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She-Hulk by Dan Slott: The Complete Collection #1
She-Hulk by Dan Slott Complete Collection Vol. 1
Everyone's favorite Jade Giantess, She-Hulk, has returned for tons of fun, both on and off the field of battle! As a superhuman lawyer, She-Hulk has tried some of the strangest cases on Earth...but now, Shulkie is heading into deep space to practice Universal Law! And upon her return, the emerald enchantress matches muscles with Hercules...but it's going to take brains, not brawn, to get the Prince of Power out of some Herculean legal problems. Plus: No one hates She-Hulk more than Titania! What makes her one of the deadliest threats in the universe? And how is Hawkeye's fate tied to She-Hulk's latest case? Join She-Hulk as she deals with the bizarre legal problems of the Marvel Universe! COLLECTING: SHE-HULK (2004) 1-12, SHE-HULK (2005) 1-5
413 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2014
409 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
About the author
Dan Slott
1,996 books451 followersDan Slott is an American comic book writer, the current writer on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, and is best known for his work on books such as Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, She-Hulk, Silver Surfer, The Superior Spider-Man, and Ren & Stimpy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
June 23, 2017
4.5 stars.
So, I adored this!
It's no secret that I was not a fan of the Charles Soule She-Hulk series. I mean, I pretty much hated it so I went into this praying it would at least be entertaining. It was so much more than that! I mean, I adored Jen in A-Force and Totally Awesome Hulk but those were team efforts. This was a solo Jennifer Walters series and I came out of this a fan! I have a big crush on Jennifer and I could not recommend this series more!
This is the first book I've read from Dan Slott but I really like following him on Twitter. He's one of those rare male comic book writers that gets how to write female characters. Jen is incredibly well rounded, smart, and she actually makes mistakes. Most impressively, she talks her way out of problems. Several times in this book, she prevents bloodshed by "lawyer-ing" her way out of it. This book was written in 2004 and we have a female character that has meaningless sex with people and isn't drawn with several T & A shots. More importantly, Jen is proud of her body. There's a line from Janet Van Dyne when Jen doesn't want to shift back into her usual body for work and Jan says "You're the only woman I've met that is actually upset about slimming down to a size 4." This is a great book about a female character that isn't trying to be someone she's not.
Where this starts, Cap kicks Jen out of the Avengers Mansion for being a party animal. I should say, I adore Edwin Jarvis in this series! He was a hilarious addition of comic relief with his dry one-liners and quiet disapproval of Jen's party habits. There's a point where the Avengers alarm goes off and he runs outside with a bat and a pot on his head! He's a tiny brilliant addition to this series. So, Jen has nowhere to go and she gets fired from her law firm because of her connection to the Avengers. The man she went against in this case, Holden, eventually hires her for his own firm. Jen, not She-Hulk.
So, this kind of falls into an episodic pattern of Ally McBeal/The Good Wife meets Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. where the firm takes on several cases of superhuman law. I'm kind of a nerd about weird legal cases so cases like Thanos v. the Universe and Spider-Man v. the Daily Bugle were so interesting to me! It's a whole realm of law that we barely scratch the surface of during She-Hulk's Civil War tie-ins. I mean, if you get turned into a superhuman because of a workplace accident and lose your job, do you get benefits? If you die because of a Hulk rampage, does your life insurance pay out? This book deals with several weird cases like that and it was so interesting to watch!
Also, (I know, I know, I say this about every comic I fall in love with but) this is such an easy thing to adapt into a tv show. It could be on ABC or CBS or Netflix and you have a premise right here. Just cast Jennifer Walters (Sarah Shahi would be pretty cool) and make a She-Hulk TV show. It would totally work!
This book has several cameos - not knowing a ton of She-Hulk's history, I kinda assume they had some past adventures together. There's quite a bit of the Fantastic Four here and I know she was on their team. I should add, best use of Reed - he was significantly less douche-y here. Perfect amount of Dr. Strange here - he actually had some pretty amusing moments. Tony, Cap, and Wanda are here from the Avengers. There's Awesome Andy (unsure if he's a recurring Marvel character?), Two-Gun Kid, Sandman, Mad Thinker, Hercules, the Champion of the Universe, and Uatu the Watcher. There's a plot with Spider-Man where Pug (I love him!) helps Spidey with a case. There's a pretty big plot with Hawkeye towards the end of the book which I loved because he's one of my favorites!
The "Big House", the prison where prisons are shrunk down with Pym particles was such an interesting feature in this book! Although Hank Pym was an asshole, as usual.
The plot with Titania was incredibly well done! Seriously, if I start a new arc and there's a ton of bubbles explaining the backstory of a side character, I start to lose interest but Titania's story was so well done that I found myself wanting to know more about her.
The Hawkeye plot deals with the aftermath of Avengers Disassembled which reminded me that this was set around the time the prime run of Avengers. Jen is feeling guilty over her part in the event and then she runs across Hawkeye again. I won't spoil how but it's pretty sad and I felt for her during this storyline.
