never once held my interest. The book summary should read: "Attorney Jennifer Walters gets a boring case while trying to avoid the man with whom she had the greatest sex in her life, while also dealing with her inner demon of the trampy She-Hulk."
I'm not sure who Marvel things these books are geared towards? Teenage girls? Adults? Comic fan boys? If it's young girls, then the main character shouldn't be an adult lawyer who randomly hooks up with guys. If it's for comic book fans, then the writer should actually be familiar with the character. Instead, in this book, She-Hulk has a secret identity, unlike the comics. In this novel, she also has two separate, distinct personas: Jennifer Walter, attorney, and She-Hulk, big green superhero. And never the two shall meet. The "diary entries" are written by Jennifer, and when she's referring to the She-Hulk, it's always (negatively) in the third person. This is very disjarring for fans of John Byrne's Sensational She-Hulk series from the 1980s and Charles Soule's She-Hulk series of today. Basically, she's not the She-Hulk I know...or have ever known.
Just who is author Marta Acosta and why was she chosen for this writing assignment? Has she ever read a She-Hulk comic book in her life? Did Marvel Comics not prep her on the character and her background? I think they just told her that She-Hulk is casually referred to as "Shulky" and to please use that a lot. (You'll soon tire of seeing it on the page.)
All of that aside, the book was still pretty crappy. It was directionless and never once held my interest. The book summary should read: "Attorney Jennifer Walters gets a boring case while trying to avoid the man with whom she had the greatest sex in her life, while also dealing with her inner demon of the trampy She-Hulk."
June 24, 2022
I’m a fan of She Hulk, but I wasn’t a fan of this book. The plot, characters, and dialogue were all really shallow. The climax of the book was underwhelming. You finally get there and then it is over in a blink of an eye. I wanted it to last longer and for it to be more robust.
Despite my low review, I’m glad that I picked it up. Like I said before, I’m a fan of the character. I’m looking forward to the Disney+ series that will be coming out this fall. I hope that it is better than the book.
Despite my low review, I’m glad that I picked it up. Like I said before, I’m a fan of the character. I’m looking forward to the Disney+ series that will be coming out this fall. I hope that it is better than the book.
June 18, 2013
(Originally posted on my blog, Misprinted Pages.)
Earlier this year, I expressed skepticism toward The She-Hulk Diaries and Rogue Touch — specifically, about authors scribbling down superhero adventures without the pretty pictures to match and, more importantly, with what seemed like a “romantic” spin (that turned out to be false).
I love comics, and removing their visual element would be like neutering them. The physical prowess of female superheroes, especially, is what grabs your attention; it’s the artist’s job to convey that. Then the writer steps in and uses that moment to communicate their emotional and mental strength as well. These three traits complement one another. I wondered if a novel could properly re-create that power. Since so much of a superhero’s identity is rooted in action and visuals — perhaps even more than words — would these characters even translate well into novel protagonists? Or would She-Hulk and Rogue become shallow versions of themselves?
The answer is different than what I expected — at least in She-Hulk’s case (I have yet to get around to Rogue). After reading Marta Acosta’s fun and very juicy The She-Hulk Diaries, I decided that a) yes, superheroes have enough thoughts buzzing around in their heads to fill a novel but b) the whole superhero action thing is what comes across poorly.
Acosta takes She-Hulk, aka Jennifer Walters (although, in this book, they’re two separate characters who cohabit the same body) and makes her a character worth knowing outside of comic books. I’m a nerd and stickler for accuracy and faithful portrayals, but she pulls it off.
But as someone who doesn’t write for comics, Acosta loses stride when delivering big action. She restricts most of She-Hulk’s crime-fighting efforts to trashing petty thugs who are also cartoonish — and not in a good way. In a cheesy, ’60s comics kind of way.
It half works with the story. The Avengers have ostracized She-Hulk, and she’s not getting all the cool, intergalactic gigs anymore. So she’s stuck picking loser bad guys off the streets.
However, the whole time, I was waiting for at least one super-villain showdown. Acosta does include one — sort of. To leave one out would have disappointed a lot of readers, but what she ends up with isn’t handled with the same finesse and drama as what you’d see in comics today. It’s a little outdated and campy. I found this to be the weakest part of the book.
I’m reluctant to put a label on The She-Hulk Diaries, but this very much does seem like chick-lit to me. (Marta can fight me in the comments if she’d like.) But that’s good news because I find chick-lit to be very fun, and hey — it’s definitely not romance.
What’s most impressive is how Acosta writes Jen/She-Hulk in a way that would make any modern, feminist-minded woman proud. Jennifer stands up for herself. She doesn’t jump into a relationship (or bed) although she courts some very different suitors. She doesn’t have the best history with men, either. She’s normal, but at the same time, she’s a little wiser than some of us.
She isn’t a flawless character, though. Pretty much anywhere outside the courtroom (Jen’s a lawyer), she struggles with self-confidence. She’s got some anger issues, deep down. But I love her for being honest and so dedicated to her work, which is all about doing good. I love her for treating her friends with just as much importance and care as her career — and while finding a relationship is important, she doesn’t degrade herself to get there. She’s not going to change who she is.
To say that’s an important message for young women and girls today would be an understatement.
By the end, I wanted more of Acosta’s writing because it was so enjoyable, but she does leave readers hanging about a few minor plot threads: the circumstances surrounding She-Hulk’s split from the Avengers, for example, and how Jen feels about her mother’s death.
At the same time, the overarching story — which connects the “antagonists” (I’m lumping them in a very general group) together and keeps She-Hulk (and lawyer Jen) rather busy — isn’t as compelling as the little details: the everyday thoughts and actions of these two characters.
The book pours on the romance more heavily later on, when Jen has to choose between several love interests. And I can’t help but feel like her union with Mr. Right was a little mushy.
Complaints aside, The She-Hulk Diaries is a light, funny, and emotionally cathartic read that breaks expectations.
Earlier this year, I expressed skepticism toward The She-Hulk Diaries and Rogue Touch — specifically, about authors scribbling down superhero adventures without the pretty pictures to match and, more importantly, with what seemed like a “romantic” spin (that turned out to be false).
I love comics, and removing their visual element would be like neutering them. The physical prowess of female superheroes, especially, is what grabs your attention; it’s the artist’s job to convey that. Then the writer steps in and uses that moment to communicate their emotional and mental strength as well. These three traits complement one another. I wondered if a novel could properly re-create that power. Since so much of a superhero’s identity is rooted in action and visuals — perhaps even more than words — would these characters even translate well into novel protagonists? Or would She-Hulk and Rogue become shallow versions of themselves?
The answer is different than what I expected — at least in She-Hulk’s case (I have yet to get around to Rogue). After reading Marta Acosta’s fun and very juicy The She-Hulk Diaries, I decided that a) yes, superheroes have enough thoughts buzzing around in their heads to fill a novel but b) the whole superhero action thing is what comes across poorly.
Acosta takes She-Hulk, aka Jennifer Walters (although, in this book, they’re two separate characters who cohabit the same body) and makes her a character worth knowing outside of comic books. I’m a nerd and stickler for accuracy and faithful portrayals, but she pulls it off.
But as someone who doesn’t write for comics, Acosta loses stride when delivering big action. She restricts most of She-Hulk’s crime-fighting efforts to trashing petty thugs who are also cartoonish — and not in a good way. In a cheesy, ’60s comics kind of way.
It half works with the story. The Avengers have ostracized She-Hulk, and she’s not getting all the cool, intergalactic gigs anymore. So she’s stuck picking loser bad guys off the streets.
