The Sensational She-Hulk Marvel Graphic Novel #18The Sensational She-Hulk Marvel Graphic Novel #18
Title: “The Sensational She-Hulk”
Writer: John Byrne
Penciller: John Byrne
Inker: Kim DeMulder
Colors: Petra Scotese
Editor: Michael Carlin & Michael Higgins
THEN
In the Nevada Desert, one of the last above ground nuclear tests takes place.
Eighty-five miles east, Will Campbell, prospector, wanders lost in the desert
Eight hundred and sixty miles east, Jennifer Walters meets her cousin Bruce for the first time.
NOW
Nick Fury is arguing with the faceless silhouettes on the screens. Nick Fury says that this whole deal stinks. The faces say that his objection has been noted, as has his attitude. They say that surely they don’t have to remind Fury that the organization has a responsibility to protect the American people. Fury says not to wave the flag at him because he was busting his butt before they were getting their lunch through a tube in their tummy. Fury says that the last time he heard that America had a Constitution that protected people’s rights to every citizen even if they are seven feet tall and green. One of the faces says that no one is debating that, but that She-Hulk is in some way related to the Hulk and that they all know what happened to him. Fury says that he knows Reed Richards and that he knows Reed didn’t invite her to become part of the Fantastic Four without checking her out closely. He says that the FF have gone toe to toe with the Hulk enough that they wouldn’t She-Hulk in their group if there was a chance that she would turn nasty. They say that as much as they respect Reed Richards that they have a clear duty. Fury says that he is still executive director of SHIELD, and that he is going to put a stop to this before it even gets started. One face says that he can’t do that, and that these orders come directly from the Commander-In-Chief. Fury says that he can’t do anything about that, but that SHIELD owes him about a million years of vacation time and he is taking it as of right now. Fury storms off.
Wyatt Wingfoot returns with a box of groceries. He sees Jen standing and looking out the window. He asks her if something is wrong, but she doesn’t hear him. He calls to her again and she apologizes saying that she didn’t hear him come in because she was distracted. Wyatt says that he can tell from her body language that she is more than distracted. He asks her what is wrong. Jen says that she just noticed the date, and that tomorrow is Bruce’s birthday, or it would have been. She-Hulk hugs Wyatt and says that besides him that Bruce Banner is the sweetest kindest man that she ever met, and that it isn’t fair that something like this should happen to him. Wyatt says that life is rarely fair, and that all they can do is take what is given to them and try to make the best of it. He says that Bruce’s life is a tragedy, but that at least they got her out of it. He says that without a Hulk there would be no She-Hulk. She-Hulk says that without her there would never have been an “us”. Wyatt says that he happens to have two tickets to the show that Reed and Sue recommended. He suggests that they go out for a night on the town and try to forget their troubles. She-Hulk says that sounds good to her, and she stuffs Wyatt under her arm and carries him off.
Dum Dum Dugan tells a SHIELD agent to tell him when he has an exact pinpoint, and that they don’t want to go through too much civilian traffic. The agent asks why he wants it so precise. Dum Dum says that it is just a delaying tactic. He says that he doesn’t much care for this assignment and that he doesn’t want to start until he has written confirmation on it before they start. Another agent comes with a signature from Nick Fury. The agent says that he would love to take that home to his kid. Dum Dum tells him not to even think about it and sets the paper on fire. He says that in twenty-two minutes they commence Operation Green Genes.
Wyatt asks
She-Hulk if she is almost done. He says that they are running
behind. She-Hulk says that she may be late, but that she is worth
waiting for. She-Hulk walks out the door all dressed up. Wyatt
asks her if this is her idea of street clothes. She-Hulk says
that it is pointless for her to try and dress conventionally, and
that this outfit allows her freedom of movement with more pizzazz
that her FF uniform. She says that she is six foot seven and
bright green. She says that she is going to be noticed no matter
what she does.
They take a cab to the East Village. She-Hulk and Wyatt get out of the cab, and the cabby calls in that his nerves are shot and he is taking the night off. She-Hulk waves to the guy as he drives off. Wyatt says that the poor guy probably thought Doctor Doom was going to attack at any minute. She-Hulk says that she understands. She says that she has only been in the business for a short time, but that she still gets a bit of a shock when she looks into a mirror. Wyatt says that at least she can have anonymity when she wants it. She-Hulk says that she isn’t stuck this way the way Bruce had become or the way Thing is, but that she remains as the She-Hulk most of the time because she wants to. She says that she likes the excitement. Wyatt says that they have that in common, and that is why he decided to come back to New York instead of becoming chief of his tribe. She-Hulk says that she is glad that he came because now they can share the excitement together. Suddenly three Mandroids appear before the She-Hulk. The mandroid tells Wyatt to step aside, but that the She-Hulk is under arrest. She-Hulk says that she would like to see some paperwork on that first. She says that she assumes that he has a warrant. The mandroid grabs She-Hulk’s wrist and says that they are SHIELD and they don’t need warrants. She-Hulk tosses the mandroid off her wrist and palm smacks the face of another. The third mandroid blasts the ground and knocks She-Hulk off her feet. The mandroid tells the civilians to clear the area, and that anyone interfering will face federal prosecution. Wyatt grabs the mandroids arm and says that She-Hulk is one of the good guys, and that they don’t roust her without a reason. The people get behind Wyatt and say that they are going to show these “tin-plated Nazis” that this is still America. The mandroid’s armor flashes and blows the people off of him. She-Hulk catches Wyatt and then kicks the mandroid in the face. She tells Wyatt to get the people clear while she finishes up with the “Gestapo”. The mandroid activates a neuro-stunner and She-Hulk gets woozy and falls to her hands and knees. The mandroid gets closer. She-Hulk grabs a car and smashes the mandroid with it. She says that she hated smashing private property, but that she needed to get the stun-ray out of commission. She-Hulk grabs the other two mandroids and spins them around until she smashes their heads together. One of the mandroids radios in that they cannot contain her and requests an emergency pull out full quadrant transportation.
She-Hulk starts
to ask what he said, but by the time she finishes the sentence
the entire area around them is transported to a SHIELD location.
SHIELD agents surround them and tells She-Hulk not to even
breathe. She-Hulk says that she would hate to disappoint her fans
so she will have to keep breathing. She-Hulk throws a mandroid at
them, and leads the people to a wall. She says that she is going
to get them off this leftover Star Trek set. One of the men says
that there is no door. She-Hulk says that is just a detail. She
says that if he wants a door that he will get a door. She-Hulk
tears open the wall with her hands. They head into a maintenance
tunnel. She-Hulk tells everyone to stay close so she can protect
them.
A dirty decaying man looks at something white and then turns and walks down a corridor.
SHE-HULK GRAPHIC NOVEL CONTINUES