The plot with the Green Cross was a little weak which disappointed me because it had so much potential. The Green Cross was created to provide aid to those affected by Hulk rampages. Jen goes undercover to work with them to help atone for the damage she caused. This should have been great but there were too many cut aways to a random murder plot and it took away from my enjoyment. It made the last two issues of this collection meh for me which is why it's 4.5 stars for me. Two Gun Kid didn't help this.
So, even with the last two fairly unimpressive issues, this is totally a recommend for me! I love this character, the premise, the art works and I had such a blast reading this book!
4.5 stars.
So, I adored this!
It's no secret that I was not a fan of the Charles Soule She-Hulk series. I mean, I pretty much hated it so I went into this praying it would at least be entertaining. It was so much more than that! I mean, I adored Jen in A-Force and Totally Awesome Hulk but those were team efforts. This was a solo Jennifer Walters series and I came out of this a fan! I have a big crush on Jennifer and I could not recommend this series more!
This is the first book I've read from Dan Slott but I really like following him on Twitter. He's one of those rare male comic book writers that gets how to write female characters. Jen is incredibly well rounded, smart, and she actually makes mistakes. Most impressively, she talks her way out of problems. Several times in this book, she prevents bloodshed by "lawyer-ing" her way out of it. This book was written in 2004 and we have a female character that has meaningless sex with people and isn't drawn with several T & A shots. More importantly, Jen is proud of her body. There's a line from Janet Van Dyne when Jen doesn't want to shift back into her usual body for work and Jan says "You're the only woman I've met that is actually upset about slimming down to a size 4." This is a great book about a female character that isn't trying to be someone she's not.
Where this starts, Cap kicks Jen out of the Avengers Mansion for being a party animal. I should say, I adore Edwin Jarvis in this series! He was a hilarious addition of comic relief with his dry one-liners and quiet disapproval of Jen's party habits. There's a point where the Avengers alarm goes off and he runs outside with a bat and a pot on his head! He's a tiny brilliant addition to this series. So, Jen has nowhere to go and she gets fired from her law firm because of her connection to the Avengers. The man she went against in this case, Holden, eventually hires her for his own firm. Jen, not She-Hulk.
So, this kind of falls into an episodic pattern of Ally McBeal/The Good Wife meets Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. where the firm takes on several cases of superhuman law. I'm kind of a nerd about weird legal cases so cases like Thanos v. the Universe and Spider-Man v. the Daily Bugle were so interesting to me! It's a whole realm of law that we barely scratch the surface of during She-Hulk's Civil War tie-ins. I mean, if you get turned into a superhuman because of a workplace accident and lose your job, do you get benefits? If you die because of a Hulk rampage, does your life insurance pay out? This book deals with several weird cases like that and it was so interesting to watch!
Also, (I know, I know, I say this about every comic I fall in love with but) this is such an easy thing to adapt into a tv show. It could be on ABC or CBS or Netflix and you have a premise right here. Just cast Jennifer Walters (Sarah Shahi would be pretty cool) and make a She-Hulk TV show. It would totally work!
This book has several cameos - not knowing a ton of She-Hulk's history, I kinda assume they had some past adventures together. There's quite a bit of the Fantastic Four here and I know she was on their team. I should add, best use of Reed - he was significantly less douche-y here. Perfect amount of Dr. Strange here - he actually had some pretty amusing moments. Tony, Cap, and Wanda are here from the Avengers. There's Awesome Andy (unsure if he's a recurring Marvel character?), Two-Gun Kid, Sandman, Mad Thinker, Hercules, the Champion of the Universe, and Uatu the Watcher. There's a plot with Spider-Man where Pug (I love him!) helps Spidey with a case. There's a pretty big plot with Hawkeye towards the end of the book which I loved because he's one of my favorites!
The "Big House", the prison where prisons are shrunk down with Pym particles was such an interesting feature in this book! Although Hank Pym was an asshole, as usual.
The plot with Titania was incredibly well done! Seriously, if I start a new arc and there's a ton of bubbles explaining the backstory of a side character, I start to lose interest but Titania's story was so well done that I found myself wanting to know more about her.
The Hawkeye plot deals with the aftermath of Avengers Disassembled which reminded me that this was set around the time the prime run of Avengers. Jen is feeling guilty over her part in the event and then she runs across Hawkeye again. I won't spoil how but it's pretty sad and I felt for her during this storyline.
The plot with the Green Cross was a little weak which disappointed me because it had so much potential. The Green Cross was created to provide aid to those affected by Hulk rampages. Jen goes undercover to work with them to help atone for the damage she caused. This should have been great but there were too many cut aways to a random murder plot and it took away from my enjoyment. It made the last two issues of this collection meh for me which is why it's 4.5 stars for me. Two Gun Kid didn't help this.
So, even with the last two fairly unimpressive issues, this is totally a recommend for me! I love this character, the premise, the art works and I had such a blast reading this book!
4.5 stars.
