An Introduction to She-Hulk

This week, we’re cross-examining She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters. The character was created by Stan Lee & John Buscema in Savage She-Hulk #1 (1980). She was partly created to retain copyright, Lee being worried the Incredible Hulk TV series might develop its own She-Hulk. #SheHulk 1/11

But She-Hulk was also part of a small but important explosion of new female solo characters at Marvel, including Spider-Woman and Ms. Marvel, who debuted a few years earlier. All three characters referenced ideals of female empowerment popularized by second-wave feminism. 2/11

Savage She-Hulk failed it find its footing & was cancelled at issue #25. She-Hulk would find greater popularity after writer/artist John Byrne re-envisioned her as the Sensational She-Hulk, first in a graphic novel (1985), then in a solo series of the same name (1989-94). 3/11

The Sensational She-Hulk series presents its title character as a sexually liberated career woman who embraces being big & green. It’s also a highly self-reflexive series. Jen often “breaks the fourth wall” to speak directly to the audience & pokes fun at comics conventions. 4/11

Some critics have accused the Sensational She-Hulk series of pandering to the male gaze while claiming to satirize it (we’ll be discussing this further). But it was popular. It became Marvel’s longest-running comic starring a female superhero, lasting 60 issues. 5/11

From 2004-2009, She-Hulk starred in two eponymous series, written by Dan Slott & Peter David. Maintaining some of the “Sensational” era’s self-reflexivity, Jen became a specialist in “superhuman law.” This offers a pretext for merging legal drama with superpowered fracas. 6/11

She-Hulk’s legacy was acknowledged in 2010 within the “Women of Marvel” event, which placed her on the cover of Girl Comics #1 and celebrated her 30th “birthday.” At that time, She-Hulk remained Marvel’s most successful female solo character. 7/11

She-Hulk’s next series debuted in 2014, by Charles Soule with art by Javier Pulido and covers by Kevin Wada. Soule—who is also a lawyer—showcased Jen’s professional skills as she starts her own law practice. Despite critical praise, the series was cancelled after 12 issues. 8/11

In 2016, “She-Hulk” became “Hulk” in a series of the same name, penned by celebrated writer Mariko Tamaki with art by Nico Leon. Turning away from the lighthearted tone of earlier series, Tamaki focuses on a grey-skinned Walters’ navigation of trauma. It ran for 15 issues. 9/11

In 2022, another She-Hulk solo series launched, written by Rainbow Rowell with art by Rogê Antônio & Luca Maresca and covers by Jen Bartel. This series restores the lighthearted tone of earlier adventures while incorporating some of the grounded-ness of Tamaki’s run. 10/11

Over her 42-year history, She-Hulk has also been a member of the Fantastic Four & The Avengers and guest-starred in many additional comics & limited series. A live action Disney+ series, “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” starring Tatiana Maslany, debuted in August 2022. 11/11