SHE-HULK #12 - Review & Spoilers

[Expletive Deleted]

SHE-HULK #12 - Slott & Burchett - out today . . .

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This issue brings us back to the Starfox storyline. There're some parts I liked and some parts I didn't, so I figured I'd do a list.

The Good

• Phyla and Moondragon. What? They're fun characters.
• Burchett's art. It really fits the tone of the book a lot better than what's-his-name who did the original Starfox two-parter.
• The John/Jen soapiness. Always nice.
• The Living Tribunal. A little cheesy, but a fun use of the character.
• Awesome Andy . . . awwwwwwww. Poor fella.
• Pip. Heh.
• RT's "impartial" bit.
• Thanos's reaction to Phyla calling herself Captain Marvel.
• The story of Lil' Thanos. Burchett really rocked this sequence. And it leads into a fun cliffhanger.

The Bad

• Ditto's non-reaction to Stu's zapping.
• The Starfox-as-mental-rapist thing came off a bit better this time around, but it's still pretty icky - and not in a good way.
• The dig at ANNIHILATION. Not cool at all. Granted, I'm a bit biased, but that was one hell of a nasty little cheap shot considering how much work Giffen and company have been putting into Thanos's character, just for the sake of putting him back in his old duds. Especially since Moondragon's wearing her swanky new DiVito costume.

So . . . it's a good read, with some problems here and there. Anyone else read this?

[Miss Kitty Fantastico]

Anyone else read this?

I did, as a matter of fact... :p

It's a Part One Of Two, and they're always difficult to judge. I only have to look back at Star Trek (mostly Voyager) and think how many times the first half of a cliffhanger has left me jazzed, only to be let down with a ginormous bump in the second half (in the case of Equinox part 2, five seconds into the second half - some sort of record, I believe). But that acknowledged, I'm giving it an unvarnished thumbs-up.

I'm no Thanos expert - I'm not reading Annihilation (not that I think I'd hate it or anything, but they're all guys, so meh), so the dig went over my head, and really all I have to go on is a few issues of The End that I picked up in the bargain basement back-issue bin a while back. But I got the essentials - nutcase, destroyer, really bad guy, and the point of the matter, that giving him the impression that death is cool during his formative years was not the best of ideas. Neat parallel there, demonstrating that even when you do it with the best of intentions, messing with people's heads can be a horrible thing. The road to hell, and all that.

Though I did note that Starfox diverted questioning to his love zap on John and Jen, and away from the time he and She-Hulk did the nasty. I'm still deeply suspicious of that - back in #7 Jen put the question to him about that night specifically, and he did a runner, so I'm not at all convinced that he didn't admit to zapping Jen and John in order to not have to admit to zapping Jen earlier. Messing with people's heads without their consent, in order to do good as you see it, is bad enough - but it's still preferable to be found guilty of that, than to using the same power as a date rape drug.

Something about that last panel, though... Jen's expression, that hinted to me that she suspects something. Could it be that Starfox is being set up? The incident with mini-Thanos was evidently the truth, being in both their minds, but I wonder, did it really set Thanos on the path to all-around bastardry as he said? Or is that an exaggeration, or a misrepresentation? It'd be pretty ironic if Jen ended up defending Starfox, in the end - though seeing as that's what she was originally hired to do, maybe it'd mean she'd get paid after all.

The marriage is most definitely on the way out, if you ask me - whatever factual basis Jen and John's argument may have had, about them both having two forms and preferring one over the other, John was just arguing so he'd win the argument there, not trying to heal their relationship. Maybe he's really not able to cope with She-Hulk big and green, now the zap has left him. But in any case, the parallel he cites is on shaky ground - so far as I know, he wasn't even able to turn into Man-Wolf/Stargod up until #10 (since whenever he last did it, obviously), whereas he knew going in that Jen turned into She-Hulk and liked it. Being green full-time is a change, sure - but if you ask me, it's an order of magnitude below suddenly turning into a wolfman. Some people suggested that they might be able to patch things up, even when Eros's tough wore off - but sorry, I'm not seeing it happening.

I liked the continuity touches, re: Zix, the Magistrati, Pip and his jokes at the expense of Jen's wardrobe... Dan rewards long-term readers, that's for sure.

I'm still digging Burchett's lines, but I think Kemp needs more darkness in his colours. He worked fine with artists like Smith and Bobillo (to pick a couple I looked up a short while ago, for comparison), who drew in lots of black contrast sections in the shadows of their art, but Burchett seems to avoid those, and stick closer to the outlines, especially in the backgrounds. Without those - and with Kemp never straying far from his bright/pale palette - it looks like everything is happening in bright sunshine, and I think makes the book look a little too 'light'. In tone, that is, as well as literally. She-Hulk's a funny book, but it's also a drama, and it can have heavy, weighty moments, and right now the colouring isn't really backing that up enough, in my view. I like it more than not - the combination of gradients and cel shading is done really well - I just think it'd be all the better for more contrast.

Still, that's my only complaint, and it's a minor one compared to everything the art - colours included - does right.

And Lego rocks :D

Edit: I almost forgot, I actually liked Ditto's willingness to, reluctantly, go along with Stu's murder. He comes across as a comic character, but Ditto's got a dark side - he's a former criminal, and he's been shown before to put himself first when he's in a tight spot.

[Elegance Liberty]

Slott took a potshot at Annihilation?

Dan Slott for the LOSE.

Then again, it doesn't surprise me. Seems like everyone at Marvel who isn't involved with the event seems to love to take a crap on it. (Why else do you think it's gotten ZERO promotion from the top brass anyhow?)

Go figure.

A pity at that too, I was seriously considering picking this issue up until I read about Slott's blatant disrespect for 'Annihilation'.

[EmmettHULK]

I thought this was one of the worst She-hulk issues as of late.

Not that the previous were amazing, but it was just...dull.
The art was so-so and the writing was in my opinion, uninspired.

[Haunt]

i've really enjoyed Annihilation; surprisingly. i normally hate all things-cosmic.

[CyberCoyote]

What's the pot-shot at Annihilation? Tell me, tell me! It'll be an hour and a half before I get out of work!!!!

[Expletive Deleted]

Here y'go.

MOONDRAGON: In my travels I'd heard you'd reformed, Thanos. That you were on a path of redemption. That you wore naught but simple robes, and that you kept company with . . . a pixie.

THANOS: Heh. Really, Heather. Does that sound like me at all?

[Elegance Liberty]

Here y'go.

MOONDRAGON: In my travels I'd heard you'd reformed, Thanos. That you were on a path of redemption. That you wore naught but simple robes, and that you kept company with . . . a pixie.

THANOS: Heh. Really, Heather. Does that sound like me at all?

.... What a jerk.

Here's to hoping Giffen can get in a potshot at She-Hulk eventually. That would rock the hardcore.

[Dan_Slott]

Guys,
There is NO potshot at either ANNIHILATION or Giffen's take on Thanos in this month's SHE-HULK.

If anything, effort and care have been taken to fit this story into continuity so that it occurs AFTER Moondragon and Phyla's CM appearances and before their appearances in ANNIHILATION.

You'll notice (for example) that Heather is wearing her ANNIHILATION costume-- and Phyla is wearing her CM uniform (for the last time) before she discards it in the flashback of ANNIHILATION #2. (And, for that sake, you'll also notice that...

spoilers:

. . . . ...Heather has both of her ears.

end of spoilers)



So? What does happen in SHE-HULK #12?

Thanos shows up in his classic costume, Heather is confused by this, and Thanos gives her an explanation.

Just wait an issue before you jump to more "slamming" conclusions, okay?

Geez...

For the record: I am LOVING each and every issue of ANNIHILATION-- wouldn't miss it for the world-- and not just for the cool cosmic scripts by Mr. Giffen-- but also for the pulse-pounding pencils by my THING-pal, Andrea DiVito. :)

(You'll also notice that She-Hulk herself makes ref. to the Nova Corps of Xandar in this issue-- showing that they were still around (to Shulkie's knowledge) at the top of the issue).

Trust me. It's all done out of love. ;)
ttyl
Dan

[Haunt]

Guys,
There is NO potshot at either ANNIHILATION or Giffen's take on Thanos in this month's SHE-HULK.

If anything, effort and care have been taken to fit this story into continuity so that it occurs AFTER Moondragon and Phyla's CM appearances and before their appearances in ANNIHILATION.

