She-Hulk Returns to Her Own Title Series

In many ways, a good She-Hulk comic can do for the Marvel Comics universe what Agents of SHIELD is doing for the Marvel Cinematic universe, bring out the stories of how all that flash bang saving the world activity really affects the folks who had very little or nothing to do with the actual action while playing merrily with genre conventions. The character has had a number of different solo series over the years, most recently Dan Slott’s She Hulk: Single Green Female, so I’m happy to see her return to her own title, and especially glad to see Javier Pulido doing the art.

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I am a not-so-closet fan of She-Hulk. I suspect it’s partly because I’m trying to make up for the years in which I assumed she was basically just the Hulk, but sexy now, as if someone had ill-advisedly turned the Hulk into a Halloween costume for women in the most predictable way. And I won’t say there’s nothing problematic with the fact that Jennifer Walters keeps her sex appeal when she Hulks out. But, to paraphrase, it’s possible to simultaneously enjoy a piece of media while also acknowledging its problematic aspects, and there is simply so much to enjoy, as a reader, as lover of humor, and comic books, and superheroes, and female characters, in the unique character with a unique place in the Marvel Universe that She-Hulk has grown into.

Case in point: the visual metaphor of this cover from her new ongoing series, where a hulked out, dressed-for-the-courtroom She-Hulk steps begrudgingly through her own smashed out dressed-for-The-Avengers silhouette.

Javier Pulido might be recognizable to anyone who read Catwoman’s solo series in the ’00s, or who is currently reading Hawkeye, and seriously, why are you not currently reading Hawkeye, and I can’t wait to see what he does for Jennifer Walters, lawyer by day, superhero by day, partier by night. Marvel has tapped Charles Soule for writing duties, and from his interview with USA today, it sounds like he’ll be maintaining the ideal She-Hulk trifecta, one not often seen in female characters: a combination of high intelligence, superheroic action skills, and an unashamed affection for the naughty celebrity lifestyle.

She’s brainy, which always appeals to me, but she doesn’t always make the best decisions — and that’s a combination that’s ripe for drama…

It’s not at all out of character for Jennifer Walters to go out partying all night, or spend a day hanging out at the beach. It’s hard to imagine a story where, say, the Punisher does that…

The Chameleon might come to her and want to sue someone for identity theft — sort of ridiculous, but you can say some interesting things in a story like that…

It’s She-Hulk. She’s gotta punch stuff. It’s why she’s punching stuff that will make this series good.

Shulkie begins her new series and her new law practice in February.

(via USA Today.)