The 15 Best She-Hulk Comics You Need To Read
Jennifer Walters (aka She-Hulk) may not have as much mainstream recognition as other characters like Captain America or Wolverine, but she's been an important part of the Marvel Comics universe ever since her debut in "The Savage She-Hulk" #1, written by Stan Lee and drawn by artist John Buscema. Besides having numerous solo series, she's been a part of such teams as the Fantastic Four and the Avengers.
However, other than the superficial similarities to her cousin, She-Hulk retains her snarky personality even in her Hulk form and is even known for her ability to break the fourth wall and talk directly to the audience, years before a certain Merc with a Mouth became famous for this same kind of meta-humor. Another quality that sets She-Hulk apart from her cousin is that her job as a lawyer enables her to live her life as both a superhero and an attorney at the same time and out in the open and has often defended superheroes in court. Now that She-Hulk has her own show on Disney+, here's a handy guide to the best She-Hulk comics you need to read.
The Savage She-Hulk #1
In this fateful issue, Bruce Banner, on the run from the law, arrives at the L.A. law office of his cousin, Jennifer Walters, who he's always been close with. After a happy reunion, Walters takes Banner to her place so that he can lay low for a while, but she's shot by some of the gangsters associated with a case she's handling. Banner fends them off, but Walters has lost a lot of blood, so he conducts the blood transfusion himself enabling her to regain consciousness before calling 911 and going back on the run. Walters recuperates at a nearby hospital, but the gangsters that attacked her earlier have returned to finish the job. However, they didn't count on her being infused with irradiated blood, so they're roundly defeated when she turns into She-Hulk.
This debut issue and the rest of She-Hulk's first series are quite a bit different from the clever and snarky She-Hulk that comic book readers are familiar with today. Still, it's an auspicious introduction to one of Marvel's strongest and most important female heroes and does a nice job setting up elements of her mythology that have lasted well into the modern era.
She-Hulk: Single Green Female
She-Hulk's, um, wild lifestyle gets her fired from her law firm and forced out of the Avengers mansion. Now, she must find a way to make ends meet. Luckily, she gets hired at Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway, which only deals with cases involving people with superpowers. However, the law firm didn't hire her for her superhero experience but her courtroom experience, meaning Jennifer Walters must step up while She-Hulk takes the back seat. Of course, that doesn't mean that she won't bump into anyone else in the Marvel Comics universe.
This six-issue miniseries is largely inconsequential to She-Hulk's overall continuity, but it's essential for anyone who loves the quirky sense of humor associated with the character. Mostly a courtroom comedy (though there's still plenty of action, too), "She-Hulk: Single Green Female" is packed with laugh-out-loud moments and gives readers a deeper insight into the character's unique identity as an irreverent lawyer and superhero. If you can imagine Ally McBeal if she were massive, green, and capable of punching a hole through a concrete building, then you'll have an idea of what this miniseries is about.
Marvel Graphic Novel #18, The Sensational She-Hulk
She-Hulk is bummed that it's her cousin Bruce Banner's birthday but can't be there to celebrate it, as he's on the run. Her boyfriend, Wyatt Wingfoot, cheers her up with a romantic night out. However, their date is interrupted when S.H.I.E.L.D. agents capture them and take them to a helicarrier. S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury has been ordered to take She-Hulk into custody to prevent her from going on a rampage and putting innocent lives in danger. With an assist from Wingfoot, She-Hulk escapes their prison cell, and all hell breaks loose when she gets angry. However, the battle leaves her unable to revert to her Jennifer Walters form (at least for a while).
She-Hulk and Wyatt Wingfoot started dating during her tenure with the Fantastic Four and they make a delightful couple. Even without superpowers, Wingfoot is still capable of holding his own in a fight. He has always been supportive of She-Hulk's life as a superhero, and seeing them take on bad guys together is a blast. Plus, because of the graphic novel format, writer and artist John Byrne is allowed to take the character into more mature places.
