Marvel Masterworks: The Savage She-Hulk, Vol. 2

Marvel Masterworks: The Savage She-Hulk #2

by David Anthony Kraft

The Savage She-Hulk is back in a second Marvel Masterworks edition concluding her original series! Conflict rages not just between She-Hulk and the many super-powered enemies we have in store, but between Jennifer Walters and She-Hulk! Our heroine's two halves are in a battle for control as She-Hulk fights transforming back into Jen Walters, while Jen risks losing herself in the She- Hulk's power. And each persona has her own romantic interest - it ain't easy being green! It all leads to a new status quo that will carry the She-Hulk into the decades of success ahead. Topping it off is a Two-In-One adventure starring She-Hulk and the Thing by Shulkie scribe David Anthony Kraft, that tilts the green gal-iath toward her future comedic exploits! COLLECTING: SAVAGE SHE-HULK (1980) 15-25, MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE (1974) 88

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, Collections, Science Fiction

292 pages, Hardcover

Published May 21, 2019

About the author

David Anthony Kraft was an American comic book writer, publisher, and critic.
(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not read a Marvel Masterworks in a long time. Earlier this month, I read the first set of the Savage She-Hulk comic that ran in 1980. I collected those issues in High School and had the entire run. Admittedly, only 25 issues. Reading this second set was more engaging and reminded me why I used to love these Masterworks.

There is a simmering rage that underlies all of our heroine's actions to the point where she wants to run away from her humanity and embrace her unleashed, angry self, embodied in the "Savage" She-Hulk. That mindset has become a continuing aspect of the character throughout her existence, although Jennifer Walters has dropped the savage part, and made peace with her self. Still, she can occasionally go savage; ye she also has a softer part, but prefers the She-Hulk aspect to the point where she rarely transforms back to Jen Walters.

There is an interesting psychological choice that pervades to the point where She-Hulk becomes the real identity and Jen Walters the façade. I really enjoyed the nostalgic reading of Marvel Masterworks #274 that collected Savage She-Hulk issues #15 - 25 and Marvel Two-In-One #88. Great run by Kraft and Vosburg. Highly recommended in light of the MCU incarnation.

[Diz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than the first volume. The characterization of She-Hulk is more consistent and the stories connect to each other better.

[Francis S. Poesy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing will ever make me not love She-Hulk, and the history of the comic is great to follow in this and the first volume of the original comics. But it also reminds me of some of the things that kept me from really getting into comics when I was younger, with all the exposition and rehashing of events that occurred in previous issues, it always made the comics boring to me. Still, if you are a She-Hulk fan, and you haven't read the Savage She-Hulk issues, can you really call yourself a fan?

[Adrian Montanez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading the original run. Wow, this was a ride.

From relationship problems to family problems to big old self-identity crises, this run has it all.

I really enjoyed all of the ups and downs that Shulkie goes through in these last 11 issues. This run really helps to hammer in the situation behind why Jennifer Walters prefers to stay as She-Hulk even though she can easily transform between both forms. She tries to live both lives, but sadly life keeps on taking a toll on both sides of the coin.

One of the things I loved about this is that 6 issue arc to finish up the run. In this arc, she kept going up against enemies that possessed what I would classify as OP powers. I was literally reading these issues mournfully thinking: "They're really going to waste these powers on Villains-of-the-week that we're never going to hear about again?" Because these powers were amazing, why waste them on some no-name character that never made any impact in the Marvel universe. Well, I can safely say that David surprised me with what he did. I'll still gripe about it, but I can't complain about its execution.


So ends She-Hulk's first titular run. But this Masterworks has a neat little bonus story to hint at things to come in She-Hulk's future. It's a single issue, but it helps to encompass parts about She-Hulks personality that become commonplace in the future. I especially love the ending of this Two in One issue#88. What happens in Diablo Reactor stays in Diablo reactor.

[Crazed8J8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic reading

She-Hulk really hits her stride in this collection. No longer struggling to find out who she is, she takes her Hulk form and runs with it!
Top notch art throughout and B-list villains, this as an enjoyable collection.

[Cosmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection improves over the previous volume. This collection has more plot with multiple connected issues, whereas volume 1 had loosely connected stories.

So how does it end? It ends okay. It’s a shame this is how “The Savage She-Hulk” ended, but it’s a good starter series considering she is still relevant today. Should you read this? If you want to know about the origins of The She-Hulk, you should read volume 1 and 2.