January 8, 2023
At its best when focusing on the whacky, Slott curates a world full of quirky humour and surreal scenarios. She-Hulk shines as a protagonist as she radiates likeability and charm, especially when thrown into the more ludacrious, yet entertaining, events. Due to the sheer length of this collection, the quality does peeter out at times. By the end, it feels like it's gone on for perhaps an issue too long and fatigue sets in, but overall, it's a read that will leave a big impression when it comes considering a definitive characterisation of Shulkie.
August 28, 2022
Great storytelling.
Though, there's quite a lot of teased romance that doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
Though, there's quite a lot of teased romance that doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
September 6, 2017
Pretty silly stuff.
October 11, 2019
It’s a mixed bag. The characters are great, the dialogue is great... but the plots are silly (even for Marvel) and the art mostly sucks.
I really really love She-Hulk, and the way Slott writes her personality is on point. Truly. It’s just...
...Dan Slott doesn’t understand the difference between a crazy awesome storyline and a weird, cartoony, stupid storyline.
The time stuff was way beyond the pale. Also, the idea that the Living Tribunal is presiding over petty death match squabbles was dumb.
Furthermore, there’s a good chunk of the book where Dan is railing against his critics and defending his loose adherence to continuity, and it’s a little obvious and tiresome.
Anyway, I enjoyed parts of this, but I also found it a little disappointing.
I really really love She-Hulk, and the way Slott writes her personality is on point. Truly. It’s just...
...Dan Slott doesn’t understand the difference between a crazy awesome storyline and a weird, cartoony, stupid storyline.
The time stuff was way beyond the pale. Also, the idea that the Living Tribunal is presiding over petty death match squabbles was dumb.
Furthermore, there’s a good chunk of the book where Dan is railing against his critics and defending his loose adherence to continuity, and it’s a little obvious and tiresome.
Anyway, I enjoyed parts of this, but I also found it a little disappointing.
May 16, 2014
I really enjoyed this volume. Dan Slott has to be one of the best comics writers currently active and his run on this title is a great mix of humor, imaginative situations, and pathos all in one. He does a great job of illustrating both sides of Jennifer Walters' character--the fairly buttoned-down lawyer and the more chaotic She-Hulk within. Lots of great stories revolving around a law firm with a branch that specializes in the superheroic and the supervillainous. The artwork varies wildly, but the primary work by Juan Bobillo is a standout. This collection had its ups and downs, but ultimately it was a lot of fun.
February 6, 2015
The first 12 issues are the strongest part of this collection. The rest is good but somewhat disjointed. I enjoy a good one-shot, but some connection to the rest of the book, please. Juan Bobillo's art is adorable; I love how he draws both Jen and She-Hulk.
December 11, 2015
So, I've never read any solo She-Hulk stories (not even the well praised Byrne run.) I've been reading Slott's Spider-Man and thought I would try this collection.
It's closer to 2.5 stars. I didn't find it quite as entertaining as his Spider-Man. It has some wackiness to it, which I believe is a hallmark of the character and there's some fairly inventive stories involving the legal system that I enjoyed. I'm not sure if it is just that I don't really identify with Jennifer Walters (who is just as important here as Shulkie) or just wasn't pulled in by the stories. I had some trouble moving forward and had to take a break. The end of the volume did become more interesting so I will continue with the second volume to see how it turns out.
The art's not bad. There's about 3 different "versions" by 3 different artists. One portrays here as a real body-builder type another more Amazonian. I prefer the Amazonian look personally.
It's closer to 2.5 stars. I didn't find it quite as entertaining as his Spider-Man. It has some wackiness to it, which I believe is a hallmark of the character and there's some fairly inventive stories involving the legal system that I enjoyed. I'm not sure if it is just that I don't really identify with Jennifer Walters (who is just as important here as Shulkie) or just wasn't pulled in by the stories. I had some trouble moving forward and had to take a break. The end of the volume did become more interesting so I will continue with the second volume to see how it turns out.
The art's not bad. There's about 3 different "versions" by 3 different artists. One portrays here as a real body-builder type another more Amazonian. I prefer the Amazonian look personally.
March 26, 2019
Parte de una idea maravillosa. Jennifer es un personaje muy bien construido y sus problemas resultan muy cercanos a un número muy grande de personas. Además es divertido y ágil, el arte gráfico guía de manera más que satisfactoria para mí.
Mi único problema con el tomo es que a Dan Slott de vez en cuando le da por soltar "perlitas": Que si la primera mujer que no se alegra de entrar en una 38, que si solo puede haber "una mujer más fuerte"...
Sé que es ponerse quisquillosa, pero es que me estaba gustando tanto que me molestaba el doble.
Mi único problema con el tomo es que a Dan Slott de vez en cuando le da por soltar "perlitas": Que si la primera mujer que no se alegra de entrar en una 38, que si solo puede haber "una mujer más fuerte"...
Sé que es ponerse quisquillosa, pero es que me estaba gustando tanto que me molestaba el doble.
January 21, 2024
Empieza bastante bien, muy curioso y divertido, pero no tarda en volverse un sinsentido muy aburrido. Tampoco ayuda que la mayor parte tenga un dibujo pésimo y feísimo.
