WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for She-Hulk #1 by Rainbow Rowell, Rogê Antônio, Rico Renzi and Joe Caramagna, now on sale from Marvel Comics.
There is no denying that She-Hulk has been a fan-favorite hero for many years. Debuting in the '80s, Jennifer Walters (and her superhero alter-ego) quickly made a name for herself, and over the years She-Hulk has become a staple character. Her sense of humor and power-set easily won the hearts of readers, and heroes like The Avengers, The Fantastic Four and The Defenders have been eager to work alongside her. Now She-Hulk is going back to her roots in the solo series She-Hulk by Rainbow Rowell, Rogê Antônio, Rico Renzi and Joe Caramagna.
In this 2022 series, She-Hulk is down on her luck and trying for a fresh start for her career and her life at large as both a hero and Jennifer Walters. However, things are never easy for the superhero as villains quickly make their way into She-Hulk's life. In honor of this new series, Rainbow Rowell sat with CBR for an exclusive interview, discussing the appeal of She-Hulk and what it's like working with Marvel.
CBR: What is the original appeal of She-Hulk to you?
Rainbow Rowell: I've been drawn to She-Hulk since I was a kid. It's something about the fact that she's monstrous but also beautiful, intelligent and genuinely funny. (My other favorite Marvel character is Hank McCoy -- I have a type.) I'm always drawn to comics characters who struggle, and Jen has a long history of having to pick herself up and start over.
This She-Hulk focuses a lot, so far, on Jennifer Walters building herself back up, so what was it like working on this character in this place of her life?
It felt very natural to me and very true to who she is. If you look back at She-Hulk's history, she's been a part of almost every big Marvel event, and she's been deeply affected by them. She's been seriously injured. She's lost her power. She's lost control… but she always, always finds a way to start over.
What was it like balancing this more internal issue of starting fresh with the external issues Jennifer has to face?
The thing I love about Marvel characters -- as a reader and a writer -- is that they feel like real people. You relate to the person behind the mask. The external and the internal feel very connected. Jen is a lawyer and she's a hero and a friend and a single woman. All of those things flow into each other. I feel like I'm writing a whole person.
She-Hulk has a huge history behind her, so what did you want to incorporate from that past canon into this new story?
I really like looking back and seeing where a character has been -- and seeing what has stuck. What makes She-Hulk She-Hulk? What feels important? For me, a big thing is her sense of humor. She's one of the funniest Marvel characters and she's sort of unsinkable in stressful situations. She's great at playing a supportive role. She's been on almost every team and involved in every big story. Everyone in the Marvel Universe trusts her. She doesn't lose her head -- as a Hulk and as a person. She's as likely to lean on her law degree as her muscles and she has a really unique relationship with being a Hulk. She embraces it.
How does the Jennifer Walters of 2022 compare to the Jennifer Walters of The Savage She-Hulk Issue #1 (1980)?
From the start, Jen has been someone who cares about justice. You also see in those first issues someone who is trying to integrate being a Hulk into the rest of her life.
Along with She-Hulk, we've met a few other characters in this series, from Titania to Jack of Hearts. Aside from Jennifer, who were you most excited to write in this series and why?
One of my goals for the series was to give Jen a strong supporting cast -- great characters have great supporting characters. I looked at who had been important to her over the years. Who has she supported? She's friends with everyone, but who does she call when she needs help? Or needs a break? I wanted to bring together characters from different She-Hulk series and eras: Wasp, Hellcat, Thing. Mallory Book, her legal nemesis. Titania, her most frequent sparring partner. I've got a soft spot for Volcana, so she shows up, too. And of course, Jack of Hearts, whom I've always found really intriguing.
The last book I wrote was Runaways. That group of kids is removed from the rest of the Marvel community. They want to be removed, but She-Hulk is in the thick of it. You could realistically bring almost anybody in to interact with her.
What was your collaboration process like with your artist, Rogê Antônio?
Rogê is incredibly talented. His pages are so dynamic -- even his thumbnails are beautiful and alive, and he cares a lot about making every page great. He's always looking for ways to make the book better.
What do you love most about writing for Marvel?
I've always loved Marvel characters, even before I could wrap my head around why. So that's the main draw for me -- getting to write some of my all-time favorite characters. Runaways was my dream book and She-Hulk is just as dear to me. But I also really love the collaboration. I'm a novelist, so I spend months and months alone with my thoughts. I love being able to talk to Marvel editors and artists about a project. I love the way my work becomes better and more meaningful when it's part of a group effort.
You've written for Marvel before on Runaways. What was it like writing for this publisher again but this time on a singular hero as opposed to a team?
Writing a team book is so tricky. It's kind of like juggling, or maybe like leading an orchestra? You have to make sure that everyone is getting their moments and story and that everyone's stories are coming together. Also, each member of the team has a specific dynamic with each other member and that comes out in every conversation or interaction. I'd really have to immerse myself in the Runaways' world to stay in all of their heads.
It's nice only having one main character to manage! It also feels like writing more of an individual love letter. I really care about Jen and I want her to have the best stories and best panels and best dialogue, and this book is completely focused on her.
What's your dream She-Hulk team up?
I mean, it's kind of what I'm writing now. I like Jen best when she's with someone who lets her be funny. That's why I love her with Thing and Hellcat. Surprisingly, she hasn't spent much time with Spider-Man over the years, but they're always really fun when they do cross paths.
She-Hulk #1 on sale now from Marvel Comics.