I hope to read more She-Hulk in the future.

4 stars for this volume (maybe 3.75 for the series overall)

[Mark Plaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvel Masterworks not only provides me with a nostalgia trip that takes me back to the comics I read as a kid back in the 70s and 80s, but they provide me with a way to fill in the gaps. As much as I loved comics, I certainly wasn't able to buy every single comic book I wanted to buy, so there were many gaps in my collection. However, although it has been an inconsistent relationship with comic books, I never stopped reading them and have seen how comics evolved over many decades.

This return to 80s comics makes me appreciate how comic books have changed over the years, even the "mainstream" superhero comics. This comic book was made in the early 80s and certainly is of its time when they were marketed for young readers. The dialogue is corny, dated, and overly descriptive of situations that should have been shown, rather than told, in a visual medium no less. The story is structured in what Trey Parker and Matt Stone would call the "and then" method as opposed to "but, therefore". It is definitely a readjustment after being used to the writing of more recent comics that have the advantage of being created on the shoulders of giants.

This doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy this journey through the earliest title of one of my all-time favorite superheroes. It's more a description of my recent experience with it. At the time of writing this review, I'm anticipating a TV series about She-Hulk that will air on the streaming service Disney+. The history of Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk is rich and fascinating and is definitely worth looking into where it all began with this collection. There was better writing and art at Marvel comics, even as this series was released, but it certainly has a spirit unsurpassed by others and provides a fascinating look at a rare instance of solo title for a female superhero.

[Sean Korzinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volumes writing was alot better. Would give this a 4.5 out of 5. Would definitely reread again in the future now that I know how the issues relate and connect. Random bad guys are actually purposeful when you get to the end of the run. She-Hulk decides to be a hero by the end and makes up with her father and decides on a love interest. The storyline with the Shade and Doc is wrapped up. Nice introduction to a character I knew of but had not read any issues of. She comes back in the Avengers and then the Fantastic Four down the line. I actually can't wait for that now that I have the characters setup.

[Of Butterflies & Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess you could say these later issues of She-Hulk are somewhat of an improvement and showing some signs of the current run of She-Hulk I love but not by much.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the she hulk you could ever want.

Good color artwork and plenty of it. I bought this on sale, what a bargain! The she hulk had a complex emotional life,, multiple boyfriends, police and the mob hunting her. A recurring villain shows up, and is a mad scientist. The team up with the thing is so- so, she hulk acts trampy. A writer who portrayed hulk and she hulk as husband and wife needed to pay better attention....

[Josh Burkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moving from the first half of this run to this second half feels like a major step down. Everything that made She-Hulk compelling disappears in these last 11 issues. These issues feel like they operate more on the basis of a "monster of the week" than actual narrative. There is certainly an audience for it but I am not it. I will say Kraft does tie up every loose end fairly well. The issues are still entertaining but no longer have that spark that Jennifer Walters once had.

[P Roberge · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series gets better in its second half.
Jen's cop father is a jerkwad and a wanker, ACAB.

[Mihkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

T’was a cute story. Would actually give it 3.5 but since I’m a sucker for she-hulk then she can get the 4 stars. Curious how her story looks now since the 80s. Slay mother

[Max Driffill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is pure fun. It’s unabashedly feminist and presented in a fairly common sense kind of way. It’s presents the arguments of equality in a manner that makes the obvious moral truth of equality unavoidable. At the same time the tone isn’t preachy or didactic.
The book is certainly a product of the times and the industry of the early 80s where speed often won out over detailed art in the backgrounds. That said the book in no way suffers for this.

This volume carries She-Hulk to the end of her first series and her coo flick with the LA mobs. As a bonus it has a gem from “Marvel Two-in-One” in which She- Hulk and Ben Grimm prevent nuclear disaster all while She-Hulk puts Ben on his heels by puts him romantically.

This collection is a must for She-Hulk fans.
Enjoy!

[Nicolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

These early She-Hulks make for a fascinating read. Other than Hulk in the first issue plus an early appearance by Iron Man, these feel pretty separate from the mainstream continuity. Yes, we got some Morbius here and there, but it feels more like a drama about a lawyer who occasionally gets big and green.
The stories are fun and the books look great. I had a good time reading it, but it's a very different take than later iterations.

I spoke in depth to illustrator Mike Vosburg about his run on the character over on Howe's Things:
https://youtu.be/AQLkzzIxlnk