Comic Info
Comic Name: Savage She-Hulk
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Stan Lee/David Anthony Kraft
Artist: John Buscema/Mike Vosburg
# of Issues: 25
Release Date: 2006
Savage She-Hulk #1
Reprints Savage She-Hulk #1-25 (February 1980-February 1982). Jennifer Walters finds herself transforming into the savage She-Hulk after an emergency blood transfusion from her cousin Bruce Banner…the incredible Hulk! While She-Hulk possesses more of her intelligence, Jennifer finds that the stressful life of a defense attorney is causing her problems and soon discovers that each transformation into She-Hulk could be pushing her closer to death.
Written by Stan Lee and David Anthony Kraft, Essential Savage She-Hulk—Volume 1 collects the first series of She-Hulk (often just referred to as She-Hulk (Volume 1), but technically titled Savage She Hulk). The collection features art by John Buscema and Mike Vosburg and is reprinted in black-and-white like other Marvel Essential Collections.
She-Hulk was one of my earliest comics that really got me reading. I had first seen the character in The Incredible Hulk cartoon and then learned she was a real character in Fantastic Four (1) #268 (July 1984) which provided an alternate origin issue. Learning this seemingly minor character actually had her own series, I bought the early issues at the comic book store.
It is too bad that She-Hulk didn’t have a better run. The first ten to twelve issues of this series are quite good and both Jennifer Walters and She-Hulk are developed as nice characters. The “teen” run of this book is pretty weak and has characters like Elephant Man and appearances by Hellcat and Man-Wolf (who do later play into the She-Hulk mythology in other titles). The last portion of the collection is a multi-part story and can be quite confusing at points…plus the series ends with some open threads that never were resolved (Buck’s remorse on causing Jill’s death and Beverly’s plans to ruin Sheriff Morris).
Savage She-Hulk #25
I like the She-Hulk character in general. The book however didn’t bring in great guest-stars. The biggest player in the twenty-five issue run is Iron Man in Savage She-Hulk #6 (July 1980), and Iron Man wasn’t very popular at that point. I am a fan of Man-Thing and Morbius who also appeared early, but they were also bit players at the time.
The art is so-so. Despite being primarily by Mike Vosburg, sometimes Vosburg’s art is very good and other times it is pretty weak. I don’t know if the book was rushed, but some issues are nicely blocked and designed while others seem confusing and blockly.
Essential Savage She-Hulk—Volume 1 (which is a misnomer since there wasn’t more Savage She-Hulk to necessitate a Savage She-Hulk—Volume 2) is a fun read to see the start of a character that evolved past her roots. She-Hulk left her own series to eventually join the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and later regained her own series in the Sensational She-Hulk…a comedy book which hopefully will someday be collected as well.