You'll notice (for example) that Heather is wearing her ANNIHILATION costume-- and Phyla is wearing her CM uniform (for the last time) before she discards it in the flashback of ANNIHILATION #2. (And, for that sake, you'll also notice that...

spoilers:

. . . . ...Heather has both of her ears.

end of spoilers



So? What does happen in SHE-HULK #12?

Thanos shows up in his classic costume, Heather is confused by this, and Thanos gives her an explanation.

Just wait an issue before you jump to more "slamming" conclusions, okay?

Geez...

For the record: I am LOVING each and every issue of ANNIHILATION-- wouldn't miss it for the world-- and not just for the cool cosmic scripts by Mr. Giffen-- but also for the pulse-pounding pencils by my THING-pal, Andrea DiVito. :)

(You'll also notice that She-Hulk herself makes ref. to the Nova Corps of Xandar in this issue-- showing that they were still around (to Shulkie's knowledge) at the top of the issue).

Trust me. It's all done out of love. ;)
ttyl
Dan

to use the spoiler function, you'll have to drop the 'ER' in both 'Spoiler' tags.

[Expletive Deleted]

I got a strong "the current version is silly and this is the real Thanos" vibe off that particular exchange (what with the costume and sidekick in question having been around since March of '04), but . . . hey, if you say it wasn't a serious dig, I'll believe you.

[static]

i didnt think it was a dig at annihilation at all ...in one post someone is pissed that its unnoticed by other books ..in the next they are pissed it WAS mentioned...Slott is both nodding to the series and making pains to make sure he dosent step on its toes...

that aside i thought this was a great issue..i love the Living Tribunal faces scene and LOVED the twist with thanos and Starfox when they were kids...Thanos FINALLY makes sense to me!!! honestly i appreciate the character a hell of a lot more now that i have an explanation for his obsession that not only fits continutiy wise but is a dramatic twist!!! The power of love leads to Death!! awesome!! i cant wait till the next issue..this was great...

btw Phyla and moondragon are the premier lesbian couple in comics...sooooo hot:)

[Haunt]

i wonder where the pixie, Skreet, went.

[Soundrave]

Guys,
There is NO potshot at either ANNIHILATION or Giffen's take on Thanos in this month's SHE-HULK.

If anything, effort and care have been taken to fit this story into continuity so that it occurs AFTER Moondragon and Phyla's CM appearances and before their appearances in ANNIHILATION.

You'll notice (for example) that Heather is wearing her ANNIHILATION costume-- and Phyla is wearing her CM uniform (for the last time) before she discards it in the flashback of ANNIHILATION #2. (And, for that sake, you'll also notice that...

spoilers:

. . . . ...Heather has both of her ears.

end of spoilers)



So? What does happen in SHE-HULK #12?

Thanos shows up in his classic costume, Heather is confused by this, and Thanos gives her an explanation.

Just wait an issue before you jump to more "slamming" conclusions, okay?

Geez...

For the record: I am LOVING each and every issue of ANNIHILATION-- wouldn't miss it for the world-- and not just for the cool cosmic scripts by Mr. Giffen-- but also for the pulse-pounding pencils by my THING-pal, Andrea DiVito. :)

(You'll also notice that She-Hulk herself makes ref. to the Nova Corps of Xandar in this issue-- showing that they were still around (to Shulkie's knowledge) at the top of the issue).

Trust me. It's all done out of love. ;)
ttyl
Dan

It's amazing what some people get upset about. This guy probably puts 20 times the amount of thought and research into his scripts than most of Marvel's "superstar" creators and he still gets ragged on.

I thought it was an excellent issue. Great job, as usual!

[CyberCoyote]

Hmm, guess Slott already explained it, but I was going to point out those things. The costume she was retiring, Thanos being snyde when he said it. Stereo reception for Heather.. He's a dirty-gerty liar, ya know, toying with them :)

I really enjoyed the issue, although I'm still having to get used to the art. Wasn't a Bobo fan, wish Pelletier was on. Heck, I wish Pelletier was on everything :)

Thanos taking the opportunity to make it look like he was such a sweet and innocent little Titan until Starfox exposed him to the love of Death was just superb, the cartoony style worked wonders there as it was a childhood flashback and the style is reflective of childhood story art.

And by what we saw.. Eros DIDN'T use his love whammy on shulkie to get into her Levis, right?