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She-Hulk by Rainbow Rowell

She-Hulk, Vol. 1: Jen, Again

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The best character ever is back in her own series and about to glam up the whole Marvel Universe! Jennifer Walters, the Sensational She-Hulk, is no longer savage - and now she needs to put her life back together. She's got a legal career to rebuild, friends to reacquaint herself with (and maybe represent in a court of law), and enemies to... well, she may not want to connect with them, but they are definitely going to connect with her. And Jen is about to be sent down a road she's never travelled - one that will shake up her life... and possibly the whole Marvel Universe! Collecting: She-Hulk (2022) 1-5

120 pages, Paperback

First published October 4, 2022

About the author

Rainbow Rowell

130 books141k followers
Rainbow Rowell writes all kinds of stuff.

Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS, LANDLINE, SLOW DANCE).

Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK, FANGIRL) .

Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and guys with dragon wings. (THE SIMON SNOW TRILOGY).

Recently, she’s been writing comics, including her first graphic novel, PUMPKINHEADS, and the monthly SHE-HULK comic for Marvel.

She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.

More at rainbowrowell.com.

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5 stars
365 (25%)
4 stars
658 (45%)
3 stars
360 (25%)
2 stars
40 (2%)
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8 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
Profile Image for Baba.
3,812 reviews1,274 followers
May 6, 2024
No longer an Avenger, no longer employed(!), homeless(!) and at a crossroads in her life Jennifer She-Hulk Walters needs to find herself a new place in the universe. Whilst doing that she has helping and not-so helping hands from both other heroes and villains, and also has an ex-Avenger come to her for help. What's a woman to do?

Rowell, Luca Maresca and Rogê Antônio well and truly kick this out of the park with such a realistic and well thought out portrayal of aa lawyer-superhero... that was the previous problem with many writers of She-Hulk, they didn't really take on board that Walters is a full-trained lawyer! Sadly this series won't last, with little fighting, risqué costumes or even superhero costumes, this one won't work in the Marvel market. Maybe it's time for Marvel to create a new secondary line dedicate to readers who want more than the staple superhero fare? All in all, a superb rendition of a hard-to-do-right hero, by always-hits-it-out-of-the-park Rowell - 8 out of 12, Four Star read.

2024 read
Profile Image for Scott.
1,994 reviews230 followers
December 1, 2022
"Is this how you stay 'sensational'? By trusting yourself?" - Jonathan Hart, a.k.a. the ailing superhero Jack of Hearts, with a nod towards a certain super-heroine's oft-used adjective

"It's how I stay alive. I have to trust someone - it may as well be me." - She-Hulk

She-Hulk, Vol. 1: Jen, Again is a wonderful marriage of a character (recently experiencing a surge in popularity after a number of well-received graphic novels and also a streaming TV series) with writer and illustrator. Artist Antonio has previously worked on Batman and/or Birds of Prey titles for DC, and scribe Rowell (a legitimate novelist who effectively dabbles in the comic book industry) has fashioned plot lines for the newer Ms. Marvel series, who is another well-meaning protagonist published by Marvel. This volume works best when mixing the sweet and salty - such as perfect moment when She-Hulk (who also works as an attorney when not battling super-villains) lifts up a responding ambulance stuck in gridlocked traffic . . . and slaps her business card on the rear window after setting it down in the clear - with a low-key dramatic plot involving a troubled former Avengers teammate needing assistance. Speaking of assistance, there are a number of endearing scenes with She-Hulk's super-heroic friends - including the Thing, Mr. Fantastic, and Janet 'The Wasp' Van Dyne - touchingly extending helping hands as she tries to get her rocky professional life back on track. They may be fictional folks with fantastic abilities, but I still love the depiction of them as altruistic.
Profile Image for Subham.
2,955 reviews83 followers
August 20, 2024
Reread: 20/08/2024
I just love this comic omg, its such a good character focused, slice of life comic and its already one of my favorite runs and I remember reading it couple of years back and loving it and again loving it, its got so much great drama with Jack of hearts and the mystery of what happened to him and Jen trying to find that out and getting her life back and I love the dynamics with Titania and Volcana here, its different and fun and Ben popping up is so sweet! I love the art, it compliments the writing so well and I can't wait to read the remaining volumes!
___________________________________________________________________________________
This was so fun omg!

I love the way its written and feels like a comic exploring the life of Jen and its so awesome, seeing her new status quo, fun fights with Titania and Volcana but the big story dealing with the return of Jack of hearts and I love the way Rainbow makes use of the Marvel history/continuity and the tension between Jack and Jen is so cool to read about and them falling in love, its so cute I love it! And then appearances by Thing and other heroes haha, I love it!

