The new She-Hulk doesn't have time for culture shock.
Since she journeyed back to the modern day Marvel Universe from her own future, Lyra has faced the Dark Avengers, Jennifer Walters and enough teched-out soldiers to slow even her father, the original Hulk, down. Now, on July 22, writer Fred Van Lente and artists Peter Vale and Michael Ryan up the ante as Lyra runs the final gauntlet to save her native civilization from extinction in ALL-NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #4.
According to Van Lente, Lyra's desire to help the very people who have rejected and tried to kill her comes from a variety of factors:
"Guilt. A sense of duty that has been ingrained in her from birth. Don't forget a lot of oppressed minorities are brainwashed through the dominant culture to identify with the ruling class. But if she ever breaks free of her programming—look out! An epic throw down between two She-Hulks and the Dark Avengers may be forthcoming—Jennifer Walters and Lyra fighting side-by-side!"
Van Lente also confirmed that, though she's only spent a little time in the present Marvel Universe, Lyra has already developed some doubts about whether she wants to return home.
"But I'm afraid you'll have to read the thrilling final issue to learn how that pans out," the writer adds.
In that short period, Lyra has also seen enough of the present day to make some comparisons between it and the future world she comes from.
"I think Lyra sees the flaws of both," says Van Lente. "As we've seen, she despises both the rampant, violent sexism of her era and what she sees as the mindless 'hero worship' of our own. She is truly a tragic figure—a woman without a home. But perhaps she will find that home, or at least a purpose, by the last page of the last issue."
Before that, however, Van Lente will have to follow up on the last page of the third issue, containing the revelation that Lyra came to the present not to kill Norman Osborn, but rather to engage in more procreation-related activities with the notorious villain, something that he will respond to in at least two ways.
"First, as an opportunity for pleasure," lists Van Lente. "Then, as a perfect opportunity for business—Osborn is always looking for ways to turn circumstances to his optimum advantage. And yes, that is as creepy as it sounds."
Once Lyra's limited series ends, however, fans can continue to follow the new She-Hulk's exploits in an all-new backup feature beginning in INCREDIBLE HULK #600 on July 15, also written by Van Lente.
"I'm always drawn to displaced heroes, and Lyra is definitely that," says Van Lente of his desire to tell more of the fledgling She-Hulk's adventures. "When we sold out of the first issue of ALL-NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK and the orders for the third issue come in higher than the second, Marvel asked me if I wanted to continue the series, and since so many ideas came to me while I was working on Lyra's initial adventure for future tales it was hard to say no."
Of those many ideas, Van Lente couldn't help but rattle off a number of cryptic hints as to where Lyra's future will take her.
"Lyra has crossed Norman Osborn, and in the world of Dark Reign that is not a prescription for an easy life," he warns. "We answer the questions: What is Gamma Corps: Black? What are the ultimate goals of the Origins Corporation? What long-time Hulk villain has Osborn hired to lead it? And after the events of INCREDIBLE HULK #600, Jennifer Walters' status is...well, that would be telling."
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Ugh, Marvel -- I am so super disappointed that you've decided to promote this character while refusing to give Jennifer Walters the much deserved spotlight. This miniseries has only been so-so and I refuse to believe that the first issue sold out because it was SO popular, rather there were low order numbers to begin with. Of course it sold out!
~ Hype _________________ "Just because I was in the wrong doesn't mean I wasn't right. ... Okay, I admit that sounded better in my head!" - the She-Hulk
I'd have had no problem with Lyra if not for the endless proliferation of alternate characters who vie to replace known and loved ones. While I get the dilemma of her story, and that it could be extremely interesting to some (even myself, honestly), we only JUST got Skaar, so adding in Lyra AND having her replace Jen in a way that implied (and now seems to be confirmed) that she was here to stay has me and others reeling.