However, the whole time, I was waiting for at least one super-villain showdown. Acosta does include one — sort of. To leave one out would have disappointed a lot of readers, but what she ends up with isn’t handled with the same finesse and drama as what you’d see in comics today. It’s a little outdated and campy. I found this to be the weakest part of the book.
I’m reluctant to put a label on The She-Hulk Diaries, but this very much does seem like chick-lit to me. (Marta can fight me in the comments if she’d like.) But that’s good news because I find chick-lit to be very fun, and hey — it’s definitely not romance.
What’s most impressive is how Acosta writes Jen/She-Hulk in a way that would make any modern, feminist-minded woman proud. Jennifer stands up for herself. She doesn’t jump into a relationship (or bed) although she courts some very different suitors. She doesn’t have the best history with men, either. She’s normal, but at the same time, she’s a little wiser than some of us.
She isn’t a flawless character, though. Pretty much anywhere outside the courtroom (Jen’s a lawyer), she struggles with self-confidence. She’s got some anger issues, deep down. But I love her for being honest and so dedicated to her work, which is all about doing good. I love her for treating her friends with just as much importance and care as her career — and while finding a relationship is important, she doesn’t degrade herself to get there. She’s not going to change who she is.
To say that’s an important message for young women and girls today would be an understatement.
By the end, I wanted more of Acosta’s writing because it was so enjoyable, but she does leave readers hanging about a few minor plot threads: the circumstances surrounding She-Hulk’s split from the Avengers, for example, and how Jen feels about her mother’s death.
At the same time, the overarching story — which connects the “antagonists” (I’m lumping them in a very general group) together and keeps She-Hulk (and lawyer Jen) rather busy — isn’t as compelling as the little details: the everyday thoughts and actions of these two characters.
The book pours on the romance more heavily later on, when Jen has to choose between several love interests. And I can’t help but feel like her union with Mr. Right was a little mushy.
Complaints aside, The She-Hulk Diaries is a light, funny, and emotionally cathartic read that breaks expectations.
March 10, 2014
3.5 stars, definitely.
I'm a comics enthusiast but had the benefit of knowing relatively little about Jennifer Walters/"Shulky" canon going into this book. From many of the other reviews here I gather that was a good thing. It allowed me to just enjoy Acosta's funny yarn about the mousy lawyer who has Bruce Banner as a cousin and whose bad habit of turning into a giant green party monster got her in hot water at the Avengers HQ, among other things. Had I approached this story with previous knowledge of the oneness that defines Jen and Shulky - an idea bucked here - I can see how I may have found it maddening.
But luck was on my side. THE SHE-HULK DIARIES was my first true foray into the Walters/Hulk dichotomy. And I found what Acosta did with it amusing and entertaining.
It's set up in the ol' Bridget Jones format, even starting with Jennifer making resolutions in her new journal (they're a Valentine's Day project here, rather than Bridget's Christmas-crisis beginnings). The diary includes many of the idiosyncrasies from Helen Fielding's huge hit, like strikethroughs as Jennifer constantly self-edits her thoughts, and many of her resolutions are similar to those of Bridget, too...including finding a (preferably non-superhero) boyfriend. Some eyebrow-raising references are made to Jen's romantic history with playboy Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, right off the bat, so we immediately know Jennifer has a colourful past (and it's more than just green). She's relatable and charmingly self-effacing from the moment we meet her, and the diary format really works here; I don't know that we'd have gotten to experience her wry sense of humour the same way if this had been a straight-up third-person novel.
What makes SHE-HULK DIARIES rise above the syrupy chick lit it might've otherwise been is the overwhelming message that, the more time that passes and the more she writes, the more she begins to realize that "getting a boyfriend" is the icing on her cake, not the cake itself. We get to see her focus a lot on her law career, her friends (mostly well-written women; I took a shine to BFF Dahlia right away, though Jennifer's nemesis is a bit of a cookie-cutter "ice queen" type - that was a grating element of the story), her interactions with her superhero colleagues - familiar Avengers characters to even casual Marvel fans - as well as those in her day job... All of the resolutions she makes inform her *whole* life, not just the singular facet of wanting a man.
There's a lot of humour in these pages, inherent in the idea of a professional woman who "Hulks out" (she resolves, for instance, to upgrade her wardrobe so her clothes can better withstand the shredding effect of becoming Shulky). Sometimes it feels as though the wit is acting as a distraction in order to camouflage an occasionally thin plot. But overall it's a light, funny read, exactly what it was meant to be, so it scores points for that.
Were I to take a more critical look at this book and consider why Marvel commissioned such a girly, stereotypically ditzy tie-in just to lure female readers, I'd probably Hulk Out myself. But taking Acosta's novel at face value, I was charmed by its levity, its quick pace and its likeable protagonist. Rating it just on the merits of the story alone is how I came to a 3.5 star review. I might feel differently upon deeper reflection, but for now it served my desire for an easy read that kept me smiling.
I'm a comics enthusiast but had the benefit of knowing relatively little about Jennifer Walters/"Shulky" canon going into this book. From many of the other reviews here I gather that was a good thing. It allowed me to just enjoy Acosta's funny yarn about the mousy lawyer who has Bruce Banner as a cousin and whose bad habit of turning into a giant green party monster got her in hot water at the Avengers HQ, among other things. Had I approached this story with previous knowledge of the oneness that defines Jen and Shulky - an idea bucked here - I can see how I may have found it maddening.
But luck was on my side. THE SHE-HULK DIARIES was my first true foray into the Walters/Hulk dichotomy. And I found what Acosta did with it amusing and entertaining.
It's set up in the ol' Bridget Jones format, even starting with Jennifer making resolutions in her new journal (they're a Valentine's Day project here, rather than Bridget's Christmas-crisis beginnings). The diary includes many of the idiosyncrasies from Helen Fielding's huge hit, like strikethroughs as Jennifer constantly self-edits her thoughts, and many of her resolutions are similar to those of Bridget, too...including finding a (preferably non-superhero) boyfriend. Some eyebrow-raising references are made to Jen's romantic history with playboy Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, right off the bat, so we immediately know Jennifer has a colourful past (and it's more than just green). She's relatable and charmingly self-effacing from the moment we meet her, and the diary format really works here; I don't know that we'd have gotten to experience her wry sense of humour the same way if this had been a straight-up third-person novel.
What makes SHE-HULK DIARIES rise above the syrupy chick lit it might've otherwise been is the overwhelming message that, the more time that passes and the more she writes, the more she begins to realize that "getting a boyfriend" is the icing on her cake, not the cake itself. We get to see her focus a lot on her law career, her friends (mostly well-written women; I took a shine to BFF Dahlia right away, though Jennifer's nemesis is a bit of a cookie-cutter "ice queen" type - that was a grating element of the story), her interactions with her superhero colleagues - familiar Avengers characters to even casual Marvel fans - as well as those in her day job... All of the resolutions she makes inform her *whole* life, not just the singular facet of wanting a man.
There's a lot of humour in these pages, inherent in the idea of a professional woman who "Hulks out" (she resolves, for instance, to upgrade her wardrobe so her clothes can better withstand the shredding effect of becoming Shulky). Sometimes it feels as though the wit is acting as a distraction in order to camouflage an occasionally thin plot. But overall it's a light, funny read, exactly what it was meant to be, so it scores points for that.
