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She-Hulk by Dan Slott & Peter David
She-Hulk, Volume 9: Lady Liberators
From the pages of Hulk, the Lady Liberators burst on the scene She-Hulk has been capturing the bad-guys as a bounty hunter, but is that enough for our conflicted hero? Time to kick things up a notch - and that means calling in Valkyrie, Thundra, and the Invisible Woman to dispense some hard justice as the Lady Liberators.
Collecting: She-Hulk 34-38
Collecting: She-Hulk 34-38
144 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2009
7 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Peter David
3,578 books1,368 followersaka David Peters
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 26, 2022
Enjoyable but felt kind of fluff compared to a grand story.
It could be because this run felt a bit cut short by editorial.
So basically She-Hulk along with her friends fuck shit up. Go and help people in need. It's a okay story about self constraint superheroes, especially good ones, have to have. Then the second stuff deals with J and sadly her being captured.
Overall, a solid followup to the events of secret wars. Nice to see ramifications from that. But I didn't love this volume it felt just solid at best for me. A 3 out of 5.
It could be because this run felt a bit cut short by editorial.
So basically She-Hulk along with her friends fuck shit up. Go and help people in need. It's a okay story about self constraint superheroes, especially good ones, have to have. Then the second stuff deals with J and sadly her being captured.
Overall, a solid followup to the events of secret wars. Nice to see ramifications from that. But I didn't love this volume it felt just solid at best for me. A 3 out of 5.
November 29, 2021
A serviceable end to the run, I enjoyed Jen spending time with her Gal Pals doing humanitarian work but the insertion of at the tail end just to give her something to smash wasn't terribly inspired.
Contents May Not Be As Shown
Clever little ending, for what it's worth.
Contents May Not Be As Shown
Clever little ending, for what it's worth.
September 6, 2020
Finally got around to reading the followup to the 2004 run of She-Hulk! 38 issues long but it could best be separated into 2 distinct phases. The Dan Slott phase, and the Peter David phase so this is a review of the latter section aka the David phase!
And OOF. Talk about disappointing. This run opens with yet another status quo change. Gone are the high rise offices as Jennifer Walters deals with cases involving superhumans and defending them in court. In with a literal RV that Jen and her new partner (Who is a Skrull) ride around in while accomplishing their new job.
A recent case ended with She-Hulk being disbarred so she still finds work at her old law firm, it's just that she's now being hired to retrieve supervillains who are doing their best to skip their time in court. It's a much more action-heavy story compared to the first part of this run, with significantly less jokes. Not that there's none because they certainly are there, they're just... far fewer. It's not ideal as the humor has always been one of She-Hulk's strongest draws.
But that doesn't mean this can't work! Sure, it's a change to what we know and love, but she can still work with the people she did at the firm even if it's not in court, and more action is always good. Sadly, the writing also takes on a much more cynical edge to it than it had in the first section. A terrorist blows up a building while flirting with She-Hulk, ending in the death of many. She-Hulk has to deal with murderous aliens, children being kidnapped, and eventually matters of international diplomacy.
None of it's handled particularly well, though.
There are still moments of levity throughout but I don't know. It's just exhausting to read after a time. All of the societal and political commentary seems rudimentary at best with no real insights being made (People spend too much money on war and not enough on helping each other. While that's certainly true, it's also the most basic critique anyone can make about any budget.) and it seems to handle some other stuff significantly less well. There's even a scene where a man is clearly setting up an attempt to rape She-Hulk! Considering the great lengths the Slott portion of the run went through to set up how even a woman who initiates the flirting can still be a victim of sexual assault it's just completely tone deaf to then have a straight up attempted rape on her.
The final portion of this run focuses around the creation of a group of lady superheroines called the Lady Liberators, but their exploits just feel pandering and not at all indicative of what this group of characters could do. Which sucks because it's an interesting lineup that could certainly be used to great effect in the hands of a more skilled writer.
All in all this run is just not fun, but not serious enough to feel like it's intentionally trying to be dramatic. The flip flopping in tone is a problem that remains prevalent throughout, and more than a few plot points are raised only to be dropped without any real resolution. Maybe you'll get something out of this run, but I found it to be drab and uninspired. Save for a few issues that tie into the Skrull Invasion, but even that's largely because of an artist change that makes for super appealing, expressive, anime-styled art.
If you check out the 2005 run of She-Hulk I'd say you can safely stop at issue 21. The Peter David portion begins at 22 and runs through to the end, and the changes are so drastic it doesn't even feel like it's part of the same run. It could have easily become She-Hulk (2008) or something and nobody would have batted an eye. Hell, it might have worked better that way as it wouldn't be considered part of the same run that is so drastically different.
So not worth checking out in my book, but maybe you'll have a different opinion. Either way I'm fine with handing it a 2/5
And OOF. Talk about disappointing. This run opens with yet another status quo change. Gone are the high rise offices as Jennifer Walters deals with cases involving superhumans and defending them in court. In with a literal RV that Jen and her new partner (Who is a Skrull) ride around in while accomplishing their new job.
