Marvel's been throwing a lot of stuff up against the wall, and guess what stuck? A super-hero legal comedy about a woman who's life is defined by an identity crisis. Slott delivers a thoroughly entertaining script that brings the cosmic plot elements down to earth with some delightful comedy and strong, snappy voices for the core cast members. Slott's script is fun and moves along at a good pace, but what really sets this comic book apart as unique is the artwork. Juan Bobillo's designs for familiar and obscure Marvel characters bring a freshness to this 40-plus-year-old super-hero universe, and it's a shame that he won't be carrying on as the title's regular penciller.
In her role as a magistrate for the cosmos, She-Hulk is transported to a planet decimated by poverty and famine, the result of being ruled by the uncaring warrior and Elder of the Universe known as the Champion. Only someone who bests him in combat -- boxing, to be precise -- can overthrow the despicable ruler, but She-Hulk is no match for his power. Given three months to "appeal" the match, She-Hulk trains in order to defeat the Champion... but it will take a combination of brawn and brains to save the day.
I love Paul Pelletier's work. I was a fan of his stuff on DC's The Flash and CrossGen's Negation. His fill-in issues on this title was solid as well, and his lighter style suits the tone of this series quite well. But when he takes over as the regular penciller, I will sorely miss Bobillo's striking and original style. His more inhuman take on the Rigellian Recorder, for example, grabs the eye, and he brings an unusually expressive look to characters that don't usually boast that quality (such as the Guardsmen seen briefly in this issue). I pray we're going to see his work turn up somewhere else in the industry soon.
The plot here is fairly straightforward, but what sets it apart from the usual super-hero fare is the sharp sense of humor Slott brings to bear. Marvel clearly tried to emulate the humor of DC's Formerly Known as the Justice League in Alpha Flight, but it's She-Hulk is the reigning champ when it comes to super-hero humor comics at the moment. Southpaw debuted as a rather generic young villain, but Slott has transformed her into an integral part of the cast. She and the title character play off of one another quite well. Southpaw's attitude is a real treat.
On the surface, one could see this as a super-hero comedy. One could see its foundation as a mix of the super-hero genre and a legal "drama." But at its heart, this title is about a woman who feels her life is divided in half. She sees herself as two individuals, and she needs to learn to see her superhuman and human forms as part of a single whole. There's a surprisingly personal story hidden behind the gags and the novel perspective of super-hero conventions. 9/10
