While the last ‘She-Hulk‘ comic followed her life as Jennifer Walters as a lawyer in a light-hearted fashion it seems unlikely that the newly announced series is going to follow in its footsteps. For those who haven’t been following Marvel’s “Civil War II” event, things haven’t been going well for Jennifer. From lying at death’s door at the hands of Thanos to her friend James Rhodes being killed to her cousin the original Hulk, Bruce Banner being killed by Hawkeye – times are tough. Not only that but with Captain Marvel and Iron Man about to square off there is still plenty of time for even worse to happen before her new series kicks off in December.
Sadly, this means we’ll be saying goodbye to the humor of the last run and we’ll be getting a much harsher reality for She-Hulk. When the book relaunches it will simply be titled ‘Hulk’ and will have Walters returning to practicing law. It is set to be written by Mariko Tamaki (‘Tomb Raider’,’This One Summer’) with art by the extremely talented Nico Leon (‘Ms. Marvel’,’Spider-Man’).
If the cover being shown off is any indication, we’re going to be in for some big changes. Who knows, maybe they’re using this to gear up for a Netflix series after all!
According to Marvel’s Editor-In-Chief Axel Alonso:
“The title She-Hulk evokes light-hearted stories about a Jennifer Walters who is at peace with herself and in full control of her powers. This isn’t that book. On the other hand, the title Hulk implies all of the baggage that comes with that comic’s 50+ year history—the ongoing battle with the monster within—and that’s why it’s more appropriate for this series. Jen went through major trauma in Civil War II, and Mariko and Nico’s story will deal with the fallout of that trauma—the anxiety and anger, sometimes self-destructive, that comes along with it. If there is light at the end of the tunnel, Jen is going to have to search hard for it, and she’s going to have to battle with some pretty big monsters—including the one within—to find herself again.”
Many of our heroes are often thrown into one battle after another in Marvel’s universe so when they have time to decompress it can be shown as quite a trying time. It isn’t often shown on page but it sounds like the new ‘Hulk’ series will be following Jennifer through her roughest times and show how she comes out on the other side, hopefully for the better.
When Tamaki talks about her plans for the series and what inspired her to work on Walters as one of her first true superhero comics she says that:
“Jen is absolutely shaped by the trauma she’s experienced. Much of it was inspired by thinking about how different people deal with the hard things that happen in their lives, how memory, trauma, can infuse our whole being, be a physical presence in our lives. I was really into the idea of a Hulk, of the ability to transform into something close to monstrous, that’s still human, and heroic. It was interesting to think about what’s human about Hulk and vice versa.”
Leon adds in for tackling the artwork that:
“I love to draw normal life. I am very excited to be able to draw the day-to-day life of a superhero who needs not to be a superhero all the time. And I am super excited to explore how her new status quo will affect her life and thus her personality and how it will manifest through her body language and interactions with common people and heroes alike.”
I’m very curious as to what style Leon will be running with here as the last book was quite cartoony but with this darker undertone that is sure to set the tone for the series, I’m expecting something a little more realistic or at least darker and more traditional.
Are you looking forward to checking out ‘Hulk’ #1? How do you think Jen will handle trying to move on with her life? Share your thoughts below True Believers!
Synopsis:
Following the traumatic events of Civil War II, Jen is determined to move forward, to go on with her life. But there is something bubbling under the surface. A quiet rage. The physical and mental wounds are still fresh. The pain of the past and all she’s lost is always there – an undercurrent, a pulse, waiting to quicken and trigger her transformation into the one thing she doesn’t have control over…the HULK!
‘Hulk’ #1 will smash into comic shops in December of 2016!
Source: Screen Rant
Stuart Conover is an author, blogger, and all around geek. When not busy being a father and husband he tries to spend as much time as possible immersed in comic books, science fiction, and horror! Would you like to know more? Follow him on Twitter!
