The Sensational She-Hulk

Marvel Graphic Novel #18

by John Byrne

John Byrne makes his sensational return to the series he started, and She-Hulk's adventures as a super hero who knows she's in a comic book get wilder and more hilarious than ever! Shulkie will face problems high and low as her signature writer/penciler pits her against Spragg the Living Hill and sends her on a puntastic Jenny to the Center of the Earth! But will she say "I do" to the Mole Man? She-Hulk will banter, bodyswap and battle as she tackles foes like the Black Talon and his Unliving X-Humed, and may end up wiped out of comic book continuity by the Living Eraser! But is She-Hulk's greatest nemesis Xemnu the Titan, or John Byrne himself?!

SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK 31-46, 48-50

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

John Lindley Byrne is a British-born Canadian-American author and artist of comic books. Since the mid-1970s, Byrne has worked on nearly every major American superhero.

Byrne's better-known work has been on Marvel Comics' X-Men and Fantastic Four and the 1986 relaunch of DC Comics’ Superman franchise. Coming into the comics profession exclusively as a penciler, Byrne began co-plotting the X-Men comics during his tenure on them, and launched his writing career in earnest with Fantastic Four (where he also started inking his own pencils). During the 1990s he produced a number of creator-owned works, including Next Men and Danger Unlimited. He also wrote the first issues of Mike Mignola's Hellboy series and produced a number of Star Trek comics for IDW Publishing.

Reviews

[Sophia]

Can’t believe I didn’t know about this GN until now…

I skimmed a synopsis of it and the story basically ends with She-Hulk unable to change back into her Jen persona.


Side note: There are honestly so few gifs of She-Hulk that do NOT over-sexualise her. *smh*

[Himanshu Karmacharya · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book is amazingly drawn, there are no doubts about John Byrne's artistic prowess. The relationship between She-Hulk and Wyatt Wingfoot is beautiful, and she is portrayed as a powerful superhero.

The problem with the book is the execution of the plot, and the dull manner in which it is written. I don't mind fanservice, but in this book, it is somewhat of a creepy perverted thing.

This is not a book I'd recommend to anyone.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

While just trying to have a quiet, romantic night out with her boyfriend, Wyatt Wingfoot, She-Hulk has to instead deal with corrupt government agents that think she may be as big a threat as her famous cousin and a swarm of super intelligent cockroaches!

Big adventure, a nice bit of romance, nasty bad guys, and a heroine who is smart, funny and very hot. Reads like a really good summer action, comic book movie.
John Byrne did a great job of breathing life into what was basically a second rate character. Plus, it's Byrne, so the art is beautiful to look at.

[Just a Girl Fighting Censorship · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 Stars, but I rounded up because...She hulk

This kind of disappointed me. The story leaves a lot to be desired and the main "villain" was pretty anti-climatic. Plus this doesn't have the same level of humor and fun you expect from She Hulk. She still has some good quips and the foundational difference between her and Banner is laid, She-Hulk actually prefers being big and green.

There are two scenes where She Hulk has to strip in front of men, and another scene where she is laid out in compromising positions. It made me feel icky to sit through such a strong character being humiliated instead of kicking ass. I was certain that when they told her to strip in front of a whole troop of SHIELD soldiers she would make some smart ass remark and start with the round-house kicks...nope. The excuse they use is that she doesn't want Wyatt Wingfoot to be hurt, so she complies. Um, I know Wyatt doesn't have super strength but he is a skilled fighter and has also been known to kick some ass.

Overall, a pretty bland plot with little to no pay off, but some great stunning (vintage) artwork. I believe this is John Byrne just starting to mold the character, she doesn't yet break the 4th wall. So maybe if I had read this before The Sensational She-Hulk by John Byrne Vol. 1 I would be more impressed, but I had very high expectations.