Its one of those comics which was needed especially after what Jen has been going through in the last few years and I just love it from the art to the covers especially and it all makes for a solid read! I am super excited to read the future issues of this one!
Profile Image for Diz.
1,746 reviews115 followers
March 3, 2023
This didn't really connect with me. The main plot is that Jack of Hearts, a character who is supposed to be dead, suddenly shows up at Jen's apartment. This main plot doesn't make much progress in this volume though. It's also light on action. The only action is a fight club that Jen starts with Titania and a brief encounter that is a "misunderstanding." The fight club isn't connected to the main plot and doesn't move the story forward. The "misunderstanding" is hinted at being more significant, but that doesn't resolve in this volume. Instead of action, we get lots and lots of scenes of characters chatting. I guess it's an attempt to build character relationships, but the conversation is of the quippy Marvel type, which feels shallow in this story.
Profile Image for Rylan.
383 reviews15 followers
July 24, 2022
this was perfect. rainbow rowell understands this character so well and gets what a she-hulk book should be about. unlike most superheroes she-hulk’s books tend to be less about punching bad guys and more character focused and this book more than delivers on that. while not much happens in here the characters are fleshed out very well, i love rowell’s voice for jen she’s not as over confident as she is in her other books but it makes sense given her life is in the process of another change and she’s reevaluating herself and her relationships. also rowell did the unthinkable and made me like jack of hearts (it doesn’t help that he’s drawn like a twink). i also want to talk about the art because it’s really good and sets the tone perfectly for this series not to mention jen bartel’s beautiful covers. overall this is such a great read and i definitely recommend it to anyone looking to get into she-hulk with the show coming around the corner.
Profile Image for Rod Brown.
6,383 reviews235 followers
November 27, 2022
I'm always looking for cheery and goofy comic books that go down smooth and easy, and Rainbow Rowell delivers with the newest She-Hulk series. It doesn't really matter what the plot is, I just enjoy hanging out with the character and her familiar friends.

It's a nice jumping on point for any new fans generated by the recent TV show -- which I also enjoyed -- but this version does dispense with breaking the fourth wall for a more traditional voice-over narrative.
Profile Image for Molly™☺.
812 reviews56 followers
March 26, 2024
Mundane magic made possible through great character work. Jen is written wonderfully here and this is the characterisation that should have been brought to life in the concurrent show. With the added bonus of snazzy art that pops off the page, it's well worth a read.
Profile Image for Dakota Morgan.
2,846 reviews39 followers
December 12, 2022
Rainbow Rowell returns to the Marvel universe after her generally above-average Runaways series was cut short - and it's great! Rowell tackles a She-Hulk character with an extremely varied history by serving up a big reset and then taking it slow (sometimes too slow).

We find Jen Walters struggling a bit, but she's started a new job (entry-level, but still) and she has a new place to live (one of Wasp's extra apartments). And she's got a visitor: deceased D-list hero, Jack of Hearts. He appears unexpectedly in the apartment and Jen spends the next four issues slowly attempting to piece together his recent history.

Key word: sloooowwwlllyyyy. There's a lot of circular dialogue in Jen, Again, especially related to Jack's poor memory. Rowell is a skilled wordsmith, though, and the upbeat art and humorous, slice-of-life vibes more than make up for any lack of forward momentum. It's always nice to read the occasional Marvel comic where the universe is not at stake.
Profile Image for Robert.
1,860 reviews150 followers
June 19, 2023
A fun echo of the famous Dan Slott run. Loved the colourful art.
Profile Image for Paz.
480 reviews162 followers
March 3, 2024
I can't believe you started a fight club and didn't invite me!

Re-read (2024): As charming as the first time I read it. This title is so new-reader friendly, yet the world feels so established. Truly a delightful first volume.

Original Review:
3.75 stars!

Jennifer Walters is back and starting her career from the ground up!

This is a lighthearted, easy to read volume that's quite accessible for a first time reader of She-Hulk (like me!).
The plot, to be honest, was a bit non-existent. Jen is back as a lawyer, but she has to start his career from zero. She's in a humble situation, but luckily she will reconnect with some old friends, and also some not so-friendly people from her past.
There's not much lawyering, instead a surprise guest crashes her home (well, Jane Van Dyne's condo) and Jen gets involved in a mystery. Jack of Hearts needs her help. But, he does not remember what happened to him, except that he woke up after everyone thought him dead and that only one thought was ringing through his mind: Jennifer Walters.

This was so fun! A slow beginning, but I ended up so delighted by Jen and Jack's friendship that I started really enjoying this volume halfway through. It's definitely a character-oriented title. If you're looking for plot, this might not interest you as much. There's the mystery of Jack, but the villain is only teased at the end.

However, I think this volume was so charming that I ended up really liking it. The artwork is SO good and those covers! Everything complements the story and tone that Rowell is creating. Jennifer as the protagonist is so fun and kind, and her relationship with Jack is delightful to read. There's a bit of banter, so much heart, and so many little interactions with other Marvel characters that make the volume feel like an established title, not the first one in a series.

