The Immortal She-Hulk #1 Review

by Harlan Ivester on September 23, 2020

Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Jon Davis-Hunt
Color Artist: Marcio Menyz
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics

            I’m not She-Hulk expert, as you’ll probably be able to tell by the end of this review. But if it’s got “Hulk” in the title and “Ewing” in the credits, you can bet I’m there. I understand that recent portrayals of Jennifer Walters have left many of her longtime fans wanting or outright frustrated. While I understand their perspective even if I don’t completely share it, I’m confident in Ewing’s ability to run with it either way.

            Since Jen has been largely absent from Ewing’s main Hulk story, this issue mostly works to recontextualize some key moments in her history. Fans of the 4th wall breaking Jen will still not find what their looking for, but it’s important to remember that just because something is different or not what we’re used to, that doesn’t invalidate it. This is obviously a serious take on the character, and Ewing does indeed run with it. While I’m not all that invested in Jen herself, I am very interested in her situation and the perspective that her larger than life peers can offer. There’s not too much that happens here in terms of plot, but the character beats are definitely worth the price of admission.

            Jon Davis-Hunt is a great actor for each of those beats. All of these characters have been through a lot, and you can tell when they’re remembering something they don’t want to. That, combined with his awesome sequential paneling – it almost makes me wish the issue had no dialogue. There are some scenes that definitely wouldn’t work without Ewing’s script, but maybe some stretches could be silent. It’s a testament to Davis-Hunt’s skill. Marcio Menyz doesn’t quite do the same for the characters. I think the gradients can look a just a little blotchy in some cases. However, his contribution the settings of the story add plenty of depth to each panel. It makes the scene feel much more dynamic and livelier than it would otherwise.

            This obviously isn’t the She-Hulk that many have been waiting for, but it completely works in the context of Ewing’s Hulk story. His script makes every character, even those not important for the main Hulk title, feel like a real person that you can learn a lot from. Davis-Hunt and Menyz excellently realize Ewing’s intent in each scene while bringing their own value through smart sequential storytelling. Definitely worth a read.
 

Our Score:

7/10

A Look Inside