asdfMTV Geek

By Amber Lena

'The She-Hulk Diaries' is a whole new take on the tall green lady in the pleather bodysuits that has graced the Marvel universe since 1980. In a series of diary entries penned by her human counterpart, Jennifer Walters, the reader gets insight into what it’s like for Hulk’s cousin as she struggles to come to terms with her two very different lives. While meant to showcase She-Hulk as a strong, female character, the novel often loses sight of its lofty feminist goals in favor of taking on the tone of a casual romantic comedy. Though this book is a light, fairly entertaining read, it lacks focus in both content and tone, ultimately leaving the reader confused.

There are a few things immediately established about Jennifer Walters which are repeated throughout the book: she is a wildly successful lawyer who has found herself unemployed, she needs to find a new place to live, and she wants a boyfriend. She wants a boyfriend so much that she writes more about her potential romantic interests and past hookup than she does about the amazingly fascinating case she gets assigned. While, in all fairness, her romantic pursuits turn out to be crucial to the overarching plot point, a reader looking for intense action and a highly detailed conflict will be disappointed. For the most part, the set-up is overly drawn out and the resolution is rushed—what should have been some of the most dramatic scenes in the book are cut short, making for a whole lot of build-up without much payoff. Read More...