I'm a big fan of Rainbow Rowell, and I'm happy to say this title is a success.
Profile Image for Lucy Wickham.
321 reviews
July 23, 2022
since this was written by rainbow rowell, and the tv show is coming soon, i thought i'd give this a go.

it's pretty self contained so far, thankfully, so no random back catalogue marvel knowledge is needed here. it's a great starting point.

bit of a cliffhanger at the end of issue five, intrigued where this is headed.
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,176 followers
June 1, 2023
Starts off great but manders a little bit too much at the end.

Things I loved was Jen's voice here. Super fun and kind. I also enjoyed the jack of hearts? He was fun to get to know more about and his relationship with Jen was cute. The fight club meet up was a lot of fun too.

But the main plot doesn't move much and when it does it feels very slow. The "Villain" or maybe villain is a odd choice. I just didn't feel they move the main plot much to keep me fully infested.

Overall fun but not great. A 3 or a 3.5 out of 5.
Profile Image for Lauren Stoolfire.
4,202 reviews287 followers
January 12, 2023
This is my first She-Hulk comic. I liked the Disney+ show and thought I would try some of the comics and since I realized Rainbow Rowell wrote this that I'd start here. It was fun, but I also felt a bit out of the loop. Before this I'd never heard of Jack of Hearts and I wasn't familiar with some of the other storylines it references. My favorite part though was easily when she went to work and found so many characters waiting for her in the office, especially Moon Knight/ Marc Spector and Captain America/ Sam Wilson. I'm going to have to try more of these comics and might have to start reading Moon Knight as well - that's been one of my favorites Disney+ shows.
Profile Image for Adam Fisher.
3,199 reviews17 followers
December 23, 2022
When I started reading She-Hulk, she was already "savage" and not the typical Jen we've come to know from both her history in comics and on the recent "She-Hulk" tv show. So, when you add the tamer Jen with the phenomenal Rainbow Rowell, you get a recipe for a great Volume!
Highlights:
- Jen gets a job working for Mallory Book, under the condition that she take no superhuman clients. LOL That doesn't last the full Volume even.
- Jen also makes some peace with Titania, and they decide they don't have to be enemies if they can form a kind of "fight club" and beat on each other every once in a while.
- The majority of the story in the Volume has to deal with the return of Jack of Hearts. Once an Avenger, part time cosmic hero, and even fought and hurt Jen once. He is now more human than ever, needing food and drink, and even sleep. Though we do not find out what happened to him, his presence definitely helps focus on the softer and more friendly side of Jen. I am looking forward to seeing where it will go in Volume 2.

A great debut by Rowell, and a phenomenal place for new readers to jump on.
Strong recommend.
Profile Image for C.T. Phipps.
Author 86 books641 followers
June 10, 2023
After the Savage She-Hulk nonsense, it's nice to see Jenn as an attorney again with Mallory. I also like seeing Jen more in her Walters form because she's a great character in that. Also, I think she's drawn from Tatiana Maslany now. I've never been a big fan of Jack of Hearts but he has a decent enough story arc here. This is just a good, fun, clean comic.
Profile Image for Marcos Muñoz.
Author 10 books13 followers
July 10, 2022
I am loving the aspects of shojo manga that it is introducing into the threads. Maresca's art is also top notch and perfect for the story, with detail and accuracy in the expressions, the actions and the environments.
Profile Image for Sarospice.
1,105 reviews14 followers
September 29, 2022
Hard pass. I'm goofy and girly but not as goofy and girly as Rainbow Rowell's writing. Even is they're writing for YA it's dumb. It takes all these issues for Jenn and Jack of Hearts to kiss... Why? Who cares... Nothing else happens....
Profile Image for Dale Kulas.
114 reviews
June 18, 2024
I never read a She-Hulk book before, but this was a fun, light-hearted, breezy read! This trade hit the right balance of humor and was not too over-the-top with the jokes. She-Hulk's banter with Jack of Hearts and how her relationship developed with him intrigued me about how it would play out in future trades. My major nitpick is with the misdirection of the final battle cliffhanger at the end of issue four. That 'battle' was a joke, but the hints of that character's background towards the end of issue five rightly left me wanting more. Unfortunately just learned of discontinuing the announcement of this series today, but I hope they gather the final issues in one more trade so I can pick up where I left off.
Profile Image for London Heady.
144 reviews
December 7, 2022
Wonderful to read. Gorgeous to look at. And it has like two of the BEST marvel characters kissing??? Incredible.
Profile Image for Alex Sarll.
6,494 reviews326 followers
Read
December 12, 2022
The opening issue here felt a little disjointed, kicking off with Jen on her uppers after leaving the Avengers, only to pretty much sort her life out within a couple of dozen pages. Really, though, it's more a sign of confidence than anything else; much like her Runaways, Rowell is getting her lead/s back to something like a classic status quo in order to tell the story she wants, and this time she's willing to be a bit quicker about it. Not that it's a simple exercise in revisiting past glories; never mind the most celebrated She-Hulk runs past, or the TV show which clearly played a part in this solo relaunch, the fourth wall goes undamaged here. And I loved the idea of Jen getting exasperated by Titania showing up for a fight yet again, only to suggest that actually, maybe they could just arrange to meet up and do this Fight Club-style, rather than marring the cathartic exercise with disrupting each other's lives? A little more puzzling was the decision to bring Jack of Hearts into the mix so soon – Jen's former Avengers team-mate from the go-round before last (or maybe the one before that) and, as the comic freely admits, a character now best known for being dead. Which, obviously, he isn't here, and that's not the only change to his set-up. As Patsy Walker puts it on the 'phone, "He, like, showed up from space every once in a while and was more powerful than almost everyone. And you'd think that would make him important but...not really, right?" There's a definite sense that he was a character of whom Rowell was fond as a kid, and that she's taking this opportunity to bring him back into play, and that might sound snarky but honestly, it's at least as good a reason as any other for a writer already successful outside comics to do work for hire like this. Antonio and Renzi's art makes Jen the right mix of cute and serious contender for me, especially once the story starts very gently edging towards a Jen/Jack romance, though I'm sure other readers will prefer the faint fetish/cheesecake edge of the covers. But mainly I love how little this feels obliged to be a superhero comic and how it's largely happy to be a slice of superhuman life.
Profile Image for Maria.
783 reviews47 followers
October 30, 2023
I've never read a She-Hulk comic but I have read Rainbow Rowell and knowing how much I genuinely love her writing I needed to give this one a shot and I'm so glad I did.

Jennifer Walters is definitely a modern woman and I love how the character in this series reminds me of the usual hum-drum of life, very Peter Parker, since she's out of a job, out of a house, and in need of trying to get her feet under her but the universe has other ideas.

In between this story of Jennifer, there's also Jack. Jack of Hearts, which is new to me, so not sure what to expect but those two have some great dialogue and I'm a sucker for great dialogue and I know that Rowell just hooked me with her usual way of writing and now I need to get my hands on the other ones.
Profile Image for Mid-Continent Public Library.
591 reviews233 followers
Read
January 4, 2023
The beginning of Rainbow Rowell's run on She-Hulk, "Jen, Again" has a little something for everyone, leading off with She-Hulk's hallmark humor and drama (more human than legal, because honestly, is Jennifer Walters ever not a mess?), sprinkled liberally with cameos, team-ups, and super-powered brawls. and finished cleanly with a hint of romantic tension. Long-time Marvel readers will enjoy the return of Jack of Hearts and fans of the recent Disney+ series will find this a fresh and familiar introduction to the world of everyone's favorite gamma-powered attorney.

- Evin, Reading Rocket
Profile Image for J.M. (Joe).
Author 30 books159 followers
July 3, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this, loved the art (it felt “She-Hulky"), and best of all, you can pick this up and get straight into it without having read anything before it. Yes, you do enter Jen’s life while she’s going through some changes, but if you have a passingly familiar idea who Jen Walters/She-Hulk is, then this has you up, running, and having fun. Nice storyline. Rowell kept me hooked and I’m heading straight into the next one. Fun! Four stars!
Profile Image for Fraser Simons.
Author 9 books279 followers
August 2, 2023
This was really great. Again, a comic that isn’t concerned with formulaic villain encounters and reruns of past arcs, turns out to be fun and fresh. When Jack-of-hearts returns, there is a central mystery at the heart of it, but it’s just about Jen trying to live her life while also endearingly taking care of this long lost friend, thought dead.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,081 reviews
July 9, 2024
3.5/5 stars

I don't know anything about She-Hulk, but I do enjoy Rainbow Rowell's books. So I was excited to try these comics.

The illustrations were great. It took me a while to understand this world. But I enjoyed seeing Jennifer as a lawyer and then as a green hulk.

I'm looking forward to reading the next comic.
Profile Image for JD Korejko.
58 reviews3 followers
April 24, 2023
This feels like a different take on the superhero genre and I love it! It looks at previous She-Hulk/Villain relationships and finds a new way to deal with their conflict, re-introduces a previous Avenger that I frankly never read before and spends a lot of time developing their potentially blossoming romance? Just a breath of fresh air all around!
Profile Image for Nikita.
43 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2024
Слайс оф лайф про She-Hulk)
Гарний комікс щоб трохи відпочити від всіх пригод супергероїв. Екшену мінімум, але є історія як Джен намагається повернутись до нормального життя.
She-Hulk виглядає неймовірно ❤️
P.S. Таким мав бути серіал про неї
Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews

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