[Alex Sarll]

It can be tough to remember now he's the epitome of silly old bastards on the comics Internet, but there was a time when John Byrne's always somehow shiny art was the look of utmost modernity in Marvel comics. And I've never read any of his She-Hulk before, but I'm aware its breaking of the fourth wall prefigured Deadpool, and Byrne's retooling of Jen Walters paved the way for her subsequent wonderfully quirky solo series from the likes of Slott and Soule. I believe this was Byrne's first solo outing for Jen, and it isn't quite the finished product - the fourth wall remains intact, the plot a fairly standard runaround (albeit one with odd echoes of seventies Doctor Who) - but this is very much the modern She-Hulk. Lusty, larger than life and twice as green, there's an undeniable male gaze at work in the art (Byrne loves drawing her, and who can blame him?) but it's one he's smart enough to undermine in the plotting - the adversaries are pervy SHIELD agents and icky monsters, nicely satirising any excess ogling, while Jen herself is happy to female gaze the fuck out of boyfriend Wyatt Wingfoot. Very much of its time, but still fizzing.

[Judah Radd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I’ve been giving a lot of 5 star reviews lately, but you’ve got to believe that I’ve just been reading a lot of 5 star shit!! I swear, I don’t just give these away all willy nilly like!

Enter The Sensational She-Hulk. Jesus Christ. I loved it.

This is everything. It’s hilarious, it’s romantic, it’s exciting, and man-oh-man can John Byrne draw.

The art is so engaging that after I was done, I spent an additional 30 min just flipping through it and admiring the lines and colors.

Feminists, enjoy! This has got to be one of the most lady-empowering titles I’ve ever seen. The bad guy is a creepy douche bag who objectifies women and doesn’t respect consent. The hero is a strong woman who likes being big, green and powerful. Her relationship with Wyatt Wingfoot is a perfect example of an equal partnership. She is capable, competent and awesome. Also, she’s extremely clever and likeable.

I want to see She-Hulk in the MCU. I MUST see She-Hulk in the MCU. Truth be told, I like her better than He-Hulk.

Read this now, and enjoy the fun, laughs, adventure, awesomeness and beautiful (sometimes very sexy) art. Seriously, do it!

[Tony Calder · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story with great artwork from John Byrne (as expected). This issue with this graphic novel (as was the case with many of the graphic novels Marvel produced) is that there are some significant events that happen in this book but they seem to have no effect on the events that are occurring in the regular monthly titles.

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Decent start to Byrne’s run on She-Hulk.

[Vikas · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this smallish graphic novel that Marvel tried out in the 80s and 90s, we find the SHIELD isn't too sure about She-Hulk so they try to detain her. And kidnap her to a hele-carrier and Jennifer is forced to deal with serious humiliating behaviors and then there is another threat to everyone and it would be hilarious and that was the mutated cockroaches. Ah well, it's always fun to read these slice-of-time comics from the bygone era.

I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics to bits, may comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.

[Murphy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has to be one of the most misogynistic stories I've ever read in my entire life. She-Hulk willingly endures sexual abuse and humiliation in order to protect her boyfriend after being 'arrested' by S.H.I.E.L.D. and is written to feel no trauma regarding it, with the violations against her being almost completely trivialized. Oh, and she's wearing a leotard at most throughout the whole story, which is explained by her saying it's 'convenient' and people would stare at her either way.

If you don't understand or don't care how comics like these dehumanize women and trivialize their experiences of being sexually exploited you need to do some serious soul searching. I would not recommend that any women put themselves through reading this rubbish, it honestly made me feel sickened.

[Michael Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read!

An adventure with Wyatt Wingfoot and She-Hulk on a SHIELD heli-carrier. Art and storyline was good but left a lot of unanswered questions. Not sure if they were answered in future She-Hulk comics. Love the love relationship between Wyatt and Jennifer.

