To Be The She-Hulk: Avengers #20 Reviewed
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
She-Hulk has been undergoing therapy at Avengers Mountain the past few weeks. The goal has been to gain control of her new monstrous form–but does Jen Walters even want control? She’s stronger than ever, and no one looks at her like a lesser version of Bruce. She can cut loose and not worry about the gawkers staring at her. Now, Jennifer is fighting Ulik and his army of Trolls in Australia, and her new out-of-control She-Hulk form is just what she needs to win this battle. That said, Daredevil (currently replacing Heimdall as the God Without Fear) has some ill tidings for Jennifer Walters.
Avengers #20 gives a spotlight to Jen Walters, aka the She-Hulk, in this installment. It acknowledges the previous iterations of She-Hulk and why this one is different and, perhaps, better.
She-Hulk is stronger than ever now, and she can feel pride in that strength. Plus, no one is looking to cop a feel while Jen is Hulk-ed out.
It’s a comic with a message, and the message is that this new She-Hulk isn’t ashamed of who she is. She’s not looking to change back. She’s a monster, like her cousin, and she can cut loose.
There’s an empowering message there, and it throws more than a few side-eyes to the previous versions of the She-Hulk and the use of sex appeal with the character. It does pay some homage to the self-aware comedy She-Hulk though.
The talented Ed McGuinness is the artist on this Avengers issue as well. McGuinness has long had a talent for showing characters Hulk out in spectacular fashion, and this issue is no different. She-Hulk gets plenty of high-impact action scenes which show her shaking the Earth and sending Trolls flying into the distance. McGuinness and Mark Morales do an excellent job inking and adding weight to the visuals. Jason Keith contributes a vibrant color palette worthy of a Hulk too.
Avengers #20 is an excellent character spotlight upon the recently-mercurial She-Hulk. She’s had many transformations as of late, but they’re not without reason–and Jen Walters is not ashamed. It’s a damn solid read and one easily worthy of a recommendation. Check this one out.
Avengers #20 comes to us from writer Jason Aaron, artist Ed McGuinness, inkers Mark Morales and Ed McGuinness, color artist Jason Keith, letterer VC’s Cory Petit, cover artist Ed McGuinness with Val Staples, and variant cover artist Paolo Rivera.
Final Score: 8/10
