Quade is dead at the hands of Juno, and now, instead of peace and a nice cheeseburger, She-Hulk is backed against a wall, facing certain death. Now she must learn to trust strangers and learn the truth of what is happening on Sakaar, if she hopes to save it.
Creative Team: Stephanie Phillips (WRITER), Aaron Kuder (ART and COVER), Sonia Oback (COLORS and COVER), and Joe Caramagna (LETTERS).
This is a joint review from Matt of Hops Geek News and Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast!
SPOILERS AHEAD
MORE FROM NERD INITIATIVE HERE!
The Story:
Matt: This issue packs an emotional and electric punch in its panels. I love how Stephanie can bring the pure rage and sadness to the surface for so many of these characters, including Jen, who is usually stoic and quippy. As this issue goes on, I can feel Jen no longer holding back, having faced betrayal and uncovered a little more about her cousin’s council and how he ran things on Sakaar. It culminates heavily in an epic moment where She-Hulk takes matters into her own hands and destroys an army out to wreak more havoc and bring death. This run has been nothing short of incredible and full of moments bringing fun and invoking emotions.
Megan: Planet She-Hulk #5 exhibits the perfect way to build tension to the point that the reader is on the edge of their seat. She-Hulk just witnessed the murder of a good man by someone she trusted while the love of her life has been brainwashed. Things are heating up faster and faster until She-Hulk is saved by someone unexpected. In staying in her new safe haven, She-Hulk is offered the idea of being Sakaar’s new ruler, which she has never wanted. She just wanted to go home to her own life, instead of continuing this favor for her cousin. Of course, She-Hulk never gets to relax for long as the new safe haven is attacked by Korven’s army. She-Hulk proves that she is more than qualified to be queen, but is it even something she wants?
Art and Letters:
Matt: There is rawness and a stoicism to how the art is detailed in this issue by Kuder. The way the close-ups on Jen and Elara’s faces were drawn, simplistic yet their eyes were packed with emotion, which told the story for itself in the panels. In terms of the action, the sequences where Jen doesn’t hold back and showcases her raw power were incredibly well done. It was so much fun watching the duo portray her strength on the panels of this issue. The art in this issue may just be my favorite of the run yet!
Megan: The artwork of Planet She-Hulk #5 is emotional and tragic in the most beautiful way. Aaron Kuder, the artist of the comic, perfectly captured the heightened emotions of the comic. There is one panel that shows Elara in tears and it’s so much heartbreak in one panel, which speaks to Kudor’s talents. Sonia Oback handles the colors and does a beautiful job at mixing vibrancy with this dystopian world full of dust and violence. Joe Caramagna is the letterer, and puts the emotions of the characters as a top priority in the story. You’re able to jump from different perspectives and feel what the characters feel in their dialogue.
Final Thoughts:
Matt: 10/10 Planet She-Hulk #5 brings us to a point of no return, and Jen is no longer holding back. We see her reluctantly step into the role of queen and into her cousin’s shoes as she gathers her army to fight back for the fate of Sakaar.
Megan: 10/10 Planet She-Hulk #5 is the perfect example of building tension and making the reader feel every bit of it. This issue is an emotional roller coaster that you don’t want to get off of.
Overall Grade -10/10
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Leave a Reply