50 Greatest Super Heroes In Comic Book History

43. She-Hulk

(Write-up by Nick Tylwalk, Bam Smack Pow Editor)

She-Hulk could easily have been the laziest cash grab in Marvel history. “Hey, let’s turn Bruce Banner’s cousin into a female version of the Hulk thanks to a blood transfusion! Then we’ll just have her smash stuff and watch the money come rolling in!” The temptation was probably strong, since it’s generally accepted Stan Lee and John Buscema created her simply so the producers of The Incredible Hulk couldn’t beat them to it.

Happily, things took a different course since Jennifer Walters first went green back in 1980. By that I mean she became a fully realized character in her own right, one whose work as a lawyer was often as important (and given an equal focus in her stories) as her crimefighting efforts. To paraphrase what she once told Tony Stark, She-Hulk might beat you up, but Walters the attorney could absolutely destroy you.

Another great aspect of She-Hulk is her versatility. She can be played straight as a member of the Avengers or Fantastic Four, or to more comedic effect with the kind of fourth wall-breaking humor that people would more readily associate these days with Deadpool. It helps that she actually has a sense of humor, something that not all super heroes have in abundance.

And yes, She-Hulk has raged out and smashed stuff on occasion like another Green Goliath. It wouldn’t be a whole lot of fun if she didn’t.

Note: as far as I know, she never showed up and ripped up anyone’s X-Men comics either.

Next: No. 42: The sentinel of the spaceways