Litigating Sexual Violence in “She-Hulk”

As Gail Simone’s “Women in Refrigerators” blog documents, female superheroes often face sexual violence. They less often litigate cases involving it. A 2006 story penned by Dan Slott features She-Hulk dealing with both—with mixed results. CW: discussion of sexual assault. 1/15

The story begins with a monologue by She-Hulk introducing the character Starfox. A sometime member of the Avengers, prince of Titan and brother of Thanos, Starfox, also called Eros, is both a hero and an intergalactic playboy with the psychic ability to influence emotions. 2/15

From scenes of alien bars we jump to a more identifiably earthly setting. Starfox gets dressed as a naked woman regains consciousness. She appears confused by her circumstances & doesn’t clearly remember spending the night w/ Starfox. It reads like an instance of date rape. 3/15

As some self-reflexive commentary in She-Hulk #7 explains, Starfox’s powers inherently muddy consent; Stu, a “superhero comic book library file clerk,” describes him as a “walking roofie.” Slott’s story is an effort to reckon with that problem and, ultimately, solve it. 4/15

One week after her night with Starfox, Christina Garvey sues him for sexual assault, claiming he used his powers to coerce her. Much to Jennifer Walters’ dismay, Starfox dismisses the charges by saying Christina “wanted it.” Real life rapists often make the same claim. 5/15

Based on previous friendship, Walters agrees to defend Starfox. This also has real life parallels, where it is generally considered better optics to have female lawyers defend men in sexual assault trials. But Starfox also seems to be using his powers to influence Jen. 6/15

Several more aspects of the trial evoke various real life sexual assault trials involving high profile men. Jen attacks Christina’s credibility, claiming her superhero fandom proves she did, in fact, “want it.” And a parade of additional victims are unreliable witnesses. 7/15

It’s quickly clear Starfox’s power is influencing the proceedings, even attracting supporters outside the courthouse. This can be a metaphor for the aura of invincibility around some male celebrities. Starfox’s privileges make the trial unfair—just like many real trials. 8/15

Jen & Starfox appear positioned to win the trial until Christina’s testimony makes Jen recall her own night of passion with Starfox. Suddenly, she is unsure if the sex was consensual. When she demands answers from her client, he deflects her. This makes Jen very angry. 9/15

On the one hand, Jen’s extreme anger confirms rape as a deeply serious violation. As scholar Sharon Marcus describes, “Rape engenders a sexualized female body defined as a wound, a body excluded from subject-subject violence, from the ability to engage in a fair fight.” 10/15

Yet subjecting She-Hulk to sexual violence also underscores its uniquity & inescapability for real & fictional women. An super-strong, impenetrable woman can extract revenge, but she’s always threatened. This can affect She-Hulk’s ability to function as a power fantasy. 11/15

Stories about female superheroes grappling with sexual violence can be very productive, staging complex conversations about power, gender & sexuality. The comic book series “Alias” (2001-04), later adapted into the Netflix series “Jessica Jones,” attest to this. 12/15

Yet where “Alias” & “Jessica Jones” centre female victims, the She-Hulk storyline moves away from Starfox’s victims toward presenting Starfox as a victim. She-Hulk is required to adjudicate a new trial in outer space that proves Starfox’s powers were manipulated by Thanos. 13/15

Though Starfox is effectively innocent, the assaults still happened. Yet Christina & Starfox’s other victims are never given compensation or closure. Following the initial earthly trial, which ends when Starfox flees to space, we never see any of them again. 14/15

Charitably, this story raises valid questions about the nature of consent in worlds w/ coercive telepaths. Uncharitably, it subjects She-Hulk & many other female characters to the threat & fact of sexual violence to redeem a man who violated their bodies & subjecthood. 15/15