Sensational She-Hulk #54

Title: “Alive Again! To Die and Live In L.A. Part 3 of 6”

Writer: Michael Eury

Penciller: Patrick Olliffe

Inker: Dave Cockrum

Colors: Glynis Oliver

Editor: Renee Witterstaetter

Hector and Christina are shocked by Zapper's declaration that he is going to bring She-Hulk back from the dead! They try to tell him it can't be done, but Zapper says that although her heart has stopped, her brain continues to function due to gamma radiation!  The gamma radiation has curtailed the deterioration of She-Hulk's brain, putting her body in stasis.  He plans to use gamma radiation to rejuvenate She-Hulk's brain and body tissue, and then jump start her heart!

At Santa Monica Memorial Hospital, Weezi is waiting for word on Morris' condition.  Wyatt walks into the room, and Weezi rushes into his arms.  He says that he came as soon as he heard the news, and asks if Jen is really dead.  Weezi tells him what happened. Then the doctor arrives and tells them that Moe is out of danger.  They stopped his internal bleeding, but he lost his spleen.  However, he will be able to live a full live without it.  Weezi asks when they can see him, and the doctor tells them he should be strong enough tomorrow.  He then tells them to go home and get some rest.

As they leave, Wyatt reflects on his relationship with She-Hulk, and how they nearly got married once.  Now he regrets that they didn't make it work.  He feels that if they'd been married, he would have been with her when this happened, and he might have been able to help her and she might still be alive. As he starts to cry, Wyatt tells Jennifer he loves her.

In the Postmortem Mall, She-Hulk is having lunch with her mother, and telling her that she loves Wyatt.  Mrs. Walters asks Jen why she didn't marry Wyatt, and Jen says that they had just been too busy to get married, and they thought they had plenty of time. Mrs. Walters comments that Jen seems to have some regrets, and Jen says that she has more than a few. She says that she enjoyed her life immensely, but she wonders if her life was worthwhile. "I mean, will I be remembered as a helpful, caring benefactress… or a big, green babe who basked in the media spotlight?" Her mother reminds her that she fought for justice and saved hundreds of lives, both as She-Hulk and as a lawyer, and assures her that she'll be remembered as a great heroine.  She then comments that Jen should have gotten this off her chest at her judgment day. Jen looks away and sheepishly admits that she skipped her judgment day.  Mrs. Walters is shocked that Jen hasn't faced her judgment with Mistress Death yet.  Jen tells her that she kicked her senseless and took off.  Mrs. Walters shakes her head in disbelief; "and some mothers think ‘they’ have problem children!" Jen points out that she didn't know that she was supposed to talk with Death, and quips that she can't be all that tough considering the number of times Jean Grey has beat her. Mrs. Walters says that if Jen doesn't face her judgment soon she'll never be able to rest in peace.  Jen says she doesn't want to rest; she isn't ready to face her judgment and she doesn't want to be dead!

Back in the lab, Zapper is still working on She-Hulk, and talking to her about how he can't believe Hector didn't want to help him.  Zapper is curing Jen's blood of the toxin that she came to get treated in the first place, and he'll have her bathed in gamma radiation overnight.  He says that tomorrow morning she'll be as good as new, thanks to her old friend Zapper.

At CBC, Greg Hallerhand is shocked and annoyed at the news that She-Hulk is dead.  He hoped to use her as a guest star on "Heartbreak Hospital" to boost ratings.  Darren suggests they can use P. Isadora, who starred in the She-Hulk movie, but Hallerhand rejects that idea.  He moans, saying it isn't fair. Elsewhere, the Hulk reads about She Hulk's death in the paper, and slams an angry fist on the table!

Elsewhere, the Rumbler is watching the news about She-Hulk's death, and is surprised to hear that Sheriff Walters is still alive.  He is then furious to hear himself described as a "James David look-alike". He is furious that he makes his big come-back, and people don't even believe it is really him! He decides to go to see Sheriff Walters and finish the job!

Back at the mall, Mrs. Walters buys Jennifer a necklace, as a token of her love to make up for all the years she couldn't be there for her.  She thinks the necklace is beautiful, and thanks her mother for it.

In the lab, Zapper hits She-Hulk's heart with an electrical jolt to get it started again!