December 19, 2014
I was lying in bed yesterday morning, waiting for my alarm to go off and I realized that I couldn’t recall the last time I’d been sick. I don’t mean deathly ill or anything either. I mean, I can’t recall the last time I had a stuffy nose, a cough, or even a headache.
I wondered, briefly, if I’d finally figured out a method to cheating disease altogether. You know, my diet of banana pudding, peanut butter Cap’n Crunch, hamburgers, and beer had overwhelmed any would be pathogen before it could do me any harm.
I had become, in a word, Immortal.
As fate would have it, I went out to eat last night (hamburger and beer, if you must know) and was feeling ill before I even got back to my front door.
The thing is, that it’s not that I got sick, it’s that I had, for no reason I could discern, really been thinking about how amazing my health had been that very morning. I dunno. It feels a lot like a conspiracy to me.
But I can’t fight with the universe, it’s cruel and capricious, and doesn’t bend to my will (it would be a lot cooler if it did, though). So I sit here, miserable, and think that it might finally be time to review that She-Hulk graphic novel I read a week or so ago.
It was friggin huge. It collected about a year-and-a-half of issues, and covered at least three separate arcs. I’d heard that this was good, but after reading I’m convinced that this is what Marvel’s Agents of Shield should have been.
It starts with Jen, our resident 7 foot, green skinned, super strong Avenger, partying all night, and sleeping all day, enjoying the fruits of her desire in the Avengers mansion.
So much so that they she gets booted, not from the Avengers, but from the mansion. Then she loses her job as an attorney. Apparently, she keeps getting mistrials because they can’t find a jury whose lives she hasn’t saved many times over.
She ends up joining the biggest, most prestigious law firm in the U.S. and is one of the lead lawyers in their superhuman law department. She ends up taking cases that can only come up in a world filled with gods, heroes, aliens, and ghosts all living side by side with average ‘ol humans.
In short, this is a case of the week show waiting to happen. They first year’s worth of episodes is sitting right here in this book.
Seriously, I really liked it. Their law books are past issues of Marvel comics, and have to be referred to regularly to establish precedent, and in one case, they have to take to the local comic shop to debate continuity issues during one very tricky case.
And in between all this, she still has to punch bad guys until they give up. Grade A stuff here.
I wondered, briefly, if I’d finally figured out a method to cheating disease altogether. You know, my diet of banana pudding, peanut butter Cap’n Crunch, hamburgers, and beer had overwhelmed any would be pathogen before it could do me any harm.
I had become, in a word, Immortal.
As fate would have it, I went out to eat last night (hamburger and beer, if you must know) and was feeling ill before I even got back to my front door.
The thing is, that it’s not that I got sick, it’s that I had, for no reason I could discern, really been thinking about how amazing my health had been that very morning. I dunno. It feels a lot like a conspiracy to me.
But I can’t fight with the universe, it’s cruel and capricious, and doesn’t bend to my will (it would be a lot cooler if it did, though). So I sit here, miserable, and think that it might finally be time to review that She-Hulk graphic novel I read a week or so ago.
It was friggin huge. It collected about a year-and-a-half of issues, and covered at least three separate arcs. I’d heard that this was good, but after reading I’m convinced that this is what Marvel’s Agents of Shield should have been.
It starts with Jen, our resident 7 foot, green skinned, super strong Avenger, partying all night, and sleeping all day, enjoying the fruits of her desire in the Avengers mansion.
So much so that they she gets booted, not from the Avengers, but from the mansion. Then she loses her job as an attorney. Apparently, she keeps getting mistrials because they can’t find a jury whose lives she hasn’t saved many times over.
She ends up joining the biggest, most prestigious law firm in the U.S. and is one of the lead lawyers in their superhuman law department. She ends up taking cases that can only come up in a world filled with gods, heroes, aliens, and ghosts all living side by side with average ‘ol humans.
In short, this is a case of the week show waiting to happen. They first year’s worth of episodes is sitting right here in this book.
Seriously, I really liked it. Their law books are past issues of Marvel comics, and have to be referred to regularly to establish precedent, and in one case, they have to take to the local comic shop to debate continuity issues during one very tricky case.
And in between all this, she still has to punch bad guys until they give up. Grade A stuff here.
August 3, 2016
Single Green Female (1-6). A very innovative take on the She-Hulk, with its focus on superheroic law rather than superheroic punching. There's also a lot of great characterization, particularly the difference between Jen and She-Hulk. Finally, Slott does an excellent job of giving a lot of great attention to Marvel continuity. Overall. a winner. [7/10]
Superhuman Law (7-12). The two-parter that heads this volume off, with its big fight against Champion, is a little weak, but after that the volume takes a turn for the better, in large part thanks to the more human face that Titania can bring to the story. The overall result is a little more uneven than the first volume, but about as good. [7/10]
Time Trials (1-5). One of the things that I love about Slott's take on She-Hulk is his careful attention to her goings-on with the Avengers, and that really takes center-stage here, thanks to repercussions from both The Search for She-Hulk and Disassembled, and it all comes off quite well. However, the main plot of this volume is about time travel justice, and if anything that's better than the Avengers-related plots, thanks to fun timey-wimeyness (1-2), a great flashback (4), and a terrific retrospective of She-Hulk's character (100). Overall, the best volume of Slott's She-Hulk so far [7+/10].