A recent case ended with She-Hulk being disbarred so she still finds work at her old law firm, it's just that she's now being hired to retrieve supervillains who are doing their best to skip their time in court. It's a much more action-heavy story compared to the first part of this run, with significantly less jokes. Not that there's none because they certainly are there, they're just... far fewer. It's not ideal as the humor has always been one of She-Hulk's strongest draws.
But that doesn't mean this can't work! Sure, it's a change to what we know and love, but she can still work with the people she did at the firm even if it's not in court, and more action is always good. Sadly, the writing also takes on a much more cynical edge to it than it had in the first section. A terrorist blows up a building while flirting with She-Hulk, ending in the death of many. She-Hulk has to deal with murderous aliens, children being kidnapped, and eventually matters of international diplomacy.
None of it's handled particularly well, though.
There are still moments of levity throughout but I don't know. It's just exhausting to read after a time. All of the societal and political commentary seems rudimentary at best with no real insights being made (People spend too much money on war and not enough on helping each other. While that's certainly true, it's also the most basic critique anyone can make about any budget.) and it seems to handle some other stuff significantly less well. There's even a scene where a man is clearly setting up an attempt to rape She-Hulk! Considering the great lengths the Slott portion of the run went through to set up how even a woman who initiates the flirting can still be a victim of sexual assault it's just completely tone deaf to then have a straight up attempted rape on her.
The final portion of this run focuses around the creation of a group of lady superheroines called the Lady Liberators, but their exploits just feel pandering and not at all indicative of what this group of characters could do. Which sucks because it's an interesting lineup that could certainly be used to great effect in the hands of a more skilled writer.
All in all this run is just not fun, but not serious enough to feel like it's intentionally trying to be dramatic. The flip flopping in tone is a problem that remains prevalent throughout, and more than a few plot points are raised only to be dropped without any real resolution. Maybe you'll get something out of this run, but I found it to be drab and uninspired. Save for a few issues that tie into the Skrull Invasion, but even that's largely because of an artist change that makes for super appealing, expressive, anime-styled art.
If you check out the 2005 run of She-Hulk I'd say you can safely stop at issue 21. The Peter David portion begins at 22 and runs through to the end, and the changes are so drastic it doesn't even feel like it's part of the same run. It could have easily become She-Hulk (2008) or something and nobody would have batted an eye. Hell, it might have worked better that way as it wouldn't be considered part of the same run that is so drastically different.
So not worth checking out in my book, but maybe you'll have a different opinion. Either way I'm fine with handing it a 2/5
July 17, 2023
9/10:
I’m so glad that this She-Hulk run could end on such a high note due to the nature of the stories told and the emotions that flowed throughout each page. Bringing back the Lady Liberators (Thundra, Valkyrie, Invisible Woman, and Jazinda) was such a smart move that allowed us to see how She-Hulk can fit into the grand scheme of the Earth. The reunion with Mallory Book also opens the doors for any future lawyer expedition that She-Hulk wishes to be a part of and that’s exciting!
Everything that happens in this collection in regards to governmental failures feels so real. From the religious wars and humanitarian failures of Marinmer to the black ops torture of aliens by the United States, these are all things that are happening in today’s world.
I’m so glad that this She-Hulk run could end on such a high note due to the nature of the stories told and the emotions that flowed throughout each page. Bringing back the Lady Liberators (Thundra, Valkyrie, Invisible Woman, and Jazinda) was such a smart move that allowed us to see how She-Hulk can fit into the grand scheme of the Earth. The reunion with Mallory Book also opens the doors for any future lawyer expedition that She-Hulk wishes to be a part of and that’s exciting!
Everything that happens in this collection in regards to governmental failures feels so real. From the religious wars and humanitarian failures of Marinmer to the black ops torture of aliens by the United States, these are all things that are happening in today’s world.
July 31, 2014
Ugh. What a disappointment, really dreadful. The Lady Liberators should have been awesome but instead they were SEX IN THE CITY with spandex. Instead of getting some really great villainous conspiracy to unhinge they are trying to bring Red Cross Relief to earthquake victims and end up in a pointless battle with The Winter Guard, a bunch of ‘who gives a crap Russians’. Ugh! Their dialogue was lame, the story was lame, the climax (evil dictator just wants to bone She-Hulk and then maybe Sue Storm) was lame AND gross.
A really half assed ending to what was otherwise an awesome series. With the loss of Dan Slott and Shulkie becoming Dog the Bounty Hunter the story jumped the shark, which is pretty tough considering it’s freakin She-HULK.
The ending with Behemoth felt tacked on and rushed and the reappearance of Mallory was just one very long set up for a lame fourth wall, book cancelled joke.
I got bored and annoyed with all the political and religious philosophizing.
A really half assed ending to what was otherwise an awesome series. With the loss of Dan Slott and Shulkie becoming Dog the Bounty Hunter the story jumped the shark, which is pretty tough considering it’s freakin She-HULK.
The ending with Behemoth felt tacked on and rushed and the reappearance of Mallory was just one very long set up for a lame fourth wall, book cancelled joke.
I got bored and annoyed with all the political and religious philosophizing.
