She Hulk 9 review

She Hulk vs. Daredevil in court. The Defendant: Captain America in a wrongful death civil suit. Why hasn’t something like this happened before?

Charles Soule really isn’t holding back with this one. Most of his She Hulk stories up to this point have been lighthearted and entertaining. They’ve been consistently clever and funny along with their compelling legal drama. This issue is different. While the last issue was fun, this one takes a much more serious tone. It tells the story behind the lawsuit in detail, also making this the thickest read for me this week. The story itself is tragic and in a way, feels appropriate for a pre-super soldier Steve Rogers. The questioning period also shows how direct and intelligent both superhero lawyers are, and a later city hopping scene explores exactly why Daredevil took the case. The last page isn’t so much a plot twist as it is an “oh crap” moment, but it only adds to the story’s intensity.

While it’s certainly an acquired taste, Javier Pulido’s art is fantastic. It’s a classic feel with simple details and an overall charming appearance. Facial expressions perfectly capture She Hulk’s emotions, best displayed in her temporary office when she gives a fake smile to Steve while he walks out, then immediately showing dread once he’s gone. The city jumping montage shows how much of an acrobat Daredevil is while showing the two heroes in silhouette against the city scape. The flashbacks are told in black and white, with a number of crates and car parts in what was probably a criminal warehouse. It captures the dark mood of criminals in the 1940s very well. That said, Pulido’s art is fairly polarizing, and this series probably would have sold much better with more conventional art.

It’s a shame that Marvel just announced She Hulk’s cancellation, because it’s been consistently among my favourite books each week of release. Even though this issue takes a much more serious tone, it remains a solid series that successfully mixes superheroing with a legal drama. If that interests you, make sure to read this series one way or another.

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