Were I to take a more critical look at this book and consider why Marvel commissioned such a girly, stereotypically ditzy tie-in just to lure female readers, I'd probably Hulk Out myself. But taking Acosta's novel at face value, I was charmed by its levity, its quick pace and its likeable protagonist. Rating it just on the merits of the story alone is how I came to a 3.5 star review. I might feel differently upon deeper reflection, but for now it served my desire for an easy read that kept me smiling.
December 26, 2016
It takes a lot for me to give a book one star, but this one deserves it. The book contains adult themes, but is written like it was meant for a young reader residing in 2009 (it was published in 2013). The ending was honestly horrible and had almost zero setup. I could go on and on about everything I disliked. I had high hopes, because this is a Marvel book, but I now know to steer clear of their other book publications.
February 22, 2021
Is this She-Hulk or a chic-lit novel?
May 1, 2016
I had somewhat mixed feelings when it came to writing this review; not because I didn't enjoy the book (I really did; more on that in a minute), but because the actual creation of particular imprint makes me a little uneasy. As a fan of both comic books and chicklit, I'm of course delighted by Marvel's decision to publish these fun books based around their female superheroes; but I'm also aware that it's often very difficult for women to be taken seriously as comic book fans, and the creation of a special series for female readers in which the characters worry about shoes and boyfriends is not really the way to further make them part of this world. A lot of female comic book fans that I know expressed anger when I told them that I was reading this book, and inclusivity does not come from singling out female fans of comics, then giving them a frothy, specifically girly novel to read. So while I'm now going to talk about how much I enjoyed The She-Hulk Diaries, and how excited I am about embarking on the other book from this imprint - Rogue Touch - I wanted to show an awareness that this is a complicated area, and I'm not completely comfortable with this idea of female-oriented superhero chicklit.
Having said all that, this book is utterly delightful. It's fun, it's likeable, it's periodically laugh-out-loud funny, it has action, mystery and lots of romance. I'll admit here that my knowledge of Jennifer Walters and her big, green alter-ego is somewhat limited - although this book has made me order her more recent comics series, so that's about to change - but whether you're a casual film watcher/comics reader or a more hardcore fan, I think there's something here for both; lots of specific knowledge isn't required for reading enjoyment, but there are fun nods in there for people who know more. And, well, while Tony Stark doesn't ever actually appear in this book, references to him often manage to be wonderfully scene-stealing!
The content is a superhero novel mashed with a chicklit novel, keeping the best tropes of both. Jennifer wants the usual things - a job, an apartment, a boyfriend, to periodically get out of the house and do something that isn't work-related - but she's also got to contend with She-Hulk, her superheroic alter-ego who makes it virtually impossible to keep any of the above things! On top of all this, the Avengers have relegated her to the sidelines, the press are hounding She-Hulk's exploits, and her nemesis is being just a little too quiet... If you're looking for non-stop action, this takes a while to get going, but the different aspects of the plot are woven excellently together and come together for a brilliant climax with a few things I didn't quite see coming! There's also a brilliant scene at a fashion show that I won't spoil for you, but I'll never look at Karl Lagerfeld the same way again.
So maybe it is a little sexist, with a plot that centres around boyfriends, fashion, smoothies and self-actualisation. But the writing is good, the characters are strong, and I think the trick here is not to take it too seriously! I've given this book five stars because it was absolutely everything I wanted out of superhero chicklit: fun, nerdy, exciting, and almost ridiculously enjoyable. I'm now going to run to the other book in this imprint, and I can't wait!
Having said all that, this book is utterly delightful. It's fun, it's likeable, it's periodically laugh-out-loud funny, it has action, mystery and lots of romance. I'll admit here that my knowledge of Jennifer Walters and her big, green alter-ego is somewhat limited - although this book has made me order her more recent comics series, so that's about to change - but whether you're a casual film watcher/comics reader or a more hardcore fan, I think there's something here for both; lots of specific knowledge isn't required for reading enjoyment, but there are fun nods in there for people who know more. And, well, while Tony Stark doesn't ever actually appear in this book, references to him often manage to be wonderfully scene-stealing!
The content is a superhero novel mashed with a chicklit novel, keeping the best tropes of both. Jennifer wants the usual things - a job, an apartment, a boyfriend, to periodically get out of the house and do something that isn't work-related - but she's also got to contend with She-Hulk, her superheroic alter-ego who makes it virtually impossible to keep any of the above things! On top of all this, the Avengers have relegated her to the sidelines, the press are hounding She-Hulk's exploits, and her nemesis is being just a little too quiet... If you're looking for non-stop action, this takes a while to get going, but the different aspects of the plot are woven excellently together and come together for a brilliant climax with a few things I didn't quite see coming! There's also a brilliant scene at a fashion show that I won't spoil for you, but I'll never look at Karl Lagerfeld the same way again.
So maybe it is a little sexist, with a plot that centres around boyfriends, fashion, smoothies and self-actualisation. But the writing is good, the characters are strong, and I think the trick here is not to take it too seriously! I've given this book five stars because it was absolutely everything I wanted out of superhero chicklit: fun, nerdy, exciting, and almost ridiculously enjoyable. I'm now going to run to the other book in this imprint, and I can't wait!
June 9, 2013
Thank you to Hyperion and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. My opinions are my own.
The She-Hulk Diaries is a book of potential, but doesn't entirely work. I wanted to love this book more than I did, but while the writing style is whimsical and informal, the story itself is shallow, superficial, and full of lists. In fact, the lists may have been the most excessive part of the story.
Perhaps I'm a purist, but I wasn't sold on Acosta's version of Jennifer Walters. The character never felt consistent (yes, I recognize she has two identities). One minute Walters is trying to be a tough woman who desires to be taken seriously, then two seconds later she's a cheerleading valley girl. The superficiality of Walter's character really rubbed me the wrong a lot of the time. She always felt friendly, but never realistic in the slightest.
I also didn't appreciate how easily everything is wrapped up in this story. It seemed like every situation was more of an "oopsie" than a really, full blown conflict. Perhaps that part of the problem with the story -- nothing really every felt like it was happening, and when it was, I never felt connected because Walter's narrative voice was constantly rubbing me the wrong way. I love the confidence, no nonsense, Jennifer Walters, not the hyperactive teenage fangirl who says "OMG" every few pages. It didn't help that a lot of the characters felt so hollow, so insignificant, even though Walters goal is to find an awesome boyfriend and make new friends. To be honest, that was the whole plot and it was just very irritating and boring to listen to Walter's inane thoughts. Why does having the perfect boyfriend matter so damn much? Please, answer me this question, because it's always a huge topic in romance novels.
The editing in this book is also a bit sloppy. There's a lot of lines that sound really awkward when read aloud, or phrases that are broken or spaced the wrong way. May be it was my eReader, but I found this very distracting.
While I love and I appreciate the idea of this novel, I question as to whether the diary format worked to begin with. I felt like She-Hulk could have been an intriguing to follow around, but I wish Acosta did not create such a bland, superficial interpretation. Maybe I shouldn't have had such high expectations for this idea, but how can you not with the premise? I suppose as a fan of her character in the Marvel-verse I was expecting more, but was disappointed over all. Those who can tolerate the choppy writing style and the fact that Jen Walters is quite the party girl, will likely find enjoyment for this novel. Those seeking a great twist, may find themselves quite disappointed by the overall results.
The She-Hulk Diaries is a book of potential, but doesn't entirely work. I wanted to love this book more than I did, but while the writing style is whimsical and informal, the story itself is shallow, superficial, and full of lists. In fact, the lists may have been the most excessive part of the story.