She-Hulks: Hunt for the Intelligencia
In the "World War Hulks" crossover event, a group of supervillains called the Intelligencia (including Klaw, The Tinkerer, Red Ghost, Trapster, and Wizard) have manipulated all of the various Hulks to duke it out with one another. The aftermath of that story is "She-Hulks," in which She-Hulk and young Hulk-ette, Lyra (the daughter of Hulk and Thundra), team up to take down the Intelligencia. Because this is a group of dangerous masterminds, She-Hulk and Lyra won't be able to just punch their way to victory and must use their wits along with their fists.
Marvel Comics is known for milking their crossover titles almost to the point of excess, and many of their spinoffs seem forced and irrelevant to the main story. While "She-Hulks: Hunt For The Intelligencia" may not tie much into "World War Hulks," it is an incredibly fun read. The witty exchanges are top-notch, and there's a good amount of heart in the subplots involving She-Hulk showing Lyra how to live a life as close to that of a normal teenage girl as possible.
She-Hulk #1 (2022)
After She-Hulk leaves the Avengers, she sets out to rebuild her life and career. However, things are never that simple for She-Hulk, whose plans are interrupted when her old archenemy Titania confronts her. After some superpowered punching, the two opponents realize that they just like to fight, so they agree to spar with one another away from bystanders to release some pent-up anger. Now that things have cooled off with a longtime foe, She-Hulk focuses on her career and lands a new job. Once her friend Janet Van Dyne (Wasp) sets her up with an apartment, it seems that She-Hulk finally has her life under control. That is until an old hero long thought dead suddenly appears in her home.
This new solo series is the perfect jumping-on point for casual fans, as it establishes a whole new status quo for She-Hulk, setting the stage for adventures that aren't beholden to past continuity. However, there are still plenty of nods to She-Hulk's long history to keep legacy fans happy as well. It's a back-to-basics comic that strips the character down to what made her so special in her formative years.
Avengers Vol. 3 #71 — 76, The Search for She-Hulk
Fellow Avenger Jack of Hearts can absorb radiation, which because of the irradiated blood she has flowing through her, causes She-Hulk to lose control of transformations. After ripping the Vision in half during one of her accidental rampages, She-Hulk goes on the run to eliminate the possibility of hurting anyone else. However, it's now fear that causes her to transform into her Hulk form instead of just anger, so when the Avengers track her down in Bone, Idaho, the terror caused by their presence provokes her into a seemingly unstoppable rage. It looks like it's time to call in another green behemoth with anger management issues.
"The Search for She-Hulk" is an unusually dark She-Hulk story, but that makes it all the more essential for fans of the character. She-Hulk has largely managed to keep her rage under control and differs from her cousin Bruce Banner in that she keeps her upbeat personality, even when she's transformed. However, this story is a sobering reminder that, despite a generally snarky attitude, she still has a responsibility to uphold.
All-New Savage She-Hulk
Set during the "Dark Reign" era in Marvel Comics, "All-New Savage She-Hulk" follows Lyra, the alternate-future daughter of Hulk and Thundra. She's sent back in time to the present to save her people, the Femizons, who're at risk of dying out. As part of her mission, Lyra must kill the world's greatest hero to rob the battling clans of their future idol, which should convince them to end their war against her people. She-Hulk takes on Lyra and gains the edge in their fight when, unlike her and the other Hulks, Lyra becomes weaker when she gets angry. However, when it's revealed that Lyra's mission is more complex than it appears, She-Hulk decides to team up with her when Norman Osborn gets involved.
"All-New Savage She-Hulk" is primarily a Lyra story, but Jennifer Walters plays an important part in it. The miniseries does a nice job of expanding the overall Hulk mythos. Who knows? Now that Marvel Studios has given She-Hulk the spotlight, maybe we'll see some of these other Hulks join the growing ranks of the MCU. The story is also worth reading because it plants the seeds of She-Hulk and Lyra's friendship, which plays out further in "She-Hulks: Hunt For The Intelligencia."
