She-Hulk: Endings & Beginnings
The new She-Hulk reaches the end of her first solo adventure just in time for an ongoing co-feature in INCREDIBLE HULK
Posted Jun 24, 2009 12:00 am
Updated Jun 26, 2009 9:57 am
By Marc Strom
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!"
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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.
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"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.
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"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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:shehulk: I want JENNIFER SUSAN WALTERS back!
:46f072ad1e="johnnysword"]:46f072ad1e="BlackSamurai"]Errrrmm, there is no unnamed old power son. [/quote:46f072ad1e]Yeah there is. 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 ...
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:46f072ad1e="johnnysword"]:46f072ad1e="BlackSamurai"]Errrrmm, there is no unnamed old power son. [/quote:46f072ad1e]Yeah there is. 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.[/quote:46f072ad1e]You know what, you just might be right about that, and I usually am one to pick up on such things and (if it turns out to be so) this just might be one of those times. I just thought you were confusing what has happened to Skaar since coming to Earth, with there being another son, but I see what you are saying. I guess I'll be rereading my issues of Skaar: SoH and 'confirming' this for myself. I was going based on the present day status quo that such another brother isn't officially revealed. (Sigh, reminding me again how it sucked to get back Caierra just to lose her to Galactus right after... I mean, that is what it seems like for now, and sweet Sakaar had to bite it too, even after her sacrifice?)Not that I want yet another Hulk necessarily (and it would be weird if he hasn't inherited something of Hulk's trademark green, but it's not totally impossible) but at least in this case it would have been one developed off of good story telling somewhere where great interest and pleasant surprises from established good writing was generated. As most others are agreeing, what is the point of making this one threaten what She-Hulk earned and endeared in us?
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:39249d0a49="comicfan298"]I am not liking the sound of IH 600 but I am being hopefully its just a change of status quo (again) for Jen, she'll still be tall and green. As for Lyra I like her as a character (This is down to Fred's writing, the Hulk family pages were a bit dull) but they got to change her name from She-Hulk. To me Jen is best, the beautiful, the only ...
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:39249d0a49="comicfan298"]I am not liking the sound of IH 600 but I am being hopefully its just a change of status quo (again) for Jen, she'll still be tall and green. As for Lyra I like her as a character (This is down to Fred's writing, the Hulk family pages were a bit dull) but they got to change her name from She-Hulk. To me Jen is best, the beautiful, the only :shehulk:.[/quote:39249d0a49]Exactly. I think there would be less resistance to Lyra if she was not being called She-Hulk. Within the context of the story, I have no idea why she would be. Everyone in the MU knows She-Hulk is She-Hulk and Lyra is not. So it's not like people would just start calling her that---and why would she call herself that ? I only care about one She-Hulk and that is Jen. I'm not saying I couldn't care about Lyra but certainly NOT at the expense of Jennifer Walters, the sensational She-Hulk !
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I am not liking the sound of IH 600 but I am being hopefully its just a change of status quo (again) for Jen, she'll still be tall and green. As for Lyra I like her as a character (This is down to Fred's writing, the Hulk family pages were a bit dull) but they got to change her name from She-Hulk. To me Jen is best, the beautiful, the only :shehulk:.
There's enough eloquent posts above so I will say, Lyra is crap, I will never get over her being given the title of She-Hulk, Jen is the She Hulk, and we fans love her. So stop dissing her and us with this new broad.