While everybody’s reeling from Star Wars reveals on investor day, I’m more interested in the She-Hulk show. It seems it’s trying to emulate Charles Soule’s more down-to-earth style than the fourth-wall breaking Sensational She-Hulk. In any case, Jennifer Walters has quite a history of trying to stand out. Before Deadpool, she was Marvel’s Fourth Wall breaker along with Howard the Duck. At certain points like in Dan Slott’s run with her this aspect is more of an allusion than a reference. But after reading Al Ewing’s Immortal She-Hulk one-shot, this calls into question about Jen’s depiction. Could this fourth-wall awareness be a part of something bigger? That’s what’s today’s Comic Theory is all about.
The Classic Sensational She-Hulk
Which brings us to John Byrne’s iconic Sensational Hulk run, including the graphic novel. Jen initially couldn’t go back to being human, not that she minds being a giant green woman. (All I wanna do is see you turn into a giant woman!) Later in Byrne’s official run, it becomes apparent more happened to her. There is one time she gets a gray form that comes out at night and of course the fourth wall breaking.
The Immortal She-Hulk
Later She-Hulk runs go further into implications on Jen Walters’ powers and the effects on her psychology. Aside from addiction possibilities, there are implications coming from odd places. There are times when Jen’s powers get affected from factors like radiation, super-tech, or traumas. All of which ends up coming into the Immortal She-Hulk by Al Ewing noting that the Sensational She-Hulk died four times. Okay I admit, theory somewhat confirmed that Jen’s transformations into She-Hulk are resurrections. The real meat comes from how each resurrection affects her.
Sensational She-Hulk: A Temporary Host
In the main Immortal Hulk by Ewing, there comes the concept of the Green Door. Gamma mutates like Bruce and Jen are able to resurrect by passing through this metaphysical barrier. Doing so imbues their bodies with so much power it transforms them. Naturally this all includes bodies that grow to large sizes and muscle mass to contain and metabolize the energy. Each resurrection also seems to change people to a degree while erasing their memories. Immortal She-Hulk confirms three deaths but there may be a fourth death that changes Jen.
That is the Sensational She-Hulk; remember when Jen’s exposure to radiation keeps her in She-Hulk form? Some comic readers will note how strange that is considering other pieces of Immortal Hulk. Bruce is physically separated from Hulk multiple times before and after this run. What if that applies to Jen as well? Could it be that Jen’s base human form died when exposed to the radiation and the She-Hulk form is her buffer? Is that why Jen knows about the Fourth Wall? Does it have something to do with the One Below All? Wait… the who?
Immortal Implications
It is rather strange how She-Hulk only touches upon her fourth wall breaking at different points. Like in a She-Hulk Sensational segment, she is able to crunch text balloons into a ball and chuck it with force. Most of the time it’s like Jen forgot about her fourth-wall awareness? But why? Well a bigger plot in Immortal Hulk comes from a being of great power, The One Below All. This being is a multiversal threat who is the source of the Extreme Gamma that powers people like the Hulks. It can even possess gamma mutates when they pass through the Green Door. All of that in mind it needs a host since it has no mind of its own.
In the Immortal Hulk stories, Bruce’s dad Brian becomes host for the Below One after an event called Chaos War. But considering the time gaps in the narratives, could anyone else be eligible? With the title of this article, you can bet that I’ll tell you that I propose Sensational She-Hulk and her awareness come from this Anti-God.
Sensational Anti-Messiah
Remember when Jennifer Walters is stuck as She-Hulk from radiation exposure? Well, with her as She-Hulk in this state, I guess she can absorb it. Problem is, why isn’t she exploding like her cousin Bruce does on smaller occasions? When Hulk’s body has too much energy, the threat of all that compacting energy can go off like a nuclear bomb! I’ll be referring to my theory that Jen’s human body might’ve died when absorbing that radiation. With her body in the Below-Place (basically a Double Hell), her mind and gamma body are more than likely under the influence of the Below One. Hence She-Hulk’s fourth wall awareness.
As for why She-Hulk or Jen don’t remember this part of their lives, it’s safe to assume it has to do with the Green Door. Considering Jen reverts to her human form after radiation tampering, this might explain why Jen lacks her awareness. With Jennifer Walter’s full resurrection she loses her connection to the One Below All. All that’s left are echoes that are more metaphorical than literal. The Below One probably can’t even connect with her after Jen’s rampage from this radiation tampering. In other words, not so much a Sensational She-Hulk as just a She-Hulk.
But the ink’s not dry yet! Thanks for coming and as always remember to look between the panels.