Perhaps I'm a purist, but I wasn't sold on Acosta's version of Jennifer Walters. The character never felt consistent (yes, I recognize she has two identities). One minute Walters is trying to be a tough woman who desires to be taken seriously, then two seconds later she's a cheerleading valley girl. The superficiality of Walter's character really rubbed me the wrong a lot of the time. She always felt friendly, but never realistic in the slightest.
I also didn't appreciate how easily everything is wrapped up in this story. It seemed like every situation was more of an "oopsie" than a really, full blown conflict. Perhaps that part of the problem with the story -- nothing really every felt like it was happening, and when it was, I never felt connected because Walter's narrative voice was constantly rubbing me the wrong way. I love the confidence, no nonsense, Jennifer Walters, not the hyperactive teenage fangirl who says "OMG" every few pages. It didn't help that a lot of the characters felt so hollow, so insignificant, even though Walters goal is to find an awesome boyfriend and make new friends. To be honest, that was the whole plot and it was just very irritating and boring to listen to Walter's inane thoughts. Why does having the perfect boyfriend matter so damn much? Please, answer me this question, because it's always a huge topic in romance novels.
The editing in this book is also a bit sloppy. There's a lot of lines that sound really awkward when read aloud, or phrases that are broken or spaced the wrong way. May be it was my eReader, but I found this very distracting.
While I love and I appreciate the idea of this novel, I question as to whether the diary format worked to begin with. I felt like She-Hulk could have been an intriguing to follow around, but I wish Acosta did not create such a bland, superficial interpretation. Maybe I shouldn't have had such high expectations for this idea, but how can you not with the premise? I suppose as a fan of her character in the Marvel-verse I was expecting more, but was disappointed over all. Those who can tolerate the choppy writing style and the fact that Jen Walters is quite the party girl, will likely find enjoyment for this novel. Those seeking a great twist, may find themselves quite disappointed by the overall results.
June 24, 2013
Being female does not automatically grant one entre into the world of "chick-lit". Personally, I loathe the genre, mostly because, in the hands of callous writers, it reduces the essential human search for companionship and understanding to shopping trips and make-up advice beneath veiled catty quips. But that's my view, and I'm well aware many others don't share it. -_-
So I was afraid, at first, that this book was going to end up just being chick-lit for one of my long-neglected superhero friends, She-Hulk -- but, thankfully, it wasn't. Despite the initial "diary" format (and the quirky hairdresser friend -- who I ended up liking far more than I thought I would at first. Dhalia'd stand up in Marvel's world, she would; she knows who she is and isn't afraid to be herself.), it quickly became far more. And a clever, thoughtful, engaging bit of world-building set within the greater Marvel universe. I've always had a soft spot for the "ordinary" parts of the Marvel universe -- how the average people deal with superheroes duking it out in Central Park every other Wednesday. This book dealt with that cleverly --- while still making it clear that while the Marvel Universe may superficially resemble our world, it very distinctly is NOT our world.
But it was the conflicted Jennifer Walters who made this. Barely dealing with her own duality as She-Hulk, her life goals, career, the longing to not be alone, all with a hefty side-order of superhero-ing and food-cart surveying, she was an engaging, interesting protagonist. I was pulling for her to get her self together again, particularly since, as a long-time Avengers fan, I'm well aware of the horrible way she was written out of general Marvel circulation for a very long time. (Vision! Wanda! the FF! argh!)
This was a fun, engaging read, with lots of call-outs to Marvel characters and the greater mythos, without being completely inaccesible to someone who doesn't read comics regularly (or at all).
Give Jen a shot; Shulky will wow you.
So I was afraid, at first, that this book was going to end up just being chick-lit for one of my long-neglected superhero friends, She-Hulk -- but, thankfully, it wasn't. Despite the initial "diary" format (and the quirky hairdresser friend -- who I ended up liking far more than I thought I would at first. Dhalia'd stand up in Marvel's world, she would; she knows who she is and isn't afraid to be herself.), it quickly became far more. And a clever, thoughtful, engaging bit of world-building set within the greater Marvel universe. I've always had a soft spot for the "ordinary" parts of the Marvel universe -- how the average people deal with superheroes duking it out in Central Park every other Wednesday. This book dealt with that cleverly --- while still making it clear that while the Marvel Universe may superficially resemble our world, it very distinctly is NOT our world.
But it was the conflicted Jennifer Walters who made this. Barely dealing with her own duality as She-Hulk, her life goals, career, the longing to not be alone, all with a hefty side-order of superhero-ing and food-cart surveying, she was an engaging, interesting protagonist. I was pulling for her to get her self together again, particularly since, as a long-time Avengers fan, I'm well aware of the horrible way she was written out of general Marvel circulation for a very long time. (Vision! Wanda! the FF! argh!)
This was a fun, engaging read, with lots of call-outs to Marvel characters and the greater mythos, without being completely inaccesible to someone who doesn't read comics regularly (or at all).
Give Jen a shot; Shulky will wow you.
January 5, 2015
OMG. I loved this book! She-Hulk is a character that I've always been interested in but haven't read enough about. So when I found out about this book I was very interested in checking it out. Glad that I did!
Jennifer Walters starts out the year with no job, no prospects, no apartment, and no boyfriend. She also has a problem with her clothes being ruined. So when someone gives her a journal, she decides to start a diary and set goals for herself. Of course, Jen isn't your average girl. She happens to transform from quiet lawyer to party girl Shulky. She's a superhero, but the others don't want to have anything to do with her.
She-Hulk is fearless, careless, and leaves a trail of destruction behind her.
However, when Jen gets a job with a top firm, things start turning around. Even though she runs into the one guy she really cared about and he's engaged to a Hammerhead. LOL. And it takes her forever to find an apartment. Plus there's a new villain in town: Superbrat.
I had a lot of FUN reading this book. There was a bit of everything: superhero antics, pesky villains, alluring men, great friendships, romance, action, and a cool twist. I loved seeing the tender, caring side of both Jen and Shulky. It was also really cool to see her transform in so many ways and realise that one of her most important goals was self-acceptance of both sides of the same woman.
Like I said, this was great. It's funny, quirky, fun and made me love She-Hulk. She honestly rocks!
Jennifer Walters starts out the year with no job, no prospects, no apartment, and no boyfriend. She also has a problem with her clothes being ruined. So when someone gives her a journal, she decides to start a diary and set goals for herself. Of course, Jen isn't your average girl. She happens to transform from quiet lawyer to party girl Shulky. She's a superhero, but the others don't want to have anything to do with her.
She-Hulk is fearless, careless, and leaves a trail of destruction behind her.
However, when Jen gets a job with a top firm, things start turning around. Even though she runs into the one guy she really cared about and he's engaged to a Hammerhead. LOL. And it takes her forever to find an apartment. Plus there's a new villain in town: Superbrat.
I had a lot of FUN reading this book. There was a bit of everything: superhero antics, pesky villains, alluring men, great friendships, romance, action, and a cool twist. I loved seeing the tender, caring side of both Jen and Shulky. It was also really cool to see her transform in so many ways and realise that one of her most important goals was self-acceptance of both sides of the same woman.
Like I said, this was great. It's funny, quirky, fun and made me love She-Hulk. She honestly rocks!
