ICYMI! Sensational She-Hulk #3: To be or not to be sensational…

Rainbow Rowell and Andres Genolet are back with the newest installment of the third issue of the new She-Hulk comic series, and we’re in the Jensational era, and we finally get a She-Hulk/Hulk heart to heart moment! Meanwhile, Jen and the rest of the Punch Club have a moment of contention over Titania’s other half, the Absorbing Man, and the Jack of Hearts joining the group. Plus we’ve got a new development that looks to cause trouble for Jen, Mallory, and their law practice! 

Ahhh. It’s great to be back on the She-Hulk review que, and I can’t wait to dive in. I’m a Shulkamaniac from way back, so when my time allowed me to pick the book back up, I pounced. We’ve got this green Amazon (another favorite of mine) who’s known to not only be a bruiser, but one of the most fun loving characters out there. Whether it’s her time on the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, or breaking the fourth wall of comics in her very own ongoing that lasted for 60 issues. That’s one hell of a feat, considering that most female lead comics from Marvel rarely reach that peak. The original Spider-Girl comic made it to 100, which is the current record holder. 

Rowell’s run has had some peaks and valleys, quality wise. She’s brought back a bunch of elements from Jen’s previous runs that have become some of the fan favorites, like Mallory Book, returning to Jan’s (aka the OG Wasp—and my favorite Avenger) apartment, Awesome Andy, and a whole bunch of other elements, mixing them up with some brand new ingredients all her own. One of the best of those elements is the introduction of the Punch Club, and bringing together some of the oft forgotten characters, like Titania’s best friend Volcana, or returning Jack of Hearts to the land of the living, and Jen’s current beau. Plus the totally doesn’t work, but is just amazing, is the romance between Mallory and Andy! The book is just a lot of fun. 

Does a Hulk sit in the woods?

Jen and the Hulk’s heart to heart (for current developments on the Hulk, and his Banner alter ego see current issues of his own mag on stands now!) was something that She-Hulk and Hulk fans didn’t realize they needed until they got it. Often when we see the pair together, they’re fighting each other, with a plethora of other Avengers, or other powerhouses, trying to bring the Hulk down for something. Having an issue that they actually just sit down and have a chat was a much welcome moment, and Rowell definitely needs some praise for it. Did all the moments land? No. Especially the parts where she’s trying to figure out her current relationship with Jack. You’d think Jen would want to speak to Hulk about her recent period of time where she was stuck in her Savage She-Hulk era, and how she dealt with it, but it is what it is. Sure, Jen and Hulk fought Anathema, a new gamma powered powerhouse, but the fight feels more like an afterthought. Here’s hoping that we’ll get some more moments like this in both of their books.