Writer: Rainbow Rowell
Artist: Ig Guara
Colors: Dee Cunniffe
Letters: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 7th, 2024
She-Hulk, Hellcat and Captain Marvel have to battle an army of demons in a night club in The Sensational She-Hulk #5, and it’s not even happy hour! Wanting to have a relaxing night out, instead they find themselves in a war with a demonic horde. And what’s worse than a bunch of slobbering grotesque demons? An ex-lover, of course, and Hellcat’s ex Daimon Hellstrom (AKA The Son of Satan) also pops in as the battle rages. But whose side is he on?
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The Story
The Sensational She-Hulk #5 starts in the middle of the action, with Jennifer, Patsy and Carol surrounded by demons. Despite this being She-Hulk’s book, Patsy Walker gets the bulk of the attention. If this were a TV show, I’d almost consider this issue a “backdoor pilot” for a Patsy Walker spinoff series, and that’s not a bad thing. I loved Patsy’s personality and attitude throughout the book. She’s on her last nerve and she has had it with supernatural menaces, especially demons who are ransacking her favorite bar. Decked out in an orange dress, boots and sliding on a pair of black gloves, she lays into the demonic horde like her namesake, determined to send them all back to Hell in a flurry of kicks, punches and head butts. I liked the banter between the three women throughout the book. She-Hulk, of course, always has a snappy comeback to everything, and she’s a great counterpoint to Patsy’s fury and Carol’s frostiness.
Daimon Hellstrom’s appearance about halfway through the issue sets up a stand-off of sorts with he and Patsy. Daimon (a character I’ve always thought to be a major horse’s behind) is arrogant and smarmy, looking like one of those rich kid preppie villains out of an 80’s film, and his interchange with Patsy feels real, like how you’d imagine two such strong-willed people would play out. Even though I’ve never liked Daimon, it was a nice scene between the two. The issue ends quietly with Jack of Hearts and She-Hulk having a heart-to-heart about past events. Jack of Hearts has always been an intriguing character and it’s nice to see him get some focus in this book.
The Art
Ig Guara’s art and Dee Cunniffe’s colors on The Sensational She-Hulk #5 are vibrant, showing a great visual contrast between She-Hulk, Captain Marvel and Hellcat in their expressions and postures. The action scenes are almost three-dimensional in places (one scene has She-Hulk punching with her fist flying out of the panel) and Patsy’s martial arts moves look wonderfully grounded and realistic, in contrast to She-Hulk and Captain Marvel’s powers. Daimon Hellstrom is drawn as his usual smarmy self, with a punchable face that makes you yearn for Patsy to give him a knuckle sandwich.
Final Thoughts
There’s a wonderful dynamic between She-Hulk, Hellcat and Captain Marvel in The Sensational She-Hulk #5 and I hope to see more of them together in the future. A fierce extended battle, Daimon Hellstrom’s appearance and a great scene with Jack of Hearts and She-Hulk make the issue another fun ride.