April 6, 2015
So, for me this one wavers between a 3 and a 3.5. I eventually went with 3 because I'll probably never re-read this one. That said, I really enjoyed Marta Acosta's sense of humor and the way that she portrays Jennifer, while still maintaining the fluffy, chick-flick vibes. Jen Walters is portrayed as a confident, highly intelligent and professional woman, who has a warmth to her personality. She also has issues, which caused me to experience high amounts of laughter! I really liked her best friend Dahlia, just as strong of a woman in different ways (and completely hilarious/inappropriate). Their friendship was one of the best things about this book! Now I'm excited to read a She-Hulk comic for the first time. The whole thing with Sven was just odd. I figured he Plus, there is some awesome tension of the romantic kind between Jen and her long-lost flame, Ellis Tesla. Yep, dorky name, but awesome guy...
Yeah, if my head-cannon of Ellis being a non-Brit, slightly less dorky version of Wesley Wyndam-Price doesn't convince you that this book isn't all that bad, maybe we're not friends...and now that I've let my freak flag fly, this review is over...
Yeah, if my head-cannon of Ellis being a non-Brit, slightly less dorky version of Wesley Wyndam-Price doesn't convince you that this book isn't all that bad, maybe we're not friends...and now that I've let my freak flag fly, this review is over...
January 14, 2015
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book but was pleasantly surprised. First off, it's not a She-Hulk novel, it's the story of Jennifer Walters, a nice, intelligent, attractive young lady who's trying to make it in the big city. It could be a Sex in the City or, heck, a Mary Tyler Moore novel, except Jen's a part time superhero and former Avenger. I had a much harder time with my suspension of disbelief with her relationship with a former rock-star boyfriend than I did with her occasionally becoming a 650-pound super-strong green party girl. Favorite quote: "Inside every man is a teenage boy, and we're -all- crazy in love with Shulky." That sums it up pretty well.
October 8, 2018
I'm generally not a reader of comics, but I do enjoy the Marvel and DC properties on the big and small screen. So, I was interested in this one even though Bruce Banner/the Hulk is a character I'm fairly ambivalent about. This book is about his cousin, Jennifer Walters.
Jen is good at her job, but also has self-esteem and some anger issues in regards to her alter ego She-Hulk. At the beginning she was a bit hard to like for me; she was (IMO) shallow, immature. Her best friend Dahlia was also. By the end, she was a little better.
I didn't like the big focus on getting a boyfriend. There is a bit of a love triangle with Sven and Ellis. I didn't like that Ellis was engaged to Amber. Amber, was also a BITCH (because of course she has to be, right?).
Didn't care for the fashion show fat shaming. Interesting story-line regarding ReplaceMax with cloned organs. Just not enough for me and ended up a little disappointed.
This fits in very well with the "New Adult" genre. But based on a comic superhero/sci-fi/supernatural elements. Thus far, I've noted there are very few NA books I've actually liked. As a result, I generally avoid them.
Booklikes Bingo: 13 square (this book was published in 2013 and it was 13 in the ISBN #!)
Jen is good at her job, but also has self-esteem and some anger issues in regards to her alter ego She-Hulk. At the beginning she was a bit hard to like for me; she was (IMO) shallow, immature. Her best friend Dahlia was also. By the end, she was a little better.
I didn't like the big focus on getting a boyfriend. There is a bit of a love triangle with Sven and Ellis. I didn't like that Ellis was engaged to Amber. Amber, was also a BITCH (because of course she has to be, right?).
Didn't care for the fashion show fat shaming. Interesting story-line regarding ReplaceMax with cloned organs. Just not enough for me and ended up a little disappointed.
This fits in very well with the "New Adult" genre. But based on a comic superhero/sci-fi/supernatural elements. Thus far, I've noted there are very few NA books I've actually liked. As a result, I generally avoid them.
Booklikes Bingo: 13 square (this book was published in 2013 and it was 13 in the ISBN #!)
January 17, 2019
#PopsugarReadingChallenge2019
Prompt - A book about someone with a superpower: Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk.
The Carrie Diaries, Sex and the City, and Bridget Jones's Diary meet everyone's favorite 80s Green Girl.
...where it quickly devolves into a horrible mess and fails the Bechdel test epically.
If I hadn't grown up with Jenny, I would have at least liked the book. It is funny in some parts; but I did grow up with Jenny and her She-Hulk persona, so whoever was in this book only shares the name and none of the attributes and characteristics that made them a great character in the first place.
Prompt - A book about someone with a superpower: Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk.
The Carrie Diaries, Sex and the City, and Bridget Jones's Diary meet everyone's favorite 80s Green Girl.
...where it quickly devolves into a horrible mess and fails the Bechdel test epically.
If I hadn't grown up with Jenny, I would have at least liked the book. It is funny in some parts; but I did grow up with Jenny and her She-Hulk persona, so whoever was in this book only shares the name and none of the attributes and characteristics that made them a great character in the first place.
August 20, 2025
I’d give it like 1.5 stars. Crass. Focused way too much on sex. Also too…preppy? Valley Girl? Something. Just didn’t work for me. And the ending was predictable. Not my cup of tea.
May 14, 2019
Light and informative. This was my first run in with She-Hulk. Interesting perspective on the dynamics of Marvel universe. Definite girly reading material.
July 24, 2013
3.5/5
So...I love superheroes.
I didn't always. I came into comics as an adult, starting out with Grant Morrison's and Joss Whedon's runs on X-Men, then getting really into Brian Michael Bendis's Daredevil run (still my all-time favorite), then finally branching out into the Avengers and the rest of the Marvel universe (as well as catching up on the backstory). Then I decided I can't stand all the writing for the trade and the endless retcons, and I couldn't justify spending all that money on comics anyway, and I canceled my subscriptions and haven't read anything new in a year and a half.
On the way, I discovered She-Hulk. What's awesome about the She-Hulk comics is--well, there's a lot that's awesome about the She-Hulk comics. They don't take themselves too seriously, but they still have enough gravitas so that you can identify with her. They're incredibly meta, always making side jokes about the comics industry and often breaking the fourth wall. And Jen/She-Hulk herself is an awesome (if imperfect) feminist icon.
But I'm not here to review the She-Hulk comics; I'm here to review this book.
First of all, if you were afraid that this book would be anything like that horrid Marvel Divas series, you can relax. This book has plenty of actual superheroing; it's not all margaritas and ex-boyfriends. It's enough action to satisfy comic fans, but there's also plenty of focus on Jen's personal and professional life (as a lawyer, not as an Avenger).
It's hard to place The She-Hulk Diaries in canon--at first, I thought it wasn't supposed to be canonical at all, because She-Hulk's secret identity wasn't public knowledge, but there were too many references to Dan Slott's run, so I guess it's semi-canonical. (Then again, I have no idea what's been going on with She-Hulk lately. Maybe she borrowed a leaf out of Spiderman's book sometime in the past few years?) And I liked that there were two mentions of Southpaw (Jen's former employee's teenage supervillain granddaughter who is destined to become a hero sometime in the future), but I wish she'd actually showed up onscreen! In general, more cameos would have been nice.
Anyway. For those of you who aren't Marvel geeks:
This book is hilarious. Usually, I read in reviews that books are hilarious and I shake my head at the declining humor standards of this generation, but this book was genuinely funny. And I totally appreciated the digs against Tony Stark. (Eighty-five percent of the humor here was at Tony's expense, so possibly people who like Tony Stark will find this book less funny than I did.) I also really enjoyed the friendship between Jen and her best friend.
Unfortunately, the book also employs one of the worst chick-lit tropes: the amazing love interest who is involved with a two-dimensional harpy. This trope makes me respect the love interest less, because what is he doing with someone who has no redemptive qualities, and it makes me respect the book less, because this is the best you can do for your readers? Even villains need to be fleshed out.
