Hulk #7

Previously in Hulk #6

Fresh off her encounter with Maise and the fear-based entity, Jennifer is working through her steps to recovery, which includes a regular group therapy session. She’s not really one for sharing her feelings during circle time, but she shows up and then unleashes her emotions another way: she hulks out and demolishes a construction site marked for demolition.

And here’s where we learn of a most interesting development: When Jennifer is the Hulk, she’s no longer green. She’s gray. That’s not the only thing that’s different; she also feels different when she’s the Hulk. Could this be tied to the emotional limbo she’s been in lately?

Jennifer herself isn’t sure of the cause, even as she talks it through with her best friend, Hellcat. The fact that she’s attending meetings and no longer shutting out her friend are steps in the right direction, and I’m glad the series continues to explore the emotional toll the violence and death that comes with being a superhero can take on a person.

It was also cool to see that something mentioned almost in passing in issue #1 now plays a major part in this arc. Jennifer is still watching cooking shows online as part of her therapy. Unfortunately, she witnesses something horrifying when she pulls up one of her favorite live baking shows. Two camera men, hoping to go viral, spikes the hosts cake with something that… changes him.

Dang. A girl can’t even get her therapy on in peace.

I also want to point out that this issue brings in a new artist: Georges Duarte. Though I miss Jennifer’s old face, his style is really well-suited to the series. Jennifer’s expressions feel real and his depiction of her hulked out is great. And though Jennifer’s alter ego is gray, colorist Matt Milla continues to incorporate shades of green throughout. It all works quite nicely.

I’m looking forward to issue #8 to see if Jennifer’s Hulk will, once again, go viral through no fault of her own.