Issue(s): She-Hulk #18
Cover Date: Jul 81
Title: "When favors come due!"
Credits:
David Anthony Kraft - Writer
Mike Vosburg - Penciler
Frank Springer - Inker
Al Milgrom - Editor

Review/plot:
This issue starts with Jen contemplating the differences between her and She-Hulk.

She decides to act like the She-Hulk and call up the realtor that her father is using to sell the family house, but she's taken aback when she hears the asking price. She does learn that her father has given her one week to purchase the house herself, but she doesn't have the necessary funds for a down-payment.

Jen's father is being manipulated by his girlfriend, Beverly Cross. Initially, it seemed like Cross really was interested in Jen's father maybe with a little self-interest mixed in, but her character will continue to get more one dimensional as the series goes on. Hell, as the issue goes on.

In some fortuitous timing for Jen, the criminal that she defended back in issue #2, Lou Monkton, shows up at her office with a job for her. He's got problems with the union at his warehouse. The check he gives her will be shown several times over the next few issues, and the amount is usually obscured, but sometimes you can see that it's $5,000. That seems to be about $13,000 in today's dollars. I mention that in case anyone wants to work out whether or not a lawyer who's been living rent free in her father's house ought to be able to pull together that much money even without relying on a lucky case walking through the door.

So with that money she's able to make the down-payment.

God, that Beverly Cross gets more awful by the scene.

Complicating matters, Jen quickly learns that Monkton's case is a scam; a way for him to get a bribe to the union boss. He intends to lose the case. So Jen gives the money back and then deliberately wins the case anyway, preventing Monkton from transferring the bribe money.

Part of the reason Jen is able to win the case is because ADA Buck Bukowski is in a deep depression over learning that he was responsible for the death of Jen's friend Jill.

But giving back Monkton's money means she also has to cancel her downpayment. And that gets her father flying off the handle.

Jen actually sent a letter to her father explaining what happened, but Beverly kept it from him.

Also in this issue, She-Hulk fights a lame-o villain called the Grappler.

I guess the interesting bit is that the Grappler offers She-Hulk a cut of his loot and she briefly considers it. But the thing that struck me is his use of "leverage" while fighting She-Hulk.

In fact, this guy's origin is all about "leverage".

I'm dwelling on this because when i first started reading comics, i was constantly encountering characters talking about leverage. I don't have a lot of specific examples on hand. But i'm sure if i took the time i could find instances of characters like Captain America sayings things like "He's stronger than me, but i've got leverage." while he's flipping someone. One time that stands out is when the Hulk is holding up the mountain in Secret Wars. He says, "I'm just bracing it... I've got leverage.". I was nine. I didn't know what leverage was. But it sounded pretty awesome! And this Grappler guy, he's got leverage to spare!

She Hulk still kicks his ass, though.

Also in this issue, She-Hulk gets a mysterious call from Morbius, but she doesn't follow up on it.

Finally, Zapper is contacted by Ralphie Hutchins, the technician he gave She-Hulk's blood to for analysis a while back. Ralphie's got a mysterious boss who now wants Zapper to bring She-Hulk to him...

...and Zapper dumbly agrees.

Grappler aside, this is mainly a transitional issue, setting things up for the final arc.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - first Grappler

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• A footnote says that Ralphie Hutchins analyzed She-Hulk's blood in issue #8, but it was actually in She-Hulk #6 that Zapper gave him the blood sample (and it was in She-Hulk #5 that Zapper took the sample and in She-Hulk #9 that he got the results).

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Essential She-Hulk vol. 1

I wonder if Kraft knew about the Grapplers from MTIO.

Hugh Howard=Howard Hughes.

I realize the artists probably didn't want to go to all the trouble of doing a graphically realistic check, but scribbling worthy of a drunk or a toddler isn't the way to go.