Superhuman Law (7-12). The two-parter that heads this volume off, with its big fight against Champion, is a little weak, but after that the volume takes a turn for the better, in large part thanks to the more human face that Titania can bring to the story. The overall result is a little more uneven than the first volume, but about as good. [7/10]
Time Trials (1-5). One of the things that I love about Slott's take on She-Hulk is his careful attention to her goings-on with the Avengers, and that really takes center-stage here, thanks to repercussions from both The Search for She-Hulk and Disassembled, and it all comes off quite well. However, the main plot of this volume is about time travel justice, and if anything that's better than the Avengers-related plots, thanks to fun timey-wimeyness (1-2), a great flashback (4), and a terrific retrospective of She-Hulk's character (100). Overall, the best volume of Slott's She-Hulk so far [7+/10].
May 28, 2015
This was a refreshing, light-hearted change of pace in my recent comics reading, away from darker stuff like Hellblazer, the Miller and Bendis Daredevil runs, and the like. This first volume of Dan Slott's Shulkie run is breezy, funny, and not afraid to make fun of itself and comics in general. The whole idea of a law firm for super-powered clients is great, especially the bit about researching the long-boxes for case info. There is even a time travel angle I actually enjoyed. Also the Two-Gun Kid puts in an extended appearance. Lots of fun!
May 17, 2020
Its Slott just doing what he does but the plots are a little stupid and silly
June 26, 2020
Loved Dan Slott's run on She-Hulk the first time round, and I love it re-reading it 25 years later! Great stuff!
December 2, 2022
Decent artwork [prefer Byrne] but lousy story IMO. She-Hulk is a brat. I prefer my heroes to have a little class [Wait. She does have a little class. Very little.]
January 8, 2023
Certainly the type of writing I enjoy, a hero comic that digs deep into the history of hero comics, specifically marvel. She hulk goes on some really wild adventures in this one, from tribunal in a far off galaxy to a trial out side space and time. This is the Sparknotes of Marvel lore.
December 22, 2023
It’s not John Byrne’s Sensational She-Hulk, but still excellent. Dan Slott’s run clearly served as major inspiration for the Disney+ show, but it was interesting to see how they flipped things, reworked them, etc.
November 27, 2021
3.5
This was fun! I definitely didn't feel as connected to the characters as in other series, but a really enjoyable read.
This was fun! I definitely didn't feel as connected to the characters as in other series, but a really enjoyable read.
December 23, 2021
Tiene algunas ideas buenas y números bastante disfrutones, pero palidece bastante frente a la histórica etapa de Byrne y, en general, adolece de los típicos vicios narrativos que llevan plagando a la industria desde ya hace como 30 años. Y lo de la crítica a que la gente espera a los retapados y va a matar la industria por no comprar grapas... Cómanme el culo, la industria está tan desactualizada que hace parecer a Ponce un tiktoker.
El guión no está mal, pero el dibujo habitual no me termina de convencer del todo. Sobre todo el que dibuja a La Cosa en uno de los primeros números, que es pa prenderle fuego.
El guión no está mal, pero el dibujo habitual no me termina de convencer del todo. Sobre todo el que dibuja a La Cosa en uno de los primeros números, que es pa prenderle fuego.
September 14, 2022
Lots of fun stuff here. I particularly liked the 100th issue, with all of the guest artists. I don’t particularly enjoy the primary art style though. I’m always ready for more She-Hulk.
I talked to She-Hulk artist Mike Vosburg in this episode of Howe's Things! https://youtu.be/AQLkzzIxlnk
I talked to She-Hulk artist Mike Vosburg in this episode of Howe's Things! https://youtu.be/AQLkzzIxlnk
May 29, 2015
My first time reading a She-Hulk title, and it was not what I expected. That's a good thing. I kept passing on She-Hulk because I thought she was just a female version of Hulk. My mistake. Other than the green skin, She-Hulk doesn't remind me of her male counterpart at all.
This book is smart, fun, light, and pretty straightforward. There's no emotional roller coaster or a big mystery that keeps you in suspense. It's simple and entertaining, and that works well. We follow Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk through her daily life as a lawyer in a prestigious law firm. The job sometimes requires her to be Jennifer, and other times calls for the Jade Giantess (usually when she's dealing with superhuman affairs). As a character, Jen is meek and pleasant whereas She-Hulk is confident and sassy. She's intelligent and uses her brain as much as her brawn (maybe, I'm not sure, but it feels equal) to solve problems.
