Issue(s): She-Hulk #25
Cover Date: Mar 91
Title: "Old flames"
Credits:
Simon Furman - Writer
Bryan Hitch - Penciler
John Beatty - Inker
Bobbie Chase - Editor

Review/plot:
If Simon Furman was supposed to be the regular writer of this book, this issue might be seen as a deck clearing exercise. In any event, it does serve the purpose of getting rid of her two love interests: Hercules and Brent Wilcox.

She-Hulk has been daydreaming about Hercules since Byrne's run, and that continues in this issue. Her dream is interrupted when Weezie calls to say that her home has been invaded by vacationing demons, and that Thor and Hercules are fighting them.

It turns out that Brent Wilcox, the scientist from Steve Gerber's run, has been stalking She-Hulk, so when he sees her run out of the house in the middle of the night, he follows her. So soon the two potential boyfriends get to fighitng, and neither of them come off well.

It also turns out that these demons - and i mean these demons:

...are actually the sons of Muspell.

So while Hercules and Brent argue with each other, She-Hulk teams up with Thor and his urgently throbbing hammer.

It turns out that these demons got stuck in another dimension where time moved differently, so they think Surtur's attack is still going on. Hercules summons Zeus to convince them that the war is over, and they lost.

The demons therefore decide to leave. Herc starts putting the moves on She-Hulk, but she knocks him away with a punch. And when Brent gets clingy, She-Hulk lets him get taken away with the demons.

Despite what she says, Brent is never seen again.

It's a comedy story (although not particularly funny), so i give some leeway regarding the discrepancy in the demons of Muspell's look and even in She-Hulk's awful neglect of Brent at the end. It's still not a great issue. But She-Hulk's love affair with Hercules wasn't really going anywhere and for a solo series she's better off without him. And Brent was a total nonstarter. So the book at least accomplishes that. But the book is a step down from Furman's previous issue.

The cover is pretty great, though.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Hercules says that it's fortunate that he was on Earth to help out with the demons, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he's just returned. Note also that he's growing his hair out. Speaking of hair, Thor is beardless, confirming that this takes place before he is split from Eric Masterson.

References:

• She-Hulk helped fight the Sons of Muspell in Thor #353.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

The demons appear to be based on Alan Moore & Alan Davis' D.R. & Quinch.