Speaking of villains....I thought the reveal about the villain was perfect, in a cheesy, comic-book kind of way. People who don't like comic books because of the cheese may disagree.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
So...I love superheroes.
I didn't always. I came into comics as an adult, starting out with Grant Morrison's and Joss Whedon's runs on X-Men, then getting really into Brian Michael Bendis's Daredevil run (still my all-time favorite), then finally branching out into the Avengers and the rest of the Marvel universe (as well as catching up on the backstory). Then I decided I can't stand all the writing for the trade and the endless retcons, and I couldn't justify spending all that money on comics anyway, and I canceled my subscriptions and haven't read anything new in a year and a half.
On the way, I discovered She-Hulk. What's awesome about the She-Hulk comics is--well, there's a lot that's awesome about the She-Hulk comics. They don't take themselves too seriously, but they still have enough gravitas so that you can identify with her. They're incredibly meta, always making side jokes about the comics industry and often breaking the fourth wall. And Jen/She-Hulk herself is an awesome (if imperfect) feminist icon.
But I'm not here to review the She-Hulk comics; I'm here to review this book.
First of all, if you were afraid that this book would be anything like that horrid Marvel Divas series, you can relax. This book has plenty of actual superheroing; it's not all margaritas and ex-boyfriends. It's enough action to satisfy comic fans, but there's also plenty of focus on Jen's personal and professional life (as a lawyer, not as an Avenger).
It's hard to place The She-Hulk Diaries in canon--at first, I thought it wasn't supposed to be canonical at all, because She-Hulk's secret identity wasn't public knowledge, but there were too many references to Dan Slott's run, so I guess it's semi-canonical. (Then again, I have no idea what's been going on with She-Hulk lately. Maybe she borrowed a leaf out of Spiderman's book sometime in the past few years?) And I liked that there were two mentions of Southpaw (Jen's former employee's teenage supervillain granddaughter who is destined to become a hero sometime in the future), but I wish she'd actually showed up onscreen! In general, more cameos would have been nice.
Anyway. For those of you who aren't Marvel geeks:
This book is hilarious. Usually, I read in reviews that books are hilarious and I shake my head at the declining humor standards of this generation, but this book was genuinely funny. And I totally appreciated the digs against Tony Stark. (Eighty-five percent of the humor here was at Tony's expense, so possibly people who like Tony Stark will find this book less funny than I did.) I also really enjoyed the friendship between Jen and her best friend.
Unfortunately, the book also employs one of the worst chick-lit tropes: the amazing love interest who is involved with a two-dimensional harpy. This trope makes me respect the love interest less, because what is he doing with someone who has no redemptive qualities, and it makes me respect the book less, because this is the best you can do for your readers? Even villains need to be fleshed out.
Speaking of villains....I thought the reveal about the villain was perfect, in a cheesy, comic-book kind of way. People who don't like comic books because of the cheese may disagree.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2013
I received this in exchange for an honest review.
With the completion of Rogue Touch I immediately jumped right into The She-Hulk Diaries, because one kick-ass super-heroine is just not enough. Two isn’t really enough either but since these are the only two out right now, I suppose I’ll have to make due.
The She-Hulk Diaries surprised me by focusing on Jennifer Walters instead of putting all the attention on her green counterpart. Jennifer is a talented attorney and thanks to a transfusion (from her cousin Bruce aka Hulk) now has the ability to shift into a very large and very lively green woman with the ability to crush almost everything. I really loved that Jennifer is really down to earth and pretty geeky at times, she’s not necessarily shy but compared to She-Hulk (affectionately called Shulky) she really does seem that way. I also really liked She-Hulk’s personality overall and I liked that Jennifer feels kind of at odds with it. It really is a co-existent battle of personalities and this book explores how Jennifer copes with the alter ego while trying to live a normal life, and it even delves into self-acceptance and discovery.
The romance is one part comedy, one part frustration and one part swoon inducing. Jennifer has a rather goofy outlook on her dating life and it’s one of her Valentine’s Day resolutions to find a potential husband. Even though the hunt for a male kind of bothered me Jennifer is a goofball and I couldn’t help but enjoy watching her develop (in some cases destroy) relationships with some of these guys. The frustration comes in when she goes into default lawyer mode and starts acting like relationships are business meetings, I get why she does it but I just want to shake her back into reality. There are also times where you can really see how much Jennifer self-depreciates herself and it’s kind of heartbreaking that she’s willing to change for someone, especially since Shulky would probably break someone before trying to mold herself into someone else. It’s great to see that development happen.
We do get a taste of the other characters from the Marvel universe, though most of them are more of side mentions or telephone calls but it’s nice to have that connection anyway. There is also a dose of superhero mystery/crime to figure out and it’s great to see She Hulk in action in a few scenes. Jennifer’s best friend Dahlia is a loon and at first a bit put off with her tunnel vision (she focuses on men quite a bit) she really becomes kind of endearing after while. The biggest issue I had with this was the thin line between casually funny and immature that wavered ever so slightly. I’ll be very happy if I never see the words OMG!amazing ever again. The phrase fits the personality of those saying it but it just grated me nerves whenever I saw it. Another personal irritation is original music lyrics because I don’t know the tune it goes to, so I just feel awkward reading it like a poem. I have nothing against the songs themselves, but it’s something that has always bothered me (I don’t even like Tolkien’s songs in the Lord of the Rings). There is also a scene about 80% in that kind of threw me for a loop because it was so random, and even though I chuckled at a few names involved it just didn’t really seem necessary..considering She-Hulk weighs like 650 pounds.
Overall I’m pleased with the book and I think it’s great that Marvel has partnered with a publisher in order to bring their kick ass women to a new audience. She-Hulk Diaries is a fun, quirky, and adventurous book that I think would make for a perfect summer time read. Now to wait patiently to see what else Hyperion and Marvel have up their sleeves.
With the completion of Rogue Touch I immediately jumped right into The She-Hulk Diaries, because one kick-ass super-heroine is just not enough. Two isn’t really enough either but since these are the only two out right now, I suppose I’ll have to make due.
The She-Hulk Diaries surprised me by focusing on Jennifer Walters instead of putting all the attention on her green counterpart. Jennifer is a talented attorney and thanks to a transfusion (from her cousin Bruce aka Hulk) now has the ability to shift into a very large and very lively green woman with the ability to crush almost everything. I really loved that Jennifer is really down to earth and pretty geeky at times, she’s not necessarily shy but compared to She-Hulk (affectionately called Shulky) she really does seem that way. I also really liked She-Hulk’s personality overall and I liked that Jennifer feels kind of at odds with it. It really is a co-existent battle of personalities and this book explores how Jennifer copes with the alter ego while trying to live a normal life, and it even delves into self-acceptance and discovery.
The romance is one part comedy, one part frustration and one part swoon inducing. Jennifer has a rather goofy outlook on her dating life and it’s one of her Valentine’s Day resolutions to find a potential husband. Even though the hunt for a male kind of bothered me Jennifer is a goofball and I couldn’t help but enjoy watching her develop (in some cases destroy) relationships with some of these guys. The frustration comes in when she goes into default lawyer mode and starts acting like relationships are business meetings, I get why she does it but I just want to shake her back into reality. There are also times where you can really see how much Jennifer self-depreciates herself and it’s kind of heartbreaking that she’s willing to change for someone, especially since Shulky would probably break someone before trying to mold herself into someone else. It’s great to see that development happen.
We do get a taste of the other characters from the Marvel universe, though most of them are more of side mentions or telephone calls but it’s nice to have that connection anyway. There is also a dose of superhero mystery/crime to figure out and it’s great to see She Hulk in action in a few scenes. Jennifer’s best friend Dahlia is a loon and at first a bit put off with her tunnel vision (she focuses on men quite a bit) she really becomes kind of endearing after while. The biggest issue I had with this was the thin line between casually funny and immature that wavered ever so slightly. I’ll be very happy if I never see the words OMG!amazing ever again. The phrase fits the personality of those saying it but it just grated me nerves whenever I saw it. Another personal irritation is original music lyrics because I don’t know the tune it goes to, so I just feel awkward reading it like a poem. I have nothing against the songs themselves, but it’s something that has always bothered me (I don’t even like Tolkien’s songs in the Lord of the Rings). There is also a scene about 80% in that kind of threw me for a loop because it was so random, and even though I chuckled at a few names involved it just didn’t really seem necessary..considering She-Hulk weighs like 650 pounds.
Overall I’m pleased with the book and I think it’s great that Marvel has partnered with a publisher in order to bring their kick ass women to a new audience. She-Hulk Diaries is a fun, quirky, and adventurous book that I think would make for a perfect summer time read. Now to wait patiently to see what else Hyperion and Marvel have up their sleeves.
July 8, 2013
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: From the moment I spied the tube of bright green lipstick on the cover, I knew I was going to have to give The She-Hulk Diaries a go. The book was pretty much what I expected, think comic book meet Bridget Jones Diary, just not quite as clever as the latter. Even still, my inner girlie geek squealed with delight and enjoyed the ride. I have not previously followed the She-Hulk comics, an oversight that I am clearly going to have to fix ASAP!
It was not the deepest of stories (it IS based on comic book lore after all), but the plot is solid and enjoyable. The story follows Jennifer Walters, your not-so-average young attorney. She is currently down on her luck and looking to make some positive changes in her life, oh and to try to tame her wild-child alter ego, the She-Hulk. Gaining control of her life becomes even more challenging when she becomes embroiled in a mysterious plot . . . mwuhaha!
For the most part, I liked Jennifer’s character. She was smart and determined. However, I did want to slap the crap out of her for trying so hard to Dr. Morigi (and every other guy, except Mr. Right) into her PFLOMLY (Potential future love of my life). I have to admit, this is a total pet peeve of mine when women seem to be more caught up in HAVING A “love of their life” than in finding THE ACTUAL love of their life. I did love her alter ego, She-Hulk (Shulky if you’re nasty). Shulky is deliciously brazen and free spirited, but also very smart.
I do have to admit a bit of frustration with Stan Lee, the original creator of the She-Hulk character. Here we get this bad-ass female character, but then she is written as the not-quite-as-super super hero. She is not quite as strong as the hulk and has slightly less capabilities. Why can’t she have the same level of badassedness as the male characters??? Ok, in her favor, she DOES get to keep her intellect while hulking out, unlike her cousin Bruce. (yep, that Bruce . . . I could not decide whether to picture Bruce Banner as Edward Norton or Mark Ruffalo – tricky). I should also probably be made that they made her way hot, but I kind of like the empowerment of being crazy, green, raging, and super-hot all at the same time.
Ms. Acosta did a great job of building chemistry between Jenny/Jen/Gin and Ellis Tesla/Quintal, which is; let’s face it, pretty important for the chick lit market. The song lyrics were fun, but got a little old after a while because my geeky side kept thinking, bring on the action! Fortunately, there was plenty of gratuitous butt-kicking to satisfy the comic side of the house. The author also did a great job incorporating a lot of humor into the story. I loved all of the “rhymes with” references to Tony Stark (definitely pictured as RDJ).
Calling all geek girls – this one’s for you!
*Disclaimer: a free digital copy of this book was provided to me for review by the publisher through Net Galley.
*Review originally published on Silk Screen Views review blog: http://silkscreenviews.wordpress.com/...
Review: From the moment I spied the tube of bright green lipstick on the cover, I knew I was going to have to give The She-Hulk Diaries a go. The book was pretty much what I expected, think comic book meet Bridget Jones Diary, just not quite as clever as the latter. Even still, my inner girlie geek squealed with delight and enjoyed the ride. I have not previously followed the She-Hulk comics, an oversight that I am clearly going to have to fix ASAP!
It was not the deepest of stories (it IS based on comic book lore after all), but the plot is solid and enjoyable. The story follows Jennifer Walters, your not-so-average young attorney. She is currently down on her luck and looking to make some positive changes in her life, oh and to try to tame her wild-child alter ego, the She-Hulk. Gaining control of her life becomes even more challenging when she becomes embroiled in a mysterious plot . . . mwuhaha!
For the most part, I liked Jennifer’s character. She was smart and determined. However, I did want to slap the crap out of her for trying so hard to Dr. Morigi (and every other guy, except Mr. Right) into her PFLOMLY (Potential future love of my life). I have to admit, this is a total pet peeve of mine when women seem to be more caught up in HAVING A “love of their life” than in finding THE ACTUAL love of their life. I did love her alter ego, She-Hulk (Shulky if you’re nasty). Shulky is deliciously brazen and free spirited, but also very smart.
I do have to admit a bit of frustration with Stan Lee, the original creator of the She-Hulk character. Here we get this bad-ass female character, but then she is written as the not-quite-as-super super hero. She is not quite as strong as the hulk and has slightly less capabilities. Why can’t she have the same level of badassedness as the male characters??? Ok, in her favor, she DOES get to keep her intellect while hulking out, unlike her cousin Bruce. (yep, that Bruce . . . I could not decide whether to picture Bruce Banner as Edward Norton or Mark Ruffalo – tricky). I should also probably be made that they made her way hot, but I kind of like the empowerment of being crazy, green, raging, and super-hot all at the same time.
Ms. Acosta did a great job of building chemistry between Jenny/Jen/Gin and Ellis Tesla/Quintal, which is; let’s face it, pretty important for the chick lit market. The song lyrics were fun, but got a little old after a while because my geeky side kept thinking, bring on the action! Fortunately, there was plenty of gratuitous butt-kicking to satisfy the comic side of the house. The author also did a great job incorporating a lot of humor into the story. I loved all of the “rhymes with” references to Tony Stark (definitely pictured as RDJ).
Calling all geek girls – this one’s for you!
*Disclaimer: a free digital copy of this book was provided to me for review by the publisher through Net Galley.
*Review originally published on Silk Screen Views review blog: http://silkscreenviews.wordpress.com/...
June 19, 2013
I find it really amusing that every time Marta writes a new book the reviews go extremely polar from hate to love. The reason is that she has a very specific writing style and sense of humour, so you either like her or not.
I adore Marta's books. Every single one. She is hilarious, extravagant and very nerdy. What's not to love? And The She-Hulk Diaries is Marta at her best.
Dahlia took out her phone. "What's Tony Stark's phone number?"
"That is a high-security number. I am not authorized to release it."
She glared t me with those scary turquoise contacts, and I caved and told her. "You can't call him! What are you going to say?"
She sucked in her cheeks and after a moment told me, "Eetz ringing. Here is hiz message," and then she pitched her voice higher and said, "Toneeee, zees eez Claudette. You must dream of how we had ze most spendid ooh, la la. I am missing ze, how you say, ze cycle, and you are ze papa! Alorz, I ham talking to my attorneez today. You weell be zo happy with le famileee, Toneee. Sink of a name.Je adore Hasselhoff. Hasselhoff Stark!"
I was laughing so hard that my margarita went up my nose, which Dahlia thought was hilarious. Finally, I said, "It won't work. He'll never believe it because..." But how do you tell someone your genius ex-boyfriend invented microscopic nanobots to retrieve wayward sperm?You don't.
Jennifer Walters is a very talented high-end attorney but her alter ego, Shulky, is an enormous, vivacious, party-loving green monster who constantly ruins her plans for a normal life. So when She-Hulk is kicked out from The Avengers mansion and reduced to policing New York, Jen had enough.
She makes a list of Valentine's Day resolutions and slowly goes through it with much hilarity and total chaos in the process.
Be ready for constant stream of sharp-tongued excellent humour, sarcastic best friends, nerdy blind dates, fight with evil Doctors, rock-star chemists, starring court appearances and perfect hair-does. It all will be worth it in the end, peeps!
The rock-star is unbelievably hot, the tension between him and Jen is of the best type: some old history, some misunderstanding, some good old hatred and a lot of sexy sparks. Marta being Marta writes all these wonderful hits for the rock-star, which I can't help but absolutely adore.
I'll crawl from the primordial sludge
For you.
I'll give up my gills and prehensile appendage
For you.
I'll invent the wheel, I'll discover fire
Inspired by desire,
For you, for you.
I'll draw your pictograph on cave walls
I'll slay T.Rex with a sharp rock,
And all to win your heart.
Overall, The She-Hulk Diaries is a pure joy to read. And it's worth it just to see Jen taking a piss out of Tony Stark. *grinning* Highly recommended.
I adore Marta's books. Every single one. She is hilarious, extravagant and very nerdy. What's not to love? And The She-Hulk Diaries is Marta at her best.
Dahlia took out her phone. "What's Tony Stark's phone number?"
"That is a high-security number. I am not authorized to release it."
She glared t me with those scary turquoise contacts, and I caved and told her. "You can't call him! What are you going to say?"
She sucked in her cheeks and after a moment told me, "Eetz ringing. Here is hiz message," and then she pitched her voice higher and said, "Toneeee, zees eez Claudette. You must dream of how we had ze most spendid ooh, la la. I am missing ze, how you say, ze cycle, and you are ze papa! Alorz, I ham talking to my attorneez today. You weell be zo happy with le famileee, Toneee. Sink of a name.Je adore Hasselhoff. Hasselhoff Stark!"
I was laughing so hard that my margarita went up my nose, which Dahlia thought was hilarious. Finally, I said, "It won't work. He'll never believe it because..." But how do you tell someone your genius ex-boyfriend invented microscopic nanobots to retrieve wayward sperm?You don't.
Jennifer Walters is a very talented high-end attorney but her alter ego, Shulky, is an enormous, vivacious, party-loving green monster who constantly ruins her plans for a normal life. So when She-Hulk is kicked out from The Avengers mansion and reduced to policing New York, Jen had enough.
She makes a list of Valentine's Day resolutions and slowly goes through it with much hilarity and total chaos in the process.
Be ready for constant stream of sharp-tongued excellent humour, sarcastic best friends, nerdy blind dates, fight with evil Doctors, rock-star chemists, starring court appearances and perfect hair-does. It all will be worth it in the end, peeps!
The rock-star is unbelievably hot, the tension between him and Jen is of the best type: some old history, some misunderstanding, some good old hatred and a lot of sexy sparks. Marta being Marta writes all these wonderful hits for the rock-star, which I can't help but absolutely adore.
I'll crawl from the primordial sludge
For you.
I'll give up my gills and prehensile appendage
For you.
I'll invent the wheel, I'll discover fire
Inspired by desire,
For you, for you.
I'll draw your pictograph on cave walls
I'll slay T.Rex with a sharp rock,
And all to win your heart.
Overall, The She-Hulk Diaries is a pure joy to read. And it's worth it just to see Jen taking a piss out of Tony Stark. *grinning* Highly recommended.
January 26, 2014
I saw last year that Marvel had released two books in an effort to appeal to female readers, and even though I wasn't the target audience (damn Y-chromosome) I am a fan of so-called "chic lit". Bridget Jones, Sophie Kinsella, Lisa Jewel, etc. and I'm a huge Marvel fan so I figured I should probably give it a try. I was not disappointed.
The book is a fun view into the life of Jennifer Walters, She-Hulk, as she deals with what it's like to be a super-hero, who is kind of on the outs with the rest of the Avengers. You don't need much background to jump in (I never really followed She-Hulk, though when the relaunch of her comic comes out in February I've decided to pick it up.) If you've watched the Avengers movie you know about the Hulk, who is her cousin. They give you the background on how she became the Hulk, but don't go all "origin story", and they do give you details about her background that are necessary. I wish movies would do this more. Just start 'in medias res', in the middle of the action and assume the audience is smart enough to follow along. We don't need a Batman origin story every time the actor changes. We get it, vigilante, parents dead, move on.
The book is Jennifer's diary as she chronicles the new year and her resolutions, which she brilliantly decided shouldn't begin till Valentine's Day, that way you have prep time to get organized and motivated. I'm going to adopt this policy next year. Through her entries we get a glimpse of what it's really like to be a super-hero: dealing with finding a job, paying rent, looking for love, keeping secrets from friends, etc. She-Hulk, or Shulky as she is known, makes appearances, but this is Jennifer's story.
The book had a Sex and the City type vibe, if Carrie would randomly transform into a green giant and save New York. My only complaint is there was way too much use of "OMG!" but that's just me (who does text OMG & LOL a bit more than I should). There is a nice twist at the end, and because she's a superhero you is a battle with a super-villain at the end. But since this isn't a typical adventure story, we end actually with the resolution of her resolutions.
I think this is a great book for fans of She-Hulk, or a great book to try and convert someone to your love of superhero adventures.
The book is a fun view into the life of Jennifer Walters, She-Hulk, as she deals with what it's like to be a super-hero, who is kind of on the outs with the rest of the Avengers. You don't need much background to jump in (I never really followed She-Hulk, though when the relaunch of her comic comes out in February I've decided to pick it up.) If you've watched the Avengers movie you know about the Hulk, who is her cousin. They give you the background on how she became the Hulk, but don't go all "origin story", and they do give you details about her background that are necessary. I wish movies would do this more. Just start 'in medias res', in the middle of the action and assume the audience is smart enough to follow along. We don't need a Batman origin story every time the actor changes. We get it, vigilante, parents dead, move on.
The book is Jennifer's diary as she chronicles the new year and her resolutions, which she brilliantly decided shouldn't begin till Valentine's Day, that way you have prep time to get organized and motivated. I'm going to adopt this policy next year. Through her entries we get a glimpse of what it's really like to be a super-hero: dealing with finding a job, paying rent, looking for love, keeping secrets from friends, etc. She-Hulk, or Shulky as she is known, makes appearances, but this is Jennifer's story.
The book had a Sex and the City type vibe, if Carrie would randomly transform into a green giant and save New York. My only complaint is there was way too much use of "OMG!" but that's just me (who does text OMG & LOL a bit more than I should). There is a nice twist at the end, and because she's a superhero you is a battle with a super-villain at the end. But since this isn't a typical adventure story, we end actually with the resolution of her resolutions.
I think this is a great book for fans of She-Hulk, or a great book to try and convert someone to your love of superhero adventures.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews