The Savage She-Hulk - Volume 01 Issue 01

My Rating

The She-Hulk Lives

Downtown Los Angeles, California, the day has been troubling for Jennifer Walters, but she is confident her client Monkton will beat the murder charge. Jennifer’s research has been taxing but she has uncovered new evidence linking west coast crime boss, Nick Trask, to the killing. As the young star attorney reviews her notes there is a knock at her office door.

“Doc!”, she squeals as her long lost cousin Bruce Banner walks into the room. It’s been many years since Jennifer has last seen him. She rushes across the room to greet him. After a few minutes of small talk, Bruce’s appearance is inspected with an attorney’s eye. Jennifer notices his weight loss and troubled demeanor. This is not the happy-go-lucky man she remembers. Jennifer decides to take her estranged cousin home so he can get some rest.

North Hollywood – several blocks from Jennifer’s residents, the two cousins have been talking as her car travels north through the streets of LA. Bruce Banners has just revealed his secrets to an astonished Jennifer. He tells her everything from the gamma bomb test, the betrayal of his jealous peer Igor, and the rescue of a teenager who stumbled onto the test range.

Jennifer consoles Bruce as he begins to ask about her case docket. As Jennifer’s car gets closer to their destination a dark sedan begins to follow, but not too closely behind. Inside the vehicle is a pair of hitmen who have been hired to silence a nosey attorney. As Jennifer Walters pulls into the driveway of her Hollywood home the vehicle quickly pulls in behind them.

Shots are fired as Bruce and Jennifer exit their vehicle. One of the bullets from the shooter’s 38 Special hits Jennifer in the abdomen. Bruce rushes to her side and they retreat into her garage. Two more shots are fired but the killer is a poor shot. There is no more time, with the number of shots fired, the noise will certainly cause alarm. The gangsters abandon their hit and flee before the police arrive!

Will Doctor Bruce Banner save his cousin Jennifer Walters from certain death? Can the Los Angeles police find a dossier on a man with no identification? Has Nick Trask eliminated the only evidence tying him to the murder of his own bodyguard? Collect the series to find out!

Reviewer Notes

With the release of The Savage She-Hulk #1 facsimile edition this month, and Marvel Comics marking the reprint date February 2023, I feel safe in saying this is my last review of 2022, and my first review of a 2023 comic! So, where to begin? This is the book that started it all. From November 1979 to the present the She-Hulk character has been on everything from comic books, toys, lunchboxes, cartoons, and even a Netflix miniseries. Let’s just say she is a popular hero archetype that has been enjoyed by several generations of fans.

I can say confidently that this facsimile is a great reproduction of the original book, including the next month issues checklist page, and original advertisements. Just a side note: I had the pump-action Crosman BB gun shown on the inside cover; boy could it take out a car windshield. Sorry mom.

Anyway, the art by John Buscema and Chic Stone is the quintessential style coined by Stan Lee as “Comics the Marvel Way”. The colors on the reprint glossy pages make the art pop even more (I have an original copy of Savage She-Hulk number one so I can confirm the awesomeness). The production is excellent. You can pick-up this book, read it from cover to cover, and say confidently, yes – this is a Marvel Comic. For me, today’s Marvel books have too many varying art styles. I’m not downplaying the newer artists, I just don’t like reading a Moon Knight annual done in a manga influenced art style, then picking up a Damage Control issue and seeing a completely different look to the art. The silver and bronze age Marvel books have a more uniform look and layout which I miss.

Let’s talk about the story arch. Stan “the Man” Lee pens issue number one, so we get his classic narratives throughout the story. There is a bit of shoehorning going on when Bruce Banner performs the blood transfusion. Jennifer Walters’ neighbor just happens to be a doctor? The doctor just happens to have the exact medical supplies needed at his residence to perform a transfusion? Come on, Stan. Oh what the hell, it’s 1979, so go with the flow man…

I’m giving the Savage She-Hulk #1 Facsimile four out of five stars. I wish the Netflix miniseries could have worked in more of this storyline. You can’t beat a classic time tested story or its characters.