Those are the generalities. What stands out more to me are the underlying themes throughout the book. The most salient theme is identity and learning to be comfortable with who you are. Jen struggles to find a balance between her regular and green self, preferring her green form almost exclusively at the beginning. She has to learn to value herself and her strengths - not just physically, but mentally as well - even when she's in her more vulnerable form. It's interesting to see how that preference shifts over the course of the book.
Another thing I appreciate is that Jen goes regularly to see a therapist. It's good to see a strong female lead who's willing to admit she needs help, or could at least improve with help, and seeks it, and co-operates with the person who's trying to help her be a better version of herself. Too often, emotional/mental health problems are ignored or have a negative stigma when that shouldn't be the case. People should seek consultation when and where appropriate. And that's what Jen does - without shame and without losing credibility among her fellow Avengers.
Speaking of someone who could benefit from some therapy... Titania, She-Hulk's main enemy, is given a backstory here that makes her more human. By the end of her arc, there is a humbled feel about her that makes me wish they'd done more with her after being imprisoned. Some kind of redemption story rather than just leaving her rejected and alone like she has been her entire life.
And since we're talking about redemption, I would've liked more Southpaw stuff. As a teenage super-villain charged to She-Hulk's care, Southpaw is snarky and sasses She-Hulk, adding some refreshing spice to the page. Seeing how she turns out in the end makes me wish we'd seen more of her.
Another thing I love: Awesome Andy, the android (I think that's what he is?). He's a gentle giant who doesn't "talk", but he writes on a little chalkboard hanging from his neck. He's adorable - a little odd but endearing.
What else...
The art! There are two main artists for the series, and another who does less. Of the three art styles, I only like one: Paul Pelletier. The way people and things are drawn makes sense, and She-Hulk looks sexy without being sexualized.
Juan Bobillo's style makes Jen look too... round-faced and tiny-pointy-mouthed, and I just find the shapes weird. She-Hulk looks chubby, which would be fine if that's what her character was supposed to look like.
As for the other artist, well, there's even more I dislike about the style. It's messy and looks like it was done in Microsoft Paint.
But ohmygosh the covers!!! Unnnnnnnnng, they look so good! Many thanks to Adi Granov, Mike Mayhew, and Greg Horn for their absolutely gorgeous covers! I would love posters of them...
Alright, that was a long review. Here are my overall thoughts:
Even though I'm not fond of most of the art, I still really enjoyed following Jen on her adventures. It's great for showing different ways of being a hero rather than beating others up.
This book is smart, fun, light, and pretty straightforward. There's no emotional roller coaster or a big mystery that keeps you in suspense. It's simple and entertaining, and that works well. We follow Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk through her daily life as a lawyer in a prestigious law firm. The job sometimes requires her to be Jennifer, and other times calls for the Jade Giantess (usually when she's dealing with superhuman affairs). As a character, Jen is meek and pleasant whereas She-Hulk is confident and sassy. She's intelligent and uses her brain as much as her brawn (maybe, I'm not sure, but it feels equal) to solve problems.
Those are the generalities. What stands out more to me are the underlying themes throughout the book. The most salient theme is identity and learning to be comfortable with who you are. Jen struggles to find a balance between her regular and green self, preferring her green form almost exclusively at the beginning. She has to learn to value herself and her strengths - not just physically, but mentally as well - even when she's in her more vulnerable form. It's interesting to see how that preference shifts over the course of the book.
Another thing I appreciate is that Jen goes regularly to see a therapist. It's good to see a strong female lead who's willing to admit she needs help, or could at least improve with help, and seeks it, and co-operates with the person who's trying to help her be a better version of herself. Too often, emotional/mental health problems are ignored or have a negative stigma when that shouldn't be the case. People should seek consultation when and where appropriate. And that's what Jen does - without shame and without losing credibility among her fellow Avengers.
Speaking of someone who could benefit from some therapy... Titania, She-Hulk's main enemy, is given a backstory here that makes her more human. By the end of her arc, there is a humbled feel about her that makes me wish they'd done more with her after being imprisoned. Some kind of redemption story rather than just leaving her rejected and alone like she has been her entire life.
And since we're talking about redemption, I would've liked more Southpaw stuff. As a teenage super-villain charged to She-Hulk's care, Southpaw is snarky and sasses She-Hulk, adding some refreshing spice to the page. Seeing how she turns out in the end makes me wish we'd seen more of her.
Another thing I love: Awesome Andy, the android (I think that's what he is?). He's a gentle giant who doesn't "talk", but he writes on a little chalkboard hanging from his neck. He's adorable - a little odd but endearing.
What else...
The art! There are two main artists for the series, and another who does less. Of the three art styles, I only like one: Paul Pelletier. The way people and things are drawn makes sense, and She-Hulk looks sexy without being sexualized.
Juan Bobillo's style makes Jen look too... round-faced and tiny-pointy-mouthed, and I just find the shapes weird. She-Hulk looks chubby, which would be fine if that's what her character was supposed to look like.
As for the other artist, well, there's even more I dislike about the style. It's messy and looks like it was done in Microsoft Paint.
