When the Imperial four-issue event expanded to one-shots, fans took notice. A closer attention to characters like She-Hulk and Black Panther was a welcome sight, and out this week is the first taste of Marvel’s expansion of the cosmic side of things. Stephanie Phillips and Jonathan Hickman kick things off with a story focused on She-Hulk as she attempts to keep the peace on Sakaar as its ruler. Can’t be that hard to rule when killing is illegal on a planet that only knows a lifestyle of killing, right?
Imperial War: Planet She-Hulk is very much a whodonut, opening with She-Hulk very peeved with Hiro-Kala’s many widows. One of them is the killer, and She-Hulk is going to use all her powers of lawyering to figure it out!
The basic setup is a strong one, with She-Hulk the fish out of water trying to be the adult in the room, while the planet’s entire populace enjoys and frequents killing. The general mystery is laid out well, with She-Hulk’s one local government official helping her figure out who the murderer could be. Throw in the fact that She-Hulk is anticipating Hulk’s return so she can be relieved of her duties, and you have a very frustrated She-Hulk trying to make the best of things.
Professor X, you’re a jerk… wait, wrong comic.
Credit: Marvel
The issue has a very dynamic art style thanks to Emilio Laiso, who opens the issue with a full-page splash of She-Hulk pointing right at us. A page turn reveals an eclectic group of widows who each have a different expression, throwing off your murder radar. The art throughout is strong, with good action beats using blur effects, and She-Hulk always looks strong and in charge. My only visual gripe is how She-Hulk mentions she’s got zits, yet she doesn’t actually appear to have any. Maybe those were lost in the process of making the comic?
Speaking of zits, Phillips has a way of making She-Hulk feel grounded and relatable. Her general voice and perspective are ones you’ll relate to, making this strange alien world and her position in it easy to fall into. By the end of the issue, Phillips will win you over with the dynamics in play, making you want to read the upcoming Planet She-Hulk.
Outside of the visual gripe of acne, this is a smaller sort of adventure for a one-shot. It’s not told badly, but the scope is quite narrow, making it a fun romp, but not adding much to the Imperial War story.
Imperial War: Planet She-Hulk #1 is a smartly written and entertaining one-shot that plays to She-Hulk’s strengths as both lawyer and superhero. While its narrow focus may not move the Imperial War saga forward in a big way, it succeeds as a character-driven mystery that blends humor, action, and alien politics into an enjoyable read.
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