September 27, 2016
This volume felt half-assed. Forming a team of "Lady Liberators" that go to a foreign country and try to help with supplies, but instead manage attract the attention of a lecherous dictator and stage an accidental coup. And don't get me started on how Jazinda was used in the end. All in all, a letdown. I can't even find a one-liner or any kind of humor.
March 29, 2023
This was a surprisingly good read, I love the story of how these Lady liberators team come together and then going to the country of Marinmer which got struck by disaster and now they helping them, also it was a Russian allied country and its not, so the Winter guard coming makes matter complicated, will they be friend or foe? And what that would result in and their shady president. Its a fun story with predictable stuff in the beginning but the twists it takes its awesome and also has the team live upto its name "Liberators". It actually maneuvers into territory super-hero comics are afraid of and I like it does it so well here.
Also the other story with what happens when Jen's friend Jaz (the Skrull) gets captured and Jen gets a chance to be her old self aka lawyer again, all she has to do is sacrifice her friend.. will she do it?
Its a fun way to how the question above is answered and shows her self-less side and I love how you see what lengths she will go to save her friends and even at personal cost and maybe thats what separates her from the heroes and I love the 4th wall joke with the way it ends.
So yeah, a good series overall and has some solid Jen moments and shows you why she is one of the best characters there is, and as a whole David's run was good and sort of memorable giving her a new status quo but also building on what Slott had created and pushing Jen in interesting, new directions!
Also the other story with what happens when Jen's friend Jaz (the Skrull) gets captured and Jen gets a chance to be her old self aka lawyer again, all she has to do is sacrifice her friend.. will she do it?
Its a fun way to how the question above is answered and shows her self-less side and I love how you see what lengths she will go to save her friends and even at personal cost and maybe thats what separates her from the heroes and I love the 4th wall joke with the way it ends.
So yeah, a good series overall and has some solid Jen moments and shows you why she is one of the best characters there is, and as a whole David's run was good and sort of memorable giving her a new status quo but also building on what Slott had created and pushing Jen in interesting, new directions!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2022
These women did not come to mess around, and it was so much fun to read! I also loved how it was a very timely message about helping those in need and the idea of not being able to due to borders being a bad idea!
I do wish that there had been more time to work through the storyline with Book though, but I guess the run got cancelled so it had to be cut short, sadly!
TW for kidnapping, torture, murder, attempted murder, guns, earthquakes, racism, religious persecution, arrests, death of a child, violence, grief, suicide via gunshot.
I do wish that there had been more time to work through the storyline with Book though, but I guess the run got cancelled so it had to be cut short, sadly!
TW for kidnapping, torture, murder, attempted murder, guns, earthquakes, racism, religious persecution, arrests, death of a child, violence, grief, suicide via gunshot.
March 11, 2025
This was a terrific send off for this era of the character. So much of these last few arcs felt like a perfect bow on everything that Peter David and Dan Slott wrote about She-Hulk and Jennifer Walters over the last few years during this time. The art maintained that splendid animation touch until the triumphant ending. I would have loved to see the Lady Liberators get their own mini-series but these issues will be just fine.
November 7, 2022
"She-Hulk: Lady Liberators" is a significant improvement of the last volume in this series. The book introduces a new super team, made up of mostly familiar female heroes, and follows them trough two short story arcs. There is a lot of potential with this new team and hopefully Marvel will produce more stories like this in the future.
April 7, 2022
Concluded all the storylines in a way that felt a little rushed. It was pretty obvious on the last page that Marvel had decided this was where the run was canceled. The writing was solid and the art was good; it looked like an animated cartoon, in fact.
August 20, 2017
Much better than the last few volumes, but maybe that's just the feminist in me coming out.
December 31, 2023
where can i read more of the lady liberators lol valkyrie and thundra are so fun!
December 18, 2024
Heh-heh 4th wall joke!
August 20, 2013
A little disappointing. I enjoy Peter David's writing usually, and I like the She-Hulk as well as several of the supporting cast as characters: but the writing here is unexceptional, the plotting uninspired, the characterisation a bit thin, and the art is often substandard. There was some promise here, but it's not fulfilled.
May 4, 2015
The art could be a little less cartoony. And all of the characters could have been written as well as Jennifer and Jazinda and Book. But all-and-all just a fun quick read. The writing in general was just plain solid. And the superheros were just plain super. This was just a lightweight heavy book. Too bad there are not tons more of these.
June 4, 2015
Anyone who knows me will know how much I love books featuring kick-butt ladies, and this did not disappoint! She-Hulk teams up with a few other awesome women to bring aid to a devastated country, despite the absence of action by the UN, individual governments, and the country's own corrupt leader. Always worth a read!
April 14, 2020
Yes, it was worthy of 5 stars. Very action-packed, good pacing, moral politics, and at the heart of it all? Four female superheroes save the life of a lesbian alien. Maybe that's why some have given it a low rating - or they have an issue with the social justice element for some obscure reason...
February 19, 2015
Good end to the series including possibly my favourite series-ending phrase in recent memory: "Yeah, we get it, shut up."
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews