She-Hulk #13 Thoughts and Reactions *SPOILERS*

[Dermie]

**WARNING!!! This post contains SPOILERS for SHE-HULK #13!!! If you do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further!!! You have been warned!!!


At last, the trial of Starfox comes to a conclusion!

I have some mixed feelings about the outcome. On the one hand, I was very happy to have it confirmed that Eros did NOT use his powers to seduce She-Hulk back in AVENGERS, and to find out that his recent abuses of his powers were due to outside tampering with his own mind. Eros has been redeemed, and can now begin to restore his good name. So I am very happy with that outcome.
However, I was a bit let down at how abruptly the Jen/Eros situation was resolved. Eros just says "I didn't do it", and Jen immediately believes him and all is instantly forgiven. Just a few issues ago She-Hulk brutally assaulted Eros based on the assumption that he had violated her--it seemed odd that she would accept Eros' word so easily, given how angry and distrustful she was. Perhaps because they were still telepathically linked through Moondragon at that point, Jen knew he couldn't lie to her, or something like that. I dunno. I am definately glad to see Jen and Eros be friends again--it just seemed like it happened a bit too easily.

The other thing that irked me a bit was the fact that Starfox had to give up his pleasure powers. I definately admire Eros taking the moral position of not wanting to ever violate someone's mind, but his pleasure powers were one unique aspect to the character that allowed him to stand out, and I'll miss that. On the plus side, at least this will put an end to some readers assuming he is a creepy serial rapist... (of course, just because Moondragon believes the procedure is irreversible doesn't mean that something can't/won't happen down the line to restore those powers...)

In any case, I am pleased to see that Starfox's odd behaviour has been explained, and that the character hasn't been 'ruined' assome have feared. I wouldn't mind seeing Eros make a return appearance in a later storyline down the road.

Sharp eyed fans will notice that Dan set up the reveal about Starfox being drugged by Seductra back when this arc first started; the first page of #6 shows a flashback to Eros having a drink with Seductra--there is even a close-up panel of him drinking the drugged beverage. I love the way Dan hides things in plain sight like that, and then shows us what they really mean a few issues later.

And then we get some twists in the series' main love triangle--Pug swallows that potion he got a few issues ago because he's tired of his unrequited love for Jen. Meanwhile, John overhears Jen say that it was Starfox's power that made her marry him. What will the affect of that potion be? Will it 'cure' Pug of his love for Jen? And where do Jen and John go from here? I can't wait to find out.
Although I do love Pug and want him to have a happy ending, I am still rooting for Jen and John to be able to work things out. They have their problems, but they are an interesting couple and I think there is enough genuine feeling there for them to possibly be able to make it work.

As for Pug, although I am certainly not opposed to the idea of him and Jen getting together, I am not exactly hoping for it. I know there are a lot of Pug fans who are waiting for Jen to finally 'open her eyes' and realize that Pug loves her and is the right man for her. But the problem is, just because Pug loves her doesn't automatically mean they would be a good couple or that they belong together. Relationships are two-sided, and thus far there has been no indication that Jen would be interested in Pug as anything more than a friend. As readers, we generally sympathize with the underdog in unrequited love stories...but the sad truth is that sometimes unrequited love is meant to be unrequited. As a hypothetical example, what if Jen and John were already a couple when Pug first met and fell in love with Jen. Would we still be rooting for Pug to get the girl? Or if Jen were a lesbian? Would we still be waiting for her to 'open her eyes' and realize that because Pug loves her, they should be together?
On the flip side, maybe Jen and Pug would be great together. He *is* a great guy, and clearly loves her a great deal--if she could end up falling for him, they might be a fantastic couple. I just don't like the assumption that they *must* be meant to get together simply because Pug loves her--unfortunately sometimes love IS one-sided. In a way, I think it makes Pug a more interesting character if his feelings for Jen remain unrequited, since it gives him a tragic nobility. Anyway, enough babbling--whatever happens, I'm sure I'll enjoy it. :)

Thanks to Dan, Rick and the rest of the SHE-HULK team for another great issue! I am eagerly awaiting next issue and the Awesome Andy spotlight!!

