Hulk #1
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Nico Leon
Colorist: Matt Milla
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel
A review by Greg Brothers
Finally, Civil War II is over and we can return to our regularly scheduled Marvel Universe. The problem is, not everything is the same after the cross over event. Major characters have been injured, killed, or had major life changing events happen to them. From the beginning of the event we were left with a major death, and Jennifer Walters, She-Hulk, in a coma. During the event, we see that Walters survives, but we can see that her powers have changed as she looks different then she did before going into the coma, but nothing else is said about her during Civil War II and we are left to wonder what her life is moving forward.
Hulk #1 brings us into the Marvel Universe after the war between Captain Marvel and Iron Man. Jen Walters is out of the hospital and getting ready for her first day back to work and at the new job. We find out early that a new job is not the only thing that has changed with Walters. When we last saw her in the hospital she had grey skin, here we see that she is looking much more like an average human than ever before. The rest of the book follows Jen as she works her way through the day, in addition to taking on her first new client since coming back.
Through the internal voice of Jen, you get the feeling that things are not quite as they may seem and in the end, we find that life is much more different to Jen then it ever was before. It is also refreshing to see a “hero” who is struggling with something as simple as leaving her house to go to work. While the subject is serious by introducing and starting to deal with Jen’s anxiety and PSTD, it is mixed in with humor both through dialogue and the art. In addition to seeing the changes in Jen, we also get to see her first case that she is taking on in the new job. There is enough there to let you know that this will not just be a book about Jen dealing with changes in her life but also dealing with clients, who in this case, have much more going on than is mentioned when we first meet them.
Nico Leon and Matt Milla’s art and coloring in Hulk #1 is spot on in most parts. The use of the green hue throughout the comic reminds you of Hulk’s past without taking away from the story. The panels that involve Jen in the subway and the streets do a great job of showing how busy New York is while also showing how lonely she’s feeling. My only complaint about some of the art is that, in a few of the panels, Jen’s face changes significantly only to be back to the previous look in the next panel.
The Verdict
Buy it! Hulk #1 is different than any other Hulk/She-Hulk book you’ve ever read before. Based on the events from Civil War II Jen Walters has gone through some major life changing events. So, it makes sense that she would not be quite as confident as she was before going into the coma. Everything that has defined her has changed in some way and it will take some time for her to get that confidence back, and Hulk #1 sets up those steps. I personally cannot wait to see where this journey goes next.
