She-Hulk #4 // Review
Ben’s got the wrong idea. Jen’s not in trouble. She’s just working out. Ben’s misunderstanding is understandable. Jen’s fighting someone with superhuman strength. So is Jen. Ben’s made of organic rock, so things will get a little complicated in the beginning of She-Hulk #4. Writer Rainbow Rowell delivers a well-balanced fourth issue that features Jen Walters at work, at workout, and at heart in a personal conversation with an old friend and co-worker who is having kind of a rough time. Artist Luca Maresca focuses the visual appeal of the issue on the distinct social world of a hero in the Marvel Universe while colorist Rico Renzi manages to cast Jen in the perfect shade of green.
Jen’s got rather a lot to handle. She’s just beginning to get her life back on track with the new law practice when Ben Grimm hands her a whole bunch of hero clients. (The head of the practice doesn’t want to deal with super-humans.) To make matters a bit more complicated, her friend Jack is still dealing with fragmented memories and a loss of powers. She wants to help. That’s going to involve becoming the squishy, little normal version of herself in order to maintain a low profile.
Rowell finds a good balance for every angle of Jen’s current life. From cardio to professional work to hanging out with Jack, the author manages what feels like a roughly equal amount of time for each scene. And though a slight majority of the action takes place in time with Jack, the overall balance of the issue feels very evenly managed. Above all, Jen comes across as a charming, compassionate person with a hell of a lot going on in her life. So it’s fun to hang out with her for another 20 pages or so.
Maresca’s talents are at their best in casual conversation. The full impact of physical action DOES hit the page respectably, but the social life of Shulkie feels stronger in the current series than any other aspect of Jen’s life. The atmosphere of New York clings lightly but firmly to the background. Renzi’s colors add some depth to the atmosphere. Either it’s been a REALLY dry summer in Marvel Manhattan, or this particular series is set in late autumn. There’s a rich, uniform golden hue to all of the trees in central park that makes the issue feel comfortably chilly.
Rowell and company may have found a nice balance, but it will remain to be seen just how well the series navigates its way beyond the Jack of Hearts story that opens up the series. So much of what Jen’s going through right now has a very familiar feel to it. Where Rowell decides to go from here will determine just how likely the series is to continue indefinitely into the future. For now, Jen’s been just as pleasant as she has been in the past. With any luck, Rowell will have an opportunity to explore life with her for a long time to come.