[Miss Kitty Fantastico]

Last issue, the only reservation I had was that the colouring seemed a bit too flat to really vitalise the largely-shadowless lines Burchett draws. This issue proved that won't be a problem - Dave Kemp pulled out the dark colours in several crucial spots, most notably the Cosmic Cube flashback panels, and man they looked good. I'd like to see more of that, but if you ask me whether I'm happy with all aspects of the art on She-Hulk now... hell yes.

I recall mentioning it when we first got to see it too, but that's a damn sweet cover - both faces full of primal expression, all anger and defiance. Having seen it on the stands among its fellow books, it really does catch the eye.

Concluding a big (seven issue - eight if you include #8 ) arc that's been running for the better part of the year, the story had to be big - we got that. Thanos's Greatest Hits was a fun strategy, especially with Jen assuming her timeframe-accurate forms in each setting. College Jen was especially endearing, a glimpse back at vol.1 #1 in a way, and it was nice to see her present courage shining through nonetheless. The parallel fights - Thanos v SHe-Hulk and Thanos v Stargod simultaneously - were cute too.

There did seem to be a mass of exposition going on, so I can kind of understand where the dissatisfaction from some readers (on CBR, at least) is coming from. However, I'm not one of them - I thought it worked, because it was continuing the style of the Starfox arc as a whole, which has been a kind of Russian doll set. We get a premise, and think we see what's going on - then next issue it gets opened up, and though it's not invalidating what we learned before, it's new at the same time. She-Hulk's night of fun with Starfox, which turned out to be sinister (which then turned out not to be), the Hydra agent giving what seemed like damning testimony, which we then learned was a set-up, Starfox's zap on Jen and John, which we then thought should've worn off if it wasn't real, which we then learned was being unwittingly perpetuated by Andy... Really, if the last issue of the arc hadn't revealed a new, final layer hidden inside what we thought we knew, it would have been a let-down. Kudos to Dan for hiding Seductra in the very first issue of the arc, the first page of it no less. (Is she an existing Marvel character? Even if not, showing her early this issue with Thanos served the same purpose - all the clues are there, if only we realise how they fit together.)

And I think Starfox's fans should be well pleased with how this turned out. Possibly there'll be upset over him losing his love power, but really, how likely is it that they won't re-emerge somehow if Eros is needed in some other book? But powers or not, in the end he proved himself a hero, and that's what fans should be interested in. Having finally realised what had been done to him, he didn't hide behind his own victim status to justify what he'd done to others - he sacrificed his power to see that it never happened again. That's pretty solid, I don't see how anyone could argue he hasn't shown his true colours as a hero.

Pug's potion was understandable - but I can't shake the feeling that this is one of those bad timing things that've just plagued Jen and Pug from the beginning. I don't know if they're destined not to be, or if fate is just having a laugh at their expense, but... well, the idea of Pug ridding himself of his love for Jen, at the same time as she's been released from Starfox's influence, and possibly the effect that was having on her re: Pug... yeah, it fits the pattern. The question remains, what does Jen think of Pug now? She realised how he felt about her during the Man-Wolf fight, but there wasn't time for her to really respond, and she was under the zap at the time. Now? Next issue will be interesting, that's for sure. Though I imagine the Planet Without A Hulk arc after that will put the Jen/Pug story on hold somewhat - unless he gets dragged along on her SHIELD missions somehow...

I liked seeing Mallory in a lighter moment - even if it was still a bit bitchy on her part. But making fun at She-Hulk's expense or not, at least she was having a light, social moment with Pug. I like Mallory when she's being more than just a source of antagonism.

And lastly oh my goddess that's my She-Hulk photomosaic! That was one heck of a nice surprise 8-) Though I kind of agree with Pip's assessment - it's like artistic ability, and the majority of the credit should really go to Photoshop and AndreaMosaic. No letters though? The hell with that, there'll be at least one next issue.

[Dermie]

Kudos to Dan for hiding Seductra in the very first issue of the arc, the first page of it no less. (Is she an existing Marvel character?

Nope, she is an all-new Dan Slott addition to the MU, alongside folks like Ditto, Southpaw, Danger Man and Grasshopper! :) Hopefully we'll see Seductra turn up again at some point, and learn a bit more about her.


But powers or not, in the end he proved himself a hero, and that's what fans should be interested in. Having finally realised what had been done to him, he didn't hide behind his own victim status to justify what he'd done to others - he sacrificed his power to see that it never happened again. That's pretty solid, I don't see how anyone could argue he hasn't shown his true colours as a hero.

Exactly, and I was very happy to see that. Some people tend to forget that Eros IS a hero, since they focus on his womanizing.


The question remains, what does Jen think of Pug now? She realised how he felt about her during the Man-Wolf fight, but there wasn't time for her to really respond, and she was under the zap at the time.

Yeah, it will be interesting to see how her awareness of his love for her will impact their friendship.

I also look forward to checking in on Two-Gun, and finding out where things are at with him and Mallory now that she has been freed from the love zap.


I liked seeing Mallory in a lighter moment - even if it was still a bit bitchy on her part. But making fun at She-Hulk's expense or not, at least she was having a light, social moment with Pug. I like Mallory when she's being more than just a source of antagonism.

Yeah, Mallory tends to be a more likeable character when she is interacting with Pug, or Matt, or Andy...or anyone other than Jen, really.


And lastly oh my goddess that's my She-Hulk photomosaic! That was one heck of a nice surprise 8-)

Congrats! :)

[Dingo]

And lastly oh my goddess that's my She-Hulk photomosaic! That was one heck of a nice surprise 8-) Though I kind of agree with Pip's assessment - it's like artistic ability, and the majority of the credit should really go to Photoshop and AndreaMosaic. No letters though? The hell with that, there'll be at least one next issue.


Awesome... congrats. :D

[tom daylight]

that was yours? I loved it! Congrats.

[wessner]

Another fun, fun issue! But "everyone's a victim" seems to be the motif as the weird romance arc draws toward its conclusion. Everybody in these last couple of issues gets an emotional pummelling, even Thanos, though as a nihlist he takes his better than the other cast members do.

Eros was primarily the catalyst for the different subplots that ran through this arc. As a result, the character himself remains something of a cipher, difficult to empathize with due to the apparent lack of depth. I'm a little disappointed, but not surprised, that last issue's shocking reveal didn't stick. It's clear that redeeming Eros was always the plan. This has meant making him a victim as an alterative way to gain reader sympathy. But his decision to forego using his pleasure powers speaks to the character's maturity, a trait not often seen in him.

I used to like Pug, but now he annoys me. I just can't sympathize with someone so selfdestructive. It's not life or fate that's been throwing roadblocks in his path. Pug carefully maneuvers himself to make sure he hits every single obstacle. He deliberately let his chance to ask Jen out at the end of Vol 1 #4 slip past. He invited her to live in his apartment when he knew she was involved with someone else, then said nothing when she invited her boyfriend to move in as well. Now, instead of dealing with his emotional problems like a grown up, he apparently takes refuge in a magic potion. He seems to have good intentions, but he sets himself up for failure again and again.

For me the highlight of this issue was seeing Stargod back in action, kicking ass and taking names! But like Eros, John is a character who has remained a cipher. We've never gotten inside his head and we've only seen him in the context of his relationship with Jen, which has not always been positive. He was able to get past his wolfish problem, but now it's his turn to have his heart torn out and stomped on.

This arc has also highlighted many of Jen's shortcomings. She interupts people when they're trying to tell her something important. She jumps to conclusions. As She-Hulk she's also bossy, selfish and always wants things her way. She's got major insecurities that she's just not dealing with, instead hiding behind a false self image of confidence through sheer physical strength. Anything that gets past her shields, like Eros's real and imagined use of his powers on her, gets an immediate, violent response. But it's when Jen thinks and acts like a lawyer, seeing all sides of a situation, that she really shines.

We still have one more issue to go, but everyone seems to be coming out of this soap opera damaged in some way or other. Which I guess is the main feature of any soap opera. It's definitely been a fun ride and it looks like we've got a few more surprises left before switching gears for the next arc.