She-Hulk Sensational
She-Hulk is frustrated that it's her birthday. She sees the day as nothing more than a reminder that she's not getting any younger. She even gets mad when the narration of the comic itself mentions that she's one year older. After Spider-Man recommends that She-Hulk goes on a "Christmas Carol"-style journey to show her how to appreciate her life, he promptly dismisses the idea as cliché. Later that night, of course, She-Hulk is visited by her creator Stan Lee who tells her to expect three ghosts to arrive to show her how to appreciate her life, and sure enough, they do.
Spider-Man's right in that this plot device has been overdone, but that still doesn't take away from the hilarious meta-humor it brings to the character's life and fits right in with the fourth-wall-breaking comedy She-Hulk is known for. Stan Lee's appearance in the Jacob Marley role is a standout joke in a comic that's packed with priceless gags.
She-Hulk: Cosmic Collision
Unum, a mighty alien woman from the planet Yor, has just killed their strongest female warrior and is now on the search for more powerful women to battle around the galaxy. On Earth, numerous superpowered women are being mysteriously teleported away by the Collector, including She-Hulk and her Super-Skrull friend Jazinda. All of the women end up in a secure location to protect them from the wrath of Unum. In addition to She-Hulk and Jazinda, this group of women includes Guardians of the Galaxy members Gamora, Mantis, Quasar, the Lady Liberators, and others. However, they're no longer safe when Unum shows up, eager to slaughter so much prey at once. But what is she trying to achieve?
Having written an acclaimed run on "The Incredible Hulk" in the '80s and '90s, writer Peter David is no stranger to the Hulk universe. Here, he does a spectacular job of putting She-Hulk through the wringer to have her appreciate what it means to be a superhero. Of course, David is also known for his witty dialogue, so expect some high-quality quips from everyone's favorite verdant heroine.
Red She-Hulk #58 — 67
Red She-Hulk is the alter ego of Bruce Banner's longtime love interest, Betty Ross, the daughter of Banner's longtime archfoe, General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross. As Red She-Hulk, Betty has superpowers similar to those of Jennifer Walters' She-Hulk but also has the ability to absorb and emit energy. After appearances in various "Hulk" comics, Red She-Hulk took over an existing series (hence the high issue number listed above) and got the spotlight for a time. Her solo adventures kick off with a bang in "Hell Hath No Fury," which sees the crimson giantess take on a military program creating super soldiers that she believes will have devastating consequences on humanity's future.
Despite usually playing a supporting role in the Hulk side of the Marvel Comics universe, Betty Ross has always been a fascinating and complex character, so it's a breath of fresh air to see her join the good fight in "Red She-Hulk." This series is a little more serious than the Jennifer Walters-She-Hulk stories, but Ross' characterization is depicted well. The stories have some levity to balance out the overall heaviness that permeates the series. Ross' Red She-Hulk could've very easily been a cheap copy of existing characters, designed to cash in on the Hulk name, but this run proves that she's more than capable of standing on her own.
Thing & She-Hulk: The Long Night
One night in the Big Apple, the Thing and She-Hulk are having separate interactions with annoying New Yorkers. The Thing is having it out with some thugs on the subway while She-Hulk is putting some sexist construction workers in their place. However, unbeknownst to them, something even more annoying than rude New Yorkers is rearing its head under the streets of Manhattan. Dragon Man is on the run from Roxxon, who wants to perform experiments on him, and Bohan, the leader of a group of vampires, is about to emerge with his followers for a grand, bloody feast.
She-Hulk is well-known for her clever sense of humor, always finding a way to add some levity to dire situations, and the Thing is typified by his gruff, blue-collar wit, never afraid to respond to a supervillain with a grunt and a schoolyard taunt. It's a total blast seeing these two muscle-bound heroes take on a plethora of villains and monsters in a single night together, playing off each others' banter like it was about to go out of style. Also worthy of note is how these multiple storylines are connected with surprising intricacy, elevating what could've been a fun yet forgettable adventure.
Solo Avengers #14
For those not familiar with the "Solo Avengers" series, each issue featured stories that focused on a single member of the Avengers, fleshing out the character in a one-off tale that was largely disconnected from mainstream continuity. In this issue, Hawkeye gets the primary story while She-Hulk gets the secondary story. Even though She-Hulk gets second billing in this issue, it's still a wonderful read. Titled "Court Costs!" this tale follows Jennifer Walters as she fights against the controversial Mutant Registration Act at the Supreme Court but is constantly interrupted by Titania's attempts to pick a fight outside of the courthouse.
Part courtroom drama, part superhero smackdown, "Court Costs!" was written by legendary "X-Men" scribe Chris Claremont, who's known for his amazing character work. Even though Claremont had little experience writing She-Hulk, he perfectly nails the character's split obligations between her work as an attorney and that of a superheroine. The Mutant Registration Act was a serious issue facing mutants at the time in Marvel Comics, but Claremont manages to keep it light with She-Hulk's tongue-in-cheek humor without taking away from the seriousness of the subject.
She-Hulk Vol. 1 #159 — 163, Jen Walters Must Die
Longtime Hulk archfoe Samuel Sterns (the Leader) has his sights on She-Hulk, but because he knows that it requires more than brains to defeat the Jade Giantess, he coerces Professor Robyn Meiser Malt, a hardcore fan of She-Hulk, into kidnapping her. Next, the Leader has Malt use She-Hulk's blood to give herself a gamma radiation boost, and she gains comparable superhuman powers. Malt is then manipulated into a fight with She-Hulk, but She-Hulk uses this opportunity to fight a physical battle with "herself" to fight an internal battle she's been in for some time.
The Leader has always been a great villain for the Hulk — and this storyline proves that he's just as great against She-Hulk — as he's typically forced into using his immense intellect to best a foe who relies on brute force. However, this story shines as an exploration of PTSD. During this time in the Marvel Comics universe, Bruce Banner was dead (only to return, of course), and the heroes had been rocked by a lasting status quo shakeup, She-Hulk included. This storyline saw her dealing with loss and identity in a way rarely seen before in "She-Hulk" comics, and it's handled with all of the grace (and punching) it deserves.
Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #265
The part of She-Hulk's history takes place right after the "Secret Wars" crossover, which saw many heroes and villains mysteriously abducted to Battleworld by the Beyonder. Mister Fantastic, Human Torch, and the Thing were among them, leaving a pregnant Invisible Woman behind on Earth. While the heroes were ultimately successful and were able to return home, the Thing decided to stay on Battleworld, as it allowed him to return to his human form. Because She-Hulk was close friends with the Thing, she decided to take his place in the Fantastic Four, a position she'd hold on and off for decades afterward.
While not exactly an action-packed issue, it's still an important one for She-Hulk. Under the pen of legendary comic book writer and artist John Byrne (who was also a major influence on "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law"), She-Hulk was a surprising yet stellar member of Marvel's first family. Her strength and durability made her a more than suitable replacement for the Thing, and while his rugged sense of humor was always a vital part of the Fantastic Four's team dynamic, She-Hulk's quick wit more than made up for his absence.
Sensational She-Hulk #1
In this first issue of her second solo series, She-Hulk is hanging out at the McFadden Brothers Circus, showing off her strength by easily lifting two elephants. But this circus is being run by longtime Marvel Comics villain Maynard Tibolt (the Ringmaster) and his Circus of Crime. The Ringmaster uses his hypnotic tophat to take control of She-Hulk's mind and turns her into a performer as part of his circus, calling her Glamazonia. Who's the Ringmaster working for and what do they want with She-Hulk?
"The Savage She-Hulk" series introduced the world to the Jade Giantess, but "The Sensational She-Hulk" truly solidified her into one of Marvel Comics' best heroines. So many elements were established here that would go on to become associated with the character for decades to come, most notably her penchant for breaking the fourth wall to talk directly to readers. It was the addition of this particular quality that drove home that She-Hulk wasn't just another superhero. The meta-humor allowed the character to go on wackier and more colorful adventures that were unusual for Marvel Comics at the time.