But ohmygosh the covers!!! Unnnnnnnnng, they look so good! Many thanks to Adi Granov, Mike Mayhew, and Greg Horn for their absolutely gorgeous covers! I would love posters of them...
Alright, that was a long review. Here are my overall thoughts:
Even though I'm not fond of most of the art, I still really enjoyed following Jen on her adventures. It's great for showing different ways of being a hero rather than beating others up.
February 4, 2017
I love it when I can add a new book to my All-Time-Favorites shelf! It means I've had a wonderful, truly exceptional reading experience unlike any other. One that rising above the thousands of other books I've read. One that I'll hope to read again and again.*
It really is Dan Slott's writing that makes the book. If you don't know Dan Slott, rush to the store and buy this book. Right now. Stop what you're doing. But it's Juan Bobillo artwork that proves to be the most charming and quirky. I utterly adore this series.
*That's my idea of an afterlife. Where one can read wonderful books eternally.
It really is Dan Slott's writing that makes the book. If you don't know Dan Slott, rush to the store and buy this book. Right now. Stop what you're doing. But it's Juan Bobillo artwork that proves to be the most charming and quirky. I utterly adore this series.
*That's my idea of an afterlife. Where one can read wonderful books eternally.
January 6, 2022
This collection is BIG. It's got She-Hulk (2004) #1-12 and She-Hulk (2005) #1-5 crammed into it. You have, what I'm noticing, is a common theme for She-Hulk in all her various titles. Pretty much every series has her coming to grips with what her duality. First, it's strong vs weak. Then, it's Id vs. Ego. At this point (2004) it's still a relatively fresh take on her.
There's TONS of TVA and time travel in this collection.
There's so much meta comic goofiness. What law firm is going to site specific Marvel comics issues as admissible evidence? :D
Bonus: Possibly the worst artistic interpretation of Imperial Guard leader, Gladiator.
There's TONS of TVA and time travel in this collection.
There's so much meta comic goofiness. What law firm is going to site specific Marvel comics issues as admissible evidence? :D
Bonus: Possibly the worst artistic interpretation of Imperial Guard leader, Gladiator.
March 6, 2014
I adore She-Hulk. She is one of my all time favorite characters, and Dan Slott's run is an iconic a wonderfully snarky part of Shulkie's history. Everything is very self aware and fun, full of life and wordy legal action. Every case is a genius play on some superhero trope, and every adventure is a light hearted romp through the Marvel U. At times the content can feel a bit dated, and none of the artists here really pop with anything truly ground breaking, but Dan Slott's clever writing really makes this book essential for any fan of the Jade Giantess.
February 9, 2021
During my 10-year hiatus from the medium, I missed Dan Slott’s rise to stardom on the wings of this ABSOLUTELY PERFECT BOOK. A purer, unadulterated Dan is working overtime here on an idiosyncratic cape book that uses Byrne’s original weirdness and the spirit of the late 90s indies and makes what is now in my top runs of all time. Add in the cute as hell and strangely styled art chores b Juan Bonilla and it’s just a dream come true. Admittedly came into it expecting to roll my eyes like I did at about half of his Spider-Man run. Such a pleasant surprise.
Grade: A+
Grade: A+
March 19, 2015
Light hearted and accessible. And beautiful drawn. And hilarious. Like Palmiotti and Conners "power girl" but with more heart, somehow. It's funny and clever, avoiding over sexualizing Jen Walters in favor of deft characterization and perfect balance of fighting, court room drama and clever self-referential in-jokes. This is amazing. One of the best series I've read. Just no weak issues. And the "100" issue is SO damn good. Can't wait to read volume 2.
October 13, 2023
I really wanted to like this more than I did. In the extras at the end of the book Dan Slott shows his pitch for the book which was "Ally McBeal with Muscles" and that might explain why it doesn't completely work for me. Also, Slott plays up the idea of She-Hulk being promiscuous--basically making her the female Tony Stark--which is doing her character a disservice.
The law office hijinxes that Slott writes are usually fairly ridiculous. Granted, Byrne's run had plenty of ridiculousness, but the situation was usually less mundane than a law office, and he had a stellar level of art to distract from the story when it became particularly ludicrous (Dr. Bong, anyone?)
Here, there are a wide variety of artists (none of them bad) and some are sure to be more to your taste than others. I particularly enjoyed the run with Pelletier on the art, and you've got some great art from Paul Smith, Will Conrad, and even a spread by Mike Mayhew. Juan Bobillo gets the majority of the art credits and though he's very good he's got a distinct style that wasn't quite in my wheelhouse.
Aside from the Paul Pelletier issues, I enjoyed the weird west tale of the Two-Gun Kid hunting down a werewolf, with Eduardo Barreto doing art chores, and the volume takes on a narrative impetus when She-Hulk is drafted as an Agent of Shield. Here the stories become less law office hijinx and more adventuresome with a sinister undercurrent as She-Hulk uncovers clues that lead her to believe that her cousin, the Incredible Hulk, was rocketed into outer space by Stark, Strange, and Mr. Fantastic. About the time she discovers what is going on, Stark injects her with nanites that make it so she can no longer transform into the She-Hulk.
