Most fans have heard the news by now that the character of She-Hulk will be getting her own legal comedy series on Disney+ and will be played by none other than Emmy winner Tatiana Maslany. This is particularly a special moment for the long time fans of She-Hulk who know her history in the comics.
As Escapist Magazine reminds readers, She-Hulk was the last character whom Stan Lee created -- alongside John Buscema -- for Marvel before his return to the label for Ravage 2099 in 1992. Meaning that for 12 years, She-Hulk had the unique distinction of being Stan Lee's last original creation. This also means that in the 40 years since the character has been created, She-Hulk has bulked up a rich history in comics with memorable story arcs that could not only make for ample adaptation material for the MCU but essential reading for new fans to prepare them for the series.
10 The She-Hulk Lives! - The Character Debuts (Stan Lee & John Buscema)
There is no better place for a new fan to start than at the beginning. Savage She-Hulk #1 -- or, as it was subtitled on the cover, "She-Hulk Lives" -- served as the character's official debut and origin story.
With nowhere else to go or hide, Bruce Banner goes to Los Angeles to find his cousin Jennifer Walters. Unfortunately, the lawyer was shot by men trying to cover-up some dirt involving her case. To save her life, Banner performs a blood transfusion, but obviously, radiated blood isn't a good mix as it changes Jennifer into the She-Hulk.
9 The Trial Of Yellowjacket - When She-Hulk Joins The Avengers (Bob Hall, Bree Breeding, Jim Shooter & David Michelinie)
In the comics, She-Hulk has been a staple of the Avengers line-up and it's more than likely she'll be joining the movie version of that line-up soon for the MCU. To understand the significance of her role in the group, it may help to read the story arc that introduced her into the fray.
In Bob Hall, Bree Breeding, Jim Shooter, and David Michelinie's Avengers #221, The Wasp puts an ad in the paper calling for female superheroes to join her for a special dinner. Among those who arrive include Spider-Woman, Invisible Woman, Black Widow, and She-Hulk. The latter gets on the wrong foot of one Hawkeye when she pulls up having rear-ended him with her convertible, but she joins The Avengers. The next few issues chronicle her first few missions.
8 Avengers Disassembled - When She Ripped The Vision In Half (Brian Michael Bendis)
Speaking of her role in The Avengers, this next story arc is not heavy on covering Jennifer Walter specifically, but it provides one of the character's most iconic moments that have been spread and shared across the internet ever since these pages were first printed to the page.
Avengers Disassembled is a crossover where Doctor Doom has Scarlet Witch under mind control. Under his control, she vexes She-Hulk, coaxing her into a bloodthirsty rage that ends in her grabbing Vision and literally ripping him to shreds. Her role in the story becomes mute thereafter, but boy, what a moment.
7 The Search For She-Hulk - When She Flees The Team (Geoff Johns & Stephen Sadowski)
While her larger role in the events of Avengers Disassembled is minimal at best, The Vision situation and, overall, a moment of hulking out uncontrollably left She-Hulk reeling. One too many instances of losing control lead to She-Hulk fleeing The Avengers and civilization altogether.
The team tracks her down to a small town in Idaho in The Search for She-Hulk, but this only prompts her to hulk out and cause a rampage that only her cousin Bruce can intervene.
6 Solo Avengers #14 - When She-Hulk Went To Supreme Court (& Titania Kept Bothering Her) (Tom DeFalco & Al Milgrom)
Solo Avengers was a comic series that featured one-off stories of Avengers members away from their team. The 14th issue highlighted She-Hulk's work as a lawyer in one of the biggest cases of her career.
She is arguing against the Mutant Registration Act in front of the Supreme Court, but what should be a case that fits right in line with her field becomes increasingly difficult. Not because of court proceedings themselves, but because Titania keeps showing up outside of the courtroom demanding to fight She-Hulk.
5 Web Of Lies - She-Hulk Represents Spider-Man In Court (Dan Slott & Juan Bobillo)
As the previous entry illustrates, She-Hulk is often at her best when she is positioned at the center of a simple, low-stakes, and often hilarious situation. This is especially the case (no pun intended) in She-Hulk #4 during the "Web of Lies" storyline.
This story puts Peter Parker on her doorstep asking to be the client to her lawyer when he files a libel lawsuit against J. Jonah Jameson. It serves as a humorous way of trying to get to the bottom of exactly why J. Jonah Jameson hates Spider-Man.
4 The Trial Of She-Hulk (Dan Slott)
For years, readers watched as She-Hulk pulled double duty as a superhero and a lawyer (often defending her fellow heroes on the stand), but in this storyline that culminated in the 100th issue of her series, she was forced to defend herself.
She is arrested and brought forth to the Time Variance Authority after warning Hawkeye of his incoming, pre-destined death. Because of her crimes against time, she is put on a trial where if she lost, she would be snapped out of time and existence itself.
3 Single Green Female - Where She-Hulk's Lawyer Life Took Center Stage (Dan Slott, Juan Bobillo & Paul Pelletier)
Sticking on She-Hulk's legal career, this was when writers start to make She-Hulk's lawyer life a priority in her storylines. Up until this point, her lawyer career always and clearly took a backseat to her superhero life, in terms of significance to the story, but Single Green Female is where She-Hulk's stories drew closer towards the legal drama - and often legal comedy - genre.
The story takes shape when She-Hulk is simultaneously fired from The Avengers for her attitude and fired from her law firm for much of the same reasons. She decides to take a job at a law firm that specializes in mutants cases.
2 When She-Hulk Gets Kidnapped By SHIELD, Who Get Invaded By Roaches (John Byrne)
In the 18th issue of the Marvel Graphic Novel series, this one titled "Sensational She-Hulk" and both penciled and written by John Byrne, the title character is kidnapped in the middle of a date by none other than SHIELD.
The organization plan to test out if she'll be a global threat to society like her cousin, but in a twist of events, she might wind up being SHIELD's only hope when they are invaded and overthrown by a group of sentient roaches. No, that's not a typo. Sentient roaches.
1 She-Hulk In The Fantastic Four (John Byrne)
She-Hulk often has ties to The Avengers that are likely to be adapted to the MCU but knowing that she was also in the Fantastic Four once upon a time, audiences should not be surprised if Marvel Studios decides to add her to their other soon-to-be-adapted superhero squad.
Starting in Fantastic Four #265, which also neared the culmination of the Secret Wars crossover event, she became a replacement member of the team when The Thing was pre-occupied with The Beyonder. After 35 issues, The Thing returned and naturally, she left the team to go back to The Avengers.