She-Hulks Costume Reveal Won't Be Comics Accurate (& That's Good)

Screen Rant

She-Hulk's Costume Reveal Won't Be Comics Accurate (& That's Good)

By Maneesha Jaswal

Published Sep 18, 2022

She-Hulk's costume has already been teased and an in-episode reveal is on the way. It won't be comics-accurate, but that's a good thing for Jen.

Warning! Contains SPOILERS for She-Hulk: Attorney At Law.It seems Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) has finally gotten her superhero costume in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, but it won’t be comics-accurate (and that’s good). Throughout She-Hulk, Jen has struggled to reconcile her human and She-Hulk personas. One prevalent – albeit somewhat superficial – issue that Jen has faced, is what to wear; she often has to choose between clothes that fit her human proportions but rip when she “Hulks out,” or clothes that fit her 6-foot-7-inch alter ego but are unflatteringly over-sized when she’s human.

In She-Hulk episode 5, Jen lands a consultation with Luke Jacobson (Griffin Matthews), an eccentric but successful fashion designer who specializes in superhero clothing. Luke is thrilled at the idea of designing a suit with superhero capabilities, but dedicated lawyer Jen insists she only needs a few business suits that automatically adjust when she transforms. When Jen goes to try on her new suits, Luke gives her an additional mystery garment bag, the contents of which aren’t shown on screen.

Teases in various trailers and promos for the series hint this is Jen’s very own super-suit. Glimpses of her outfit from the back were first seen in the Disney+ Day teaser from late 2021, with the entire suit being momentarily visible in another trailer where she comes across fellow lawyer/superhero, Daredevil, also donning a new costume (via Marvel Entertainment). These glimpses at the MCU’s iteration of her super-suit insinuate She-Hulk’s in-episode costume reveal won’t be comics accurate, but that’s good.

Why She-Hulk's Costume Change Is A Good Thing

In She-Hulk’s comic history, her costumes have traditionally been excessively revealing, even leading to the nickname “sexy Hulk.” Furthermore, her human clothes often tactlessly rip to conveniently show her cleavage when she would “Hulk out.” To be comics accurate, Luke would have to design a costume that would uncharacteristically sexualize Jen and go against the series’ prevalent feminist messaging. At the same time, She-Hulk has shown Jen embracing her sexuality (she hooks up with someone in episode 4) and showing off her figure when it’s done on her terms.

From what’s been teased thus far, She-Hulk’s costume is a shorts-length, fitted, black one-piece with purple and white accents, and t-shirt sleeves. This costume may appear more conservative than those in the comics, but it provides some much-needed balance between moving away from sexualizing her body, and not shying away from her femininity and impressive physique. Plus, given Jen’s seeming acceptance of the costume at the end of She-Hulk episode 5, the series has conveyed the importance of Jen’s own comfort and autonomy over how she chooses to present herself.

While this outfit is not comic book accurate when compared to most depictions of the character, there are modern Marvel works where She-Hulk's outfits have been significantly toned down. Artist Kevin Wada’s illustration of She-Hulk on the cover of 2018’s She-Hulk by Soule and Pulido: The Complete Collection, features an outfit fairly similar to the MCU’s She-Hulk. These recent depictions, especially Jen’s characterization in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, represent an important shift towards empowering female superheroes who are – and have always been – more than their looks.

New episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law are released weekly on Disney+.