In the mall, Jen feels a burst of pain for a moment.

Zapper sees no pulse or heartbeat, so he zaps her again.

Again, Jen cries out in pain. 

Outside the lab, Christina is returning.  She has come to provide her support to help Zapper get over his "morbid scientific obsession". Zapper detects a pulse, which is rising and stabilizing.

In the mall, Jen starts choking on air, and as she starts to fade away, her mother joyfully cries out that Jen is going back!

Jen is suddenly back in the car, driving in the opposite direction.  Death is standing directly in her path, but Jen drives her through her… and smashes out of the restorative tank!  She-Hulk has returned to life!

A security guard tries to keep Christina out of the lab, on Zapper's orders, but she shoves her way past him, reminding him that her father owns the lab!

Jen is still woozy, so Zapper helps to hold her steady.  He welcomes her back to the living, and Jen wonders if her rebirth issue got a special cover enhancement. Jen hugs Zapper in gratitude for saving her life. Christina opens the door and sees them embracing.  She runs away crying, saying that if She-Hulk thinks she can steal her husband from her, she's dead wrong!

Soon, Zapper is examining She-Hulk and gives her a clean bill of health.  He asks if she has any idea who infected her with that toxin in the first place.  Jen says she hasn't a clue, since she has made a lot of enemies during her time with the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Zapper suspects the Rumbler, but Jen doesn't think he is smart enough to create a biochemical attack.  Zapper says he's just glad she's okay, since he can't stand the thought of losing her.  He then starts kissing her. Jen pushes him away, reminding him that he's a married man.  Zapper apologizes, and says that everything that has happened over the last few days must have rekindled some of his old feelings from when they were dating. Jen says its all right, and that he'll always be dear to her.

At the hospital, Weezi and Wyatt go to visit Moe.  The cop at the door tells them that Moe doesn't know about Jen's death yet… they wanted to have someone in the family tell him. They go inside and greet Moe.  He notices how sad they look, and asks why Jen isn't with them.  Weezi tells him to brace himself for bad news.  She has trouble saying the words, and Moe gets impatient, telling her to tell him what's going on.  She tells him that Jen is dead. Moe is devastated, and asks how it happened.  Weezi tells him how she died fighting the Rumbler.  Moe is furious and starts swearing at James David. Weezi asks what the history is between them.  Moe explains how James David was always a spoiled brat with a temper, who got drunk and violent when he didn't get what he wanted.  He often got into brawls, but his lawyer kept him out of jail. Early in Moe's career, he arrested David one night after the actor had been driving drunk and crashed into and crippled a little boy.  The lawyer wouldn't be able to protect David this time, but the punk actually blamed Moe for his problems. David made bail an hour later, but on his way home from the jail there was a quake and the road opened up and swallowed his car.  He was never seen again, until recently, and the circumstances of his death were so unusual that took the attention away from his crime, and no one ever heard the truth. Suddenly, the Rumbler smashes in through the wall!  Wyatt and the cop rush at him, but he traps them in cocoons of mud! Moe gets out of mad and clubs Rumbler with his I.V. stand!  The Rumbler grabs Moe by the throat, but then hears a voice ordering him to release him! He turns to find She-Hulk standing in the doorway! Rumbler complains that he won't get much attention for returning from the dead if She-Hulk pulls the same trick.  Jen is angry that he is treating this as a game while he attacks her family.  She grabs him and throws him out the hole in the wall! Rumbler notices that she is stronger than the last time they fought.  As Jen leaps out after him, he sends rocks flying at her, but she just smashes through them! He opens up the ground beneath her to bury her again, but She-Hulk grows to monstrous size and smashes her way free!  She grabs a hold of him and growls that she is going to kill him!

Site for Sore Eyes rating: 6 out of 10

Three artists in three issues.  Not a good sign.  It certainly doesn't help the arc to have such inconsistent art. The writing has problems too, especially with some bizarre characterization.  For example, Christina walks in and finds Jen--who was DEAD the last she knew--hugging Zapper and her first thought is "she's trying to steal my husband"??  I don't think so. Then there's Weezi asking Moe why he hates James David just SECONDS after she tells him that David killed his daughter.  Hmm, I dunno Weezi, why do you think he hates him? 

Review by Dermie

Picture by The Leader

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