She-Hulk (Vol. 3) #2

Background

Jennifer Walters recently lost a major court case, her job, her boyfriend, and was asked to leave Avenger's mansion for excess partying and abuse of privileges in short order.

Holden Holliway - partner in the prestigious law firm of Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg, & Holliway has offered her a job at his firm with one condition: she works as Jennifer Walters, not She-Hulk. Despite reservations at the "no She-Hulk" part of his offer, she accepts.

Story 'Class Action Comics!'

It's Monday morning at Avenger's mansion. Wasp and Scarlet Witch are helping a pouting Jennifer get ready for her first day at work at GLK&H. She is not happy about being in public in her human form, citing vulnerability to her rogue's gallery. Janet and Wanda contest her claim at having a rogue's gallery. When Jennifer continues to complain, Wanda casts a cloaking spell for her. Anyone wishing the She-Hulk harm will not be able to recognize her while in human form. Eventually they get her ready for her first day at her new job.

She arrives at Timely Plaza and makes her way to the offices of GLK&H. She is greeted by Holden Holliway who shows her around the office. Jennifer is informed that this law firm practices superhuman law. Since their world is populated by a high percentage of superhumans, this firm has pioneered this particular branch of the law.

As they make their way through the office, She-Hulk is introduced to some of their clients: Atlanteans, Moloids, Bird-People, and the reformed Awesome Android. Recently the android gained sentience. The firm was able to legally emancipate him from the Mad Thinker, get him American citizenship, and gave him a part-time job as the office gopher. Everybody likes him and has adopted the new name of "Awesome Andy". Jennifer is noticeably less enthusiastic that she was at the beginning of the tour.

Holden takes Jennifer into his office and shows him ... Holden Holliway. The real Holden explains that the ersatz "Holden" is actually Ditto, a shape- changing process server. Holden then introduces Jennifer to her first client Dan Jermain aka "Danger Man". Danger Man is trying to sue Roxxon for exposing him to atomic hard water which gave him superpowers. There are no physical deformities, no pain whatsoever. He's simply "larger, stronger, and more powerful". He doesn't like his current "improved" state and wants to be turned back to his previous non-powered self.

Fully aware of the contrast, Jennifer reluctantly begins to research her case. She is directed toward the basement where her special legal documents are kept. She meets Stu Cicero - grand prize winner in the Foggy Nelson look-alike contest - who shows her the references: Marvel comic books. Since all Marvel comics are licensed from the original heroes and those published before 2002 bear the seal of the Comics Code Authority, a Federal agency which qualifies them as legal documents, admissible in a court of law. Stu gathers all origin issues for Jennifer and she begins to search for precedents.

Seven hours later Jennifer has read every origin issue, including her own. She is disappointed with the direction that GLK&H are taking her, questioning how the most prestigious law firm can be a three-ring circus. She eventually packs up and leaves for the evening.

Danger Man makes his way home were the real reason he's suing becomes apparent. His insurance company is dropping his entire family because they won't cover superhumans. This also is causing some rifts in his marriage as well.

The next day, Jennifer is unable to get Roxxon to settle using a grandstanding move. Holliway challenges Jennifer on her tactics, asking why she's so eager to leave. She responds that the clients and the stipulation that she remains in human form are essentially ridiculous. While ranting on the latter, she suddenly comes up with a way to win the case.

Later that night She-Hulk visits the Jermain household and discusses the case. She tells them that the best way to approach the case is to sell the jury that Danger Man is a different entity than Dan Jermain. The day "Danger Man" was born, Dan Jermain died. Norma, Dan's wife, can't take this anymore and walks out of their house with their daugher.

Dan goes out into the street and pleads with them to come back but Norma refuses. Dan cracks under the combined strain and begins to build to a critical mass, threatening to meltdown. Since he survived the accident he can't provide for his family; he thinks that if he's dead, they'll at least be able to collect on his life insurance.

Jennifer eventually talks him down, reverting to her human form to convince him to stop. She knows he won't intentionally take another life. She eventually succeeds, and in the process learns a valuable lesson about herself.

She ultimately wins an 85 million dollar settlement with a 30 million contingency fee for the firm. She is impressed that her ability to "save the day" in human form and decides to remain with the firm.

General Comments

Nice little story reminding us that no matter what changes happen to us through life, there's a basic set of traits that don't change. For some it's a highly-skilled lawyer that doesn't need to rely on gamma powers to win a fight; for others is a decent, honest person that wants to provide for his family.

Overall Rating

3.5 webs. Bump, set, spike. Another good issue by Slott and Bobillo. The re- introduction of the Awesome Android as "Awesome Andy" is a brilliant move.