The end of the volume involves a portal from Earth A to Earth B. Normal human beings are doing vacations to Earth B where their counterparts have superpowers. This is when Jennifer Walters encounters a She-Hulk on vacation from Earth A enjoying her newfound super strength. They make a plan to swap places but Mr. Fantastic intervenes and does something that makes up for his earlier treachery.
The law office hijinxes that Slott writes are usually fairly ridiculous. Granted, Byrne's run had plenty of ridiculousness, but the situation was usually less mundane than a law office, and he had a stellar level of art to distract from the story when it became particularly ludicrous (Dr. Bong, anyone?)
Here, there are a wide variety of artists (none of them bad) and some are sure to be more to your taste than others. I particularly enjoyed the run with Pelletier on the art, and you've got some great art from Paul Smith, Will Conrad, and even a spread by Mike Mayhew. Juan Bobillo gets the majority of the art credits and though he's very good he's got a distinct style that wasn't quite in my wheelhouse.
Aside from the Paul Pelletier issues, I enjoyed the weird west tale of the Two-Gun Kid hunting down a werewolf, with Eduardo Barreto doing art chores, and the volume takes on a narrative impetus when She-Hulk is drafted as an Agent of Shield. Here the stories become less law office hijinx and more adventuresome with a sinister undercurrent as She-Hulk uncovers clues that lead her to believe that her cousin, the Incredible Hulk, was rocketed into outer space by Stark, Strange, and Mr. Fantastic. About the time she discovers what is going on, Stark injects her with nanites that make it so she can no longer transform into the She-Hulk.
The end of the volume involves a portal from Earth A to Earth B. Normal human beings are doing vacations to Earth B where their counterparts have superpowers. This is when Jennifer Walters encounters a She-Hulk on vacation from Earth A enjoying her newfound super strength. They make a plan to swap places but Mr. Fantastic intervenes and does something that makes up for his earlier treachery.
July 19, 2022
Having only read a few one off issues of She-Hulk previously (I think some of those were Civil War tie-ins) I had a general idea of what to expect from Jennifer Walters. I knew she was a very capable lawyer for superhuman/superhero cases and I knew that she loved wearing snazzy suits and then changing into a sometimes bulging She-Hulk. Overall, though, I felt like she was kind of a no-nonsense character (or punchline to a joke) that didn’t have much depth.
Dan Slott’s run tries to immediately address these issues…and then just doesn’t address them much after that. I had high hopes on a down and out Shulkie but instead after coming on hard times she just immediately gets back to a good place. It feels like a lawyer sitcom sometimes more than a comic.
I don’t think this collection is bad but it isn’t changing She-Hulk into a character that I think of as something more than a side character.
Not sure if I will continue on with Dan Slott’s She-Hulk but it is here for me if I need it. Also, reading this collection did what it was supposed to do. It got me ready to watch (the magnificent) Tatiana Maslany play Jennifer Walters.
Very average three star collection.
Dan Slott’s run tries to immediately address these issues…and then just doesn’t address them much after that. I had high hopes on a down and out Shulkie but instead after coming on hard times she just immediately gets back to a good place. It feels like a lawyer sitcom sometimes more than a comic.
I don’t think this collection is bad but it isn’t changing She-Hulk into a character that I think of as something more than a side character.
Not sure if I will continue on with Dan Slott’s She-Hulk but it is here for me if I need it. Also, reading this collection did what it was supposed to do. It got me ready to watch (the magnificent) Tatiana Maslany play Jennifer Walters.
Very average three star collection.
January 9, 2023
Completing the Slott Fantastic Four run (The Reckoning War) brought me to this book. I've been meaning to read it for a while, but that provided clearer motivation to get started on this one.
And while the art is a little rough for my tastes (especially given more recent depictions of She-Hulk), it has a character of its own that you grow into. And they've given Jennifer some great expressions that carry whether she's in her human or gamma-irradiated form. And this all empowers Slott's storytelling for this book.
And man, he really prepares quite the wild ride for our protagonist mainly centered around Jen getting hired by a law firm that caters to super-powered individuals and the unique type of legal complications they get involved in. And how this extends to the very laws of the universe and some laws that cross time itself. And all this with some clever meta-moments that poke fun at everything from comic book fan culture to just these superhero stories as a whole.
It's a really great ride indeed.
And while the art is a little rough for my tastes (especially given more recent depictions of She-Hulk), it has a character of its own that you grow into. And they've given Jennifer some great expressions that carry whether she's in her human or gamma-irradiated form. And this all empowers Slott's storytelling for this book.
And man, he really prepares quite the wild ride for our protagonist mainly centered around Jen getting hired by a law firm that caters to super-powered individuals and the unique type of legal complications they get involved in. And how this extends to the very laws of the universe and some laws that cross time itself. And all this with some clever meta-moments that poke fun at everything from comic book fan culture to just these superhero stories as a whole.
It's a really great ride indeed.
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