Marvel Comics' new ongoing title, She-Hulk, proves that any comic property can be made entertaining with the right combination of ideas. Basically, there is no such thing as a poor property, in my opinion -- only poor creative direction.

Take the Hulk's cousin, superhero and trial lawyer She-Hulk, a.k.a., Jennifer Walters. Seemingly a cheap spin-off character, she has previously enjoyed two other fairly successful series. In this latest venture, newly collected in the trade paperback Single Green Female, She-Hulk has been asked to work for the law firm that got her fired from her last job. The catch: they want to employ Jen Walters, not her high-profile alter-ego. What's more, the Avengers have just kicked Walters out of the mansion for abusing her privileges.

And, as if THAT wasn't enough, she was just dumped by an underwear model who found her too shallow.

Not comfortable with her smaller, weaker self, Shulkie now has to come to terms with being Walters professionally, while practicing in the fledgling field of superhuman law.

Marvel opted for the humor aspect in this book and, really, where else could you go? The wild thing about it is, it works! She-Hulk is funny. Quirky. Entertaining. And it has the feel of something that has never been done. I mean, where else do you read about lawyers using night-vision goggles and diving helmets to meet with subterranean and Atlantean clients, respectively? What other book has chronicled Spider-Man's defamation lawsuit against J. Jonah Jameson? Get the idea? There's uncharted territory here.

Kudos to writer Dan Slott for pulling it off, with outstanding characterization to boot. Add to that a refreshing, individualized art style that ably captures the humor of the book, by penciler Juan Bobillo and inker Marcelo Sosa, and you have what could be considered one of the most buzz-worthy comics on the market, today. Oh, yeah, there's super-hero action, as well.

Recommended for all but the youngest readers, She-Hulk takes the emerald giantess -- and readers -- where they have never been before. How rare is that?

- Rambles
written by Mark Allen
published 25 September 2004