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good comic story. Nice art and plot. Recommended

[MindProbe · Rating 2 out of 5]

John Byrne: excellent artist, no question. exemplary visual storyteller in a solid, traditional mode. his figures are lean and robust, at once detailed and lively; his lines are full of texture, his compositions consistently dynamic and strong. he draws some breathtaking shots here of big machines crashing, exploding, and so forth. his popularity in his prime is no mystery.

and far from the worst artist-turned-writer comics has ever seen on a sheer craft level, it must be admitted, though that says more about the cheerful disregard for the fundamentals of the craft shown by various others over the years than anything else. this isn't an especially well-written comic (~graphic novel~, if you insist), but it's not incompetently crafted. the pages aren't a chore to turn. the words may not sparkle, but they don't sit there in inelegant clumps and refuse to move, either. it's Okay, for the most part.

but John Byrne the artist/writer is also, alas, John Byrne the deeply unpleasant human being, and so what is otherwise an inoffensively middling comic at worst must before too long give way to a certified John Byrne Moment. no grown men kissing underage girls this time, at least. here it's one of Byrne's other, related obsessions: making his villains perverts for some reason. though he'll soon graduate to the likes of Lex Luthor and Mister Mxyzptlk, here he starts small, with a rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agent by the name of Dooley who not once, but twice forces She-Hulk to strip naked at gunpoint. the first time the gun is actually pointed at her boyfriend (Wyatt Wingfoot; Native American and thus naturally subject to as many casually racist jokes as Byrne can find time for in 70 pages) and the room filled with grinning S.H.I.E.L.D. agents; the second time it's Jennifer herself, about to undergo a medical examination for which her being naked explicitly serves no necessary purpose. she later discovers a tape of the procedure on pause in Dooley's office, reacting with not much more than an eye roll ("Creeps like him could give perverts a bad name"). this subplot of sorts is, believe it or not, played more or less purely for comedy. attempted comedy, anyway. the kind you ought to get arrested for.

[Sanjeev Kumar · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have dreamed of reading this since my teenage years when I first saw inciting cover on the stands in my local comic bookshop. I used to flick through the pages and marvel at the John Byrne art, which for me is the signature style for all Marvel comics.

Like all dreams, alas, fantasy is always much better, so much better than reality. Here we have a rather basic plot line. Little drama and surprisingly little in terms of humour and breaking the fourth wall for which she series is famed.

The art is delicious and She-Hulk is such a delight on the eyes.....

Enjoy!

[Jan Robert]

Not that many know or at least wrote about this graphic novel was followed up by a six issue Nick Fury vs SHIELD prestige format miniseries in 1988. While this graphic novel was written and pencilled by John Byrne with Kim DeMulder and colored by Petra Scotese, Kim DeMulder carried over inking Paul Neary with Bob Harras as writer. The helicarrier crashed in this stpry and actually was leading into the Nick Fury vs SHIELD series also really trying to capture the look of the She-Hulk graphic novel.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...


In this the SHIELD

[Carlo Gnutti · Rating 3 out of 5]

She Hulk e il suo fidanzato vengono rapiti dallo Shield e portati su una portaerei volante da cui devono fuggire.
L’intreccio di per sé non ha niente di memorabile, se non nel finale in cui viene detto che a causa delle radiazioni subite Jennifer sarà costretta a rimanere per sempre She Hulk, ma lei ne e’ contenta.
Ciò che rimane impresso, oltre naturalmente ai disegni di Byrne -soprattutto nelle splash page in cui disegna la navicella-, e’ la personalità di She Hulk: sexy ma sempre in controllo, determinata e fisicamente prorompente ma allo stesso tempo ingegnosa e brillante.

[Khairul Hezry · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Byrne writing and drawing a She Hulk book. 'Nuff said, True Believers! Probably the only writer other than Dan Slott who can knows how to write an enjoyable story about Dr. Banner's cousin. The plot is nothing much: She Hulk fights SHIELD while alien roaches is skulking in the background somewhere. The only character development here is that She Hulk can no longer change into her Jennifer Walters alter ego. Other than that the story's pretty much forgettable, saved only by Byrne's artwork.

[Brittany Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cons: exploitation of She Hulk and some of the ways Wyatt was handled

Pros: everything else

This was good! I really enjoy Wyatt & Shulkie’s relationship and Jen’s voice here. I just think some things went a little too far and left a bad taste in my mouth. I’m unhappy with so little resolution for the vile behavior of the SHIELD men. It’s uncomfortably realistic in that way. But also Byrne didn’t have to do all that… he held the pencil.