What I finally noted was my true spark of unease about her besides usurping Jen and possibly once again relegating her to limbo, is actually Wolverine. X-23 'just' got accepted as mainstream but up popped Daken. They both could get under our skin regardless of how well they're used simply because Wolverine was already almost everywhere, but in the Hulk's case he really wasn't. Still, we go from Hulk not staying on any team to having a She-Hulk, Skaar, Lyra AND a red Hulk, on top of many other gamma related associates and foes who have strength as their primary power.
How is it that She-Hulk is going to be second stringed to an alternate future version that didn't command her rank? I guess it's some hard decision Marvel had to take with Jen not being taken as seriously after all the years of her series being fourth-wall breaking comedies. Divorcing her from that by putting a fresh face behind the name was probably the logic, but I would've preferred Lyra to have been simply Lyra or have some other name. I was actually enjoying the most recently canceled She-Hulk series and if anything, if it really couldn't have sustained numbers, that would've been my candidate for being the back up feature in Incredible Hulk.
Errrrmm, there is no unnamed old power son. Skaar has less of the strength of Hulk proportionate to his rage (I think) but tons of Old Power to make that a non factor. Since coming to Earth he has assumed a human form for the first time in a while, so there might be some mix up going on that he is another person altogether.
What's extremely funny to me is that since Hulk fans wanted Pak back on the duties so bad and that from this we're getting Incredible Hulk 600 and ongoing, the book will have a strong following (especially compared to Loeb's take) and the back up won't be able to prove that it's worth printing. I dare them to put that in the back of Loeb's, I find it should have stayed just where it was all along, in Hulk family, never take on the title She-Hulk, and just have provided the occasional snippet of whatever they felt her series needed to tell. Maybe they'll try to boost adjectiveless Hulk's sales by putting in a backup feature with the real She-Hulk. How's Hulklette or Hulkette for Lyra instead?
shulkierules acolyte Joined: 01.01.1970 Posts: 23
Posted: 06.25.2009 12:05am
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Jennifer's status better still be "alive and She-Hulk". I would gladly take a Jennifer Walters She-Hulk series over Lyra any day of the week. I am still disappointed over She-Hulk's cancelation as it was the one Marvel book I most looked forward to reading every month. Marvel should care enough about Jen to try and make it work, not toss her aside for someone else who takes her name.
ebellavita77 acolyte Joined: 12.05.2007 Posts: 21
Long Live Jen
Posted: 06.25.2009 7:56am
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Jen Walters is not a huge player in the Marvel Universe, but as written by Peter David, it was one of my more enjoyable books. I was sad to see it go. Now they bring this Lyra chick in, come on. The current story is good but the character itself sucks. Why they don't remake Jen is beyond me. She would have made a good member on the Mighty Avengers team and can still make a good one, especially now that it looks like they are loosing Jacosta.
harlequin7 sidekick Joined: 08.25.2006 Posts: 105
Posted: 06.25.2009 9:18am
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im glad that there is some resistance to this new she-hulk. I for one am massively disappointed that Marvel seem unwilling or unable to find a writer who can do Jen Walters justice.
Marvel went out of their way to make Ms Marvel a big hitter in an attempt to provide a strong female character but it seems to be that just fixing one abused female character is enough for them.
Jen Walters is a much better role model than Ms Marvel, she is a skilled lawyer, funny, more intelligent than Carol Danvers and she has an age old female character flaw of not being happy with her body (when she is jen not she-hulk obviously!) To me that is a character who is relatable but also respectable for what she achieved as a hero and a normal person.
Anyway, enough rant. Lyra is not a good character and seems to be in the new Marvel trend of copying DC with all the legacy characters. One of the main reasons, i might add, that I dont like DC in the first place.
It seems that whatever Van Lente wants, Van Lente gets atm. He is a good writer but this is an error.
Keep reading Skaar (soon to be titled "Son of Hulk" because it's going to be about Skaar's secret twin brother) Read the Solicits for Skaar 13, 14, 15 and look at the covers. And if you still don't believe it, read over your first few issues of Skaar again and you'll see what they're cookin' up.
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