What's Wrong With She-Hulk?

 

NOTHING!!!

Disney and Marvel TV have come up with a winner this time out. As a long-time fan of the Stan Lee and John Busema creative collaboration “The Savage She-Hulk” I am thoroughly enjoying this recent incarnation. I was on-board beginning with issue #1 in 1980.The series couldn’t be more faithful to the character of the transformed Jennifer Walters. Nor could it be more entertaining and at times in it’s unique way provocative.  

Lee’s idea in creating She-Hulk was to avoid what could have been, potentially a loss and overall problem for the Marvel franchise. The identifying name and image of “She-Hulk” had not been copyrighted and was open to anyone that wanted to do so. Lee wisely obtained the copyright and his choice was timely. The creators of this new TV series; “She Hulk: Attorney at Law” even made copyright infringement the subject of an episode in this, the first season.

As written and along with the portrayal by Tatiana Maslany of the title character on the current program the production is very much a satirical take on comic book themes and the genre itself. The fourth wall is routinely broken, the villains are absurd clichés and the laughs are perfectly timed often subtle mind games. This TV incarnation is an almost literal version of what writer/artist John Byrne did following the Lee/Busema run on the Savage She-Hulk book. The satire, the breaking of the fourth wall, the leaping in and out from the mediums physical boundaries is pure Byrne; the character was also known to have conversations with Byrne himself (often complaining to him) as the stories were unfolding. The TV production has followed the Byrne tenure to perfection. The subsequent artistic teams following Byrne have stayed with his take and followed him in turn.  

At this point to address the issue alluded to in the blog title; “What’s Wrong With She-Hulk?” there have been criticisms with many detractors falling into the disgruntled line of complaints and derision.  The malcontent many fans find have broad and personal dis-satisfactions. Many on-line critics give voice to their perceived disdain for the writer’s skills, catering to the “Woke” audience and the emasculation of male characters. This is something that I don’t necessarily find to any real degree within the show myself but it is something of a problem on many other franchises today. These problems do have their merit. It will always be true that beauty and wit are in the eyes, ears and tastes of the beholders. These folks essentially have different ideas of what the program should be, they haven’t read the comics and their expectations or far different than what they are receiving as content. They don’t seem to realize they have every right to stop watching at any time, during any broadcast and find something closer to their personal likings and fancies.    

Ironically the disillusioned continue to watch “She-Hulk” and seem to relish their mal-content. I think it’s fantastic! The show remains captivating, engaging and a controversial vision. It is the best of all worlds. One of the truest measures of the content and worth of a thing is the ire that it arises in the audience of the unannointed the “Unbelievers.” Stan Lee spoke often of the “True Believers.” Which one do we choose to be, which one do we want to be?

For those that are among the undecided or the unviewed, take a-look-see.  I think there is a good chance for you to enjoy She-Hulk. Join the mirth and the mayhem. Remember; don’t worry, be happy! 

"BUSTER SCRUGGS" the Ballad of...

Like the dedicated and creative; cultured and persistent prospectors they are; the Coen Brothers have struck cinematic gold again. Their western anthology film “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” is amazingly, aggressively and adventurously awesome. You may have heard about it, are curious about or have already seen it. If you are among the “have-not-seens”   category do by all means see it. You will be thrilled, moved, outraged, perplexed and wonderfully entertained.

The brothers; Ethan and Joel are famous for completely upsetting just about every film trope and norm with their unusual take on life and movie traditions. They have essentially created their own film language layered with a gusto and panisch that is seldom equaled. Maybe the likes of Quentin Turrintino, Jack Jarmush or Spike Lee are in the Coen’s league but it is a small club. Their’s is in reality a very small club. 

“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” is an anthology film featuring six segments. The segments are only connected by the fact that that are all of the western genre. These short narratives vary in length and tone. Written over a period of twenty five years they stand alone in nature with no connecting thread. What the brothers have done with the first segment while introducing the character of Buster Scruggs begins with a most unique concept. Where Movie and TV Westerns have always reflected the tastes, morality and spirit of their times or decade of creation things are mixed up with “Buster Scruggs.”  A singing cowboy in the tone of a Gene Autry or Roy Rogers finds himself in a world where every other character is like the inhabitants of a Sergio Leone “Spaghetti Western.” What follows is pure delightful insanity, comedy and ridiculous drama as the segment twists turns and unfolds in totally unexpected ways.  Little here is close to what might originally be expected. 

Another standout segment features a story-teller of a talent that is to marvel in any venue or time. He is polished, intelligent, dignified and charismatic. He is also armless and legless. An unscrupulous and grungy oaf of a man played by an almost unrecnozible Liam Neeson is carting the vocal performer around frontier towns for audiences that are as enthralled as they are dwindling. Recitations by Shakespeare, Lincoln and the likes of Oscar Wilde are among the performer’s repertoire. The two are completely dependent on each other’s abilities. Where does such an uncommonly matched couple come from and where can they go with such an arrangement.

All of the segments to a degree center on death or at least to death’s fruition. The irony, the finality and the inevitability of it all are told in a multitude of fashions including: shoot outs, suicides, murders, ambushes, lynching’s and the resolve of it all by “The Harvesters of Souls.” 

Another interesting element brilliantly and lovingly incorporated into the visuals is a physical story book. The hardcover book appears to be a well-worn published edition of the book “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” that alludes to what might have been their original printed format. It is an effective and cunning device. Each segment begins with a lush illustration from the books pages and an interesting title that hints at the given narrative without giving away any real knowledge to the following story. I take this as a nod to another formidable but less controversial film maker of old; Walt Disney and his early films. 

There is much here to treasure and enjoy. They are the always inventive Brothers Coen…Ethan and Joel…the Best of the Best.  

 

                                                 

"The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" 

 Press Conference with Joel & Ethan Coen