[Nick Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bearing in mind that this “graphic novel” was the longest She-Hulk story to appear in any comics form at the time of its publication, it’s an enjoyable yarn that gives further dimension to John Byrne’s take on the character, who had just joined the FF at this point. There’s some comic timing in this story that Byrne would later develop when he took on Shulkie in her own series.

[Your_Average_Magical_Girls_Fan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an exceptional story by any means, but Jennifer Walters as written and drawn by Byrne - A.K.A. a beautiful woman who knows very well her sexuality and isn't afraid to show it in the slightest - is always a joy to behold. Dirrrrty and spicy is the way to go!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

really did not age well folx

[Eligos Vespillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, sexy romp with a newly evolved sensational She-Hulk were John Byrne cements his iconic reimagining of the character.

[Andrei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good parts: John Byrne's art; Jen & Wyatt's interactions and chemistry.
So-so parts: was expecting more fun & humour from Jen, thinking this would read like Sensational She-Hulk; found out later it's actually written before that, so I can understand Byrne was still getting into the character
Not so good parts: the bug villain came and went out of the blue, and barely left any mark despite supposedly being a formidable foe.

[CloverOkamil · Rating 2 out of 5]

The drawings are great, now the script...
It's just a dull story, both as entertainment and as the effectiveness of the jokes, which are most of the time something like "our work environment is difficult, a lot of harassment haha"

Os desenhos são otimos, agora o roteiro...
é só uma história sem graça, tanto como entretenimento tanto como eficácia das piadas, q são na maioria das vezes algo como "nossa ambiente de trabalho é dificil, muito assédio haha"

[Mark Plaid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent comic, BUT it has NOT aged well

Of course, this comic is a product of its time and I'm willing to take that into consideration, but that does not mean it exists in some sort of capsule that's immune the present time.

Given that, it's very difficult to get past the racism against Indigenous Peoples in the book. At best, it's put into the mouths of villains, but it doesn't soften the nastiness by much. Having the racism come from Wyatt Wingfoot himself as if he were being a "good sport" is the kind of shit racist white people think makes the racism okay, sorry, no.

Even if we can look beyond the racist dialogue, there's the corniness and cliches of almost ALL of the other dialogue that is a failed attempt at being colorful or folksy, but just reads childish. "Faw down go boom." Seriously? Ugh.

The most redeeming quality of this book is the fantastic art of John Byrne. Not only is he a master visual story-teller but his command of human anatomy and attention to details make for a feast for the eyes. Not a single panel is wasted!

The plot is fairly simple and not very remarkable, but the parts about the hyper-evolved mutated cockroach colony is quite imaginative.

[The_Mad_Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvel Graphic Novel No. 18 offers a fine piece of storytelling and superhero action from maestro John Byrne. After having chronicled the adventures of She-Hulk as a temporary replacement member of the Fantastic Four (see the end of Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne volume 4 and onwards), but before handling her own second on-going series, Byrne was given the chance of producing this piece, involving S.H.I.E.L.D., a sleazy power hungry agent and a mysterious but very lethal foe.

On the whole, it is a great action piece, with good character portrayals and fantastic art.

[Matt Piechocinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truth be told I have a love/hate relationship with Byrne ... I love his late 70s and 80s stuff, but come the 90s, I always associated him with destroying characters, like the Vision. Plus, he's awfully full of himself, when he really shouldn't be. Anyways, I tried to keep an open mind while reading She-Hulk, which I totally accomplished, and thought it was a great fun read. Not as good as Dan Slott's run, but fair.

[Jdetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Byrne has worked on so many characters, and done amazing work with most of them, but anytime he works with She-Hilk, the results are very entertaining. This beautifully drawn book is no exception, and while it's much more serious than his later work with the character, it's still wonderful. It's also important, not just for She-Hulk herself, but in setting up some important plot points for the agency SHIELD.

[Devero · Rating 3 out of 5]

C'è più del mero divertimento di un autore per la "sua" creatura in queste pagine, che sono un poco il canto del cigno di John Byrne su She-Hulk.
Chi vorrebbe essere debole e fragile quando si può essere grandi e forti, invulnerabili e quasi invincibili? C'è molta più psicologia che azione in queste pagine, anche se non sembrerebbe.

[Juan Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb!