Dan Slott's She-Hulk Vol. 1

It's taken a little longer than was originally planned (something not helped by the subsequent purchase of Grayson Vol. 2 and Murder Falcon), but I've finally finished reading the comics I received at Christmas!

For the past two weeks I've been reading She-Hulk vol. 1 by Dan Slott, Juan Bobillo and Paul Pelletier. This series sees the Sensational Jade Giantess riding high as a successful trial lawyer by day, while partying both inside and out of Avengers Mansion with both her friends and a slew of beau's by night.

However, when she loses her job and her home within Avengers HQ, She-Hulk is offered a lifeline by the premiere Law Firm in town. However, there's one caveat: She must work in an identity she is eager to ignore, she must work as Jennifer Walters.

Let the hijinks begin.

As a fan of both the current Rainbow Rowell runs and (to a lesser extent) the Charles Soule run before it, I've always heard about Dan Slott's work with the character and its influence into both.

Now that I've read it, I can totally see that. These twelve issues are quirky, light-hearted fun which felt like the last vestige of a style of writing from the late 90's/early 00's which was all but eradicated in the Bendis era.

With an underlying narrative about a someone having to utilise a part of themselves that they don't like (which I think we've all had to do at one time or another), Slott manages to layer it so deeply under the fun and randomness the Jen faces issue by issue in her new job, that her evolution feels gradual but, by the end earned.

The artwork is a mixed bag but still a fun look which complements the story and series. Juan Bobillo's work for half of the series feels a little simple but in a cartoonish way, helping to emphasise the fun, absurd nature of the series. Meanwhile, the great Paul Pelletier (whose work I loved on both FF and Aquaman at various points) leans into that old school action packed aesthetic. It's this style especially which has me thinking (with some nostalgic glee) of that pre-Avengers Disassembled time period.

Like I said, this run of She-Hulk feels like a throwback to a more fun time, but also seems to be a precursor for some of the more 'normal life' stories we've been getting in the last few years a la Hawkeye.

Still, I found it to be quirky and a lot of fun and despite the abrupt ending (which would make sense if it is, as the title suggests 'volume 1'), I sure hope we will get to see a continuation of this run in the pages of a 'volume 2.'

However, I've been burned that way before with Marvel Knights Fantastic Four volume one