Written by Charles Soule
Art by Javier Pulido; Muntsa Vicente; & VC’s Gus Pillsbury
Cover Art by Kevin Wada
SUMMARY:
Published by Marvel Comics for January 2015, it’s the conclusion of the two-parter: “Good Old Days.” Representing elderly Steve Rogers/Captain America in Los Angeles in a wrongful death lawsuit, Jen “She-Hulk” Walters spars in the courtroom with Matt “Daredevil” Murdock.
At stake are two versions explaining the tragic death of Steve’s childhood friend, Sam Fogler, in late 1940. Seemingly maneuvering himself to lose, Steve reveals how, as teens, he and Sam went cross-country to find Sam’s wayward older brother, Harry, now a Nazi recruit. Sam’s subsequent murder sets up this courtroom battle decades later. Even when Patsy “Hellcat” Walker delivers ssome vital new evidence, Jen senses Steve’s mixed motives. Assuming this matter gets resolved, a surprising new client awaits Jen.
REVIEW:
Kudos to writer Charles Soule for deftly mixing courtroom drama, a poignant flashback, and a few flashes of humor into a top-notch read. The chemistry he establishes between Jen Walters and Steve Rogers is inspired writing, as are the closing arguments Jen and Matt Murdock impart the jury. Steve’s simplistic dialogue throughout this tale is terrific. Though the heart-breaking flashback is this issue’s highlight, the post-trial chemistry amongst Jen, Steve, and Matt is a true gem.
Soule’s well-played story, however, is handicapped by the art team’s amateurish-looking visuals (yes, it’s a deliberate artistic style but it’s underwhelming). Comparatively, the cover image surpasses the interior artwork. The rudimentary visuals, for whatever reason, considerably improve during the black-gray-and-white flashback. Oddly, its first panel makes Steve & Sam look like twelve-year olds before smartly correcting their appearance to their mid-teens.
If the weak present-day sequences had been upgraded into remotely impressive visuals, then the appealing She-Hulk # 10 likely would have been a ten-star read.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The first page nicely summarizes Jennifer “She-Hulk” Walters and this current storyline.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
