Fail, Peter David. Fail.

Erica gives this comic one star.I was going to actually review She-Hulk Vol 2 #38 by Peter David. It is the last issue of She-Hulk after all.

Then I saw this:

She-Hulk #38

You know, eventually, I might’ve read another Peter David comic after the Scans_daily debacle. But now I’m pissed.

I’m pissed that Peter David thinks an ableist comment is an acceptable thing to print in a comic. I’m pissed that he think She-Hulk would say something like that. I’m pissed that this made it off an editor’s desk and to print.

There are times when characters are racist, sexist, ableist, and homophobic to serve the text and in a good text, these actions are condemned either by the narrative, plot, or other characters (see such texts as To Kill a Mockingbird). This is not one of those. She-Hulk is not ones of those characters; she’s a highly educated lawyer and a hero, who’s never expressed anything like this before even in moments of weakness when her friends were in peril. When her mother was killed by a mobster, She-Hulk went after him legally. She-Hulk had more grace in February 1980 than in March 2009.

Fail, Peter David. And fail, Marvel, for printing this.

Ten Things I Wish for Future She-Hulk Comics

1. Characters of color and I don’t mean the green kind. I can praise this comic in the way Slott writes women, but really where is the racial diversity?

2. Queer characters. Also lacking.

3. A signal to the final end of John and Jen’s marriage. Even Jen signing divorce papers would do or making a side comment to Pug when he asks where her husband is.

4. Pug. More Pug and a mending of a relationship between Jen and Pug. I’m not saying that they have to hook up and live happily forever after. But a “I was wrong. No, you were wrong.” And what about the magic anti-love spell? (I do have faith that this will get wrapped up, but I’m impatient.)

5. One of Jen’s cases being the A plot. Starfox was almost an A plot, but not quite. Maybe Captain America could hire her when he comes back from the dead.

6. For Jen to get a day off where she just has fun at home. Seriously, there’s probably some meta about repairing drywall that Slott could write.

7. Matching covers with inside art better. Horn needs to focus less on perfect circles and super saturated colors.

8. The return of Awesome Andy.

9. Jen bonding with some of her female buddies over something besides boys. Or really just her hanging out with the gals would be nice. Her and Mallory having a beer n’ bitch night or Janet stopping by for a cup of coffee.

10. A nice long run for this title and less people going “She who?” when I mention that She Hulk’s my favorite superhero. Marvel, if you need a marketer, I’m here, but only if I can telecommute. I’ll be the first one lined up for a She Hulk t-shirt.

Shulkie Debates

The last issues of She Hulk has caused an uproar. (Because life has been kicking my ass, I have not actually got around to reading the issue and don’t want to weigh in until I have.) However, I have links.

Brainfreeze talks about #16

Other Magazine on #16: The guy who never bathes calls She-Hulk “sloppy.” Ohhhh kay…

Ragnell talks about Where She Hulk Lost Me

Mildredmilton response to Ragnell with She-Hulk, Sexual Assault, and Why I Think Dan Slott Did a Good Job

Rhyannonwrites questions Where She Hulk is going in terms of sexuality and being a competent, smart woman.

Iamza discusses her problems with the current plot in response to Rhyannonwrites.

She Hulk #15 – Planet Without a Hulk

Spoilers

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This is obviously a set up issue for the Planet Without a Hulk arc.

Jen’s super stressed with 1) her separation; 2) lack of reading S.H.I.E.L.D.’s fine print; 3) cleaning up the Hulk’s villains; and 4) having the feeling like something is missing in her life. At this point, I’m guessing that Jen’s supposed to be thinking that she’s missing John, being in love with John, and her regular job and friends. (I missed the support cast this week, especially with Awesome Andy’s and Pug’s heartbroken arcs. Maybe they’re drinking tequila somewhere and putting quarters in the jukebox to listen to Pasty Cline.) Jen acts in her normal stressed out ways of 1) work-work-work; 2) calling and ignoring Dr. Samson; and 3) having sex. Even she knows that Quartermain’s lame.

Slott’s meta-ing about the Hulk form. Abomination sees himself as ugly on the inside and reflects that on the outside in Hulk form. Samson, of course, asks Jen how she views herself. But I also wonder if it’s wanting to see yourself a certain way. Jen is super-attractive and does what she pleases as Hulk. She gets laid, parties, and kicks ass. It’s also interesting that she has more of her brain there when she’s Hulked compared to Bruce and other Hulk characters. I think it’s great continuity to the first issues of Slott’s first one where Wasp and the Scarlet Witch tell Jen that she’s the only woman they know who doesn’t want to be a size two.

In many ways, as a Hulk, Jen has it all. She has her brains, beauty, and brawns. She doesn’t have to walk the streets and worry that anyone will mess with her. Yes, she more likely to get into trouble as She Hulk, but she can still defend herself. She isn’t the “little woman”, which is the big issue in her relationship with John, who wants a little woman, not one who can swing around lampposts.

Slott also broke the fourth wall in #15 with Agent Cheesecake. Besides the name, she’s dressed in a revealing uniform with super high heels. (This is in contrast with Jen’s S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform that’s toe to neck covered with more sensible shoes.) She says, “I’m not a doll. I’m an LMD. Life. Model. Decoy. Programmed for Seduction Combat and Retrieval.” It’s interesting here that she’s taking out human tugs who are looting what Abomination has smashed and a town S.H.I.E.L.D. has halted. I find her a rather amusing comment on comics, and I am amused that she’s still more practical in depiction concerning her actions to apprehend the looters than many female superheros are drawn.

Cover: Cool in design and color wise. However, the eye is drawn directly to She Hulk’s breasts, which Horn needs to think about how boobs work when flying through the air. Hint: they need more support than that.

Writing: Slott’s pretty typical here. I’m disappointed that there’s not even hints about the supporting casts and their issues.

Art: Fun and action-adventure-y.

Overall: A solid issue, but leaves me wishing I had the next one to satisfy my reading urge.