Marvel fans have been guessing about the new Avengers roster ever since Avengers: Endgame irreparably separated the old team. It has now been one year since the premiere of She-Hulk Attorney at Law, and everyone online is speculating about She-Hulk's future and what it means for the MCU. Even other notable writers and actors have commented on the possibility. With a steady stream of heroes coming out of the woodwork of Disney+'s streaming shows, new superheroes have stiff competition for a top spot on the team.
Updated August 18, 2023: In honor of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, premiering one year ago today, this article has been updated with additional information for why Jennifer Walters should join The Avengers.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law introduces Jennifer Walters as the lawyer cousin of Bruce Banner (The Hulk). In a car crash, Bruce bleeds onto Jennifer's open wound, and his super DNA mixes with hers. The series follows Jen as she tries to balance her new superpowers with her old lawyer life. Despite some coordinated efforts to review bomb the show, the series proved popular among fans and critics, and hopefully, Jennifer Walters has a bright future in the MCU. Here is why She-Hulk should officially be an Avenger.
She-Hulk Powers
Starting with the series premiere and opening episodes of She-Hulk, the writers made it clear that she was not just a copy of Hulk or Bruce Banner. Jennifer Walter's high-stress job gives her a lifetime of practice in controlling her emotions. She adjusted to her Hulk form easily, and in a fraction of the time it took Bruce Banner.
In the comic books, Hulk may be the strongest, but in She-Hulk Attorney at Law, She-Hulk beats Hulk in a series of events. It is still unclear if She-Hulk is actually stronger than Hulk in the new canon of the MCU, but she has at least proven to be his equal. Jennifer's Hulk form also seems to have healing properties. Her blood healed Bruce's arm after the two cousins crashed their car. Jennifer Walters has proved time and again that she is just as strong as any other Avenger, and she has yet to tap into her full potential neither as a Hulk nor as a lawyer.
This makes her an ideal candidate for The Avengers, as she certainly packs a punch. She would be the powerhouse hero the team needed and would be formidable against any threat the Avengers face, particularly someone as powerful as Kang the Conqueror.
Representation in the MCU
She-Hulk is one of the first female heroes in the MCU to get so much screen time. Jennifer Walters isn't the usual supermodel with superpowers but struggles with the same kinds of problems that everyone does. Jennifer questions her purpose, her identity, and her contributions to society. Her story highlights the difficulties women face entering into jobs traditionally dominated by men.
Not only does she represent women, but she's also an all-around relatable character. Almost everyone can relate to struggles with problems like dating, work-life balance, and other external pressure. She-Hulk doesn't just represent women, but she also represents the proverbial 'average person.'
Jennifer Walters' Legal Support
The Avengers are known for saving the world, but they have also caused their fair share of death and destruction. A trail of property damage and collapsing buildings seem to follow every superhero — not to mention the political schisms that occurred in Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and almost every other Marvel movie. These real-world problems add serious conflicts for our heroes and slow them down on their way to saving the day. The heroes stand out from the villains by caring about the damage they cause, but what if one of them was a lawyer who could evaluate the damages for them in real-time?
As Jennifer Walters grows into her new powers and finds a new work-life balance, her legal expertise could become a powerful asset. Her knowledge could solve many legal problems and prevent them. Not to mention that her real-life scenarios add an element of realism to the films. If superheroes were really running around the world, there would need to be some serious policy and contract changes. We know that the Avengers can take on alien armies, but can they settle a civil dispute? She-Hulk may be the missing link.
She-Hulk Supporting Characters
In just one season, She-Hulk Attorney at Law has assembled an impressive list of contacts. Her familial connections are just the tip of the iceberg. Jennifer Walters has met with all kinds of diverse characters, both new and old. She has represented villains from Hulk's past, worked with the Sorcerer Supreme, and even Daredevil. Jennifer's own lovable friends bring extra layers of enjoyment to the franchise. The MCU absolutely needs more Madisynn.
Additionally, Jennifer Walter's approachable persona enables her to connect with other heroes and villains across the board. She could play an important role in helping glue a new and evolving team together. Her knowledge gained by representing supervillains also gives her unique insight into the villains that the Avengers face off against.
What About the She-Hulk Finale?
One major problem with She-Hulk joining the Avengers would be a bit more conceptual than literal. In She-Hulk Attorney at Law, Jennifer Walters essentially smashes the fourth wall and becomes aware that she and everyone else is a character created by Marvel, dictated by some 'Kevin Feige bot' computer algorithm named after Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios.
That being said, how exactly is such a meta, self-aware character expected to participate with other characters she knows are property of Marvel Studios? How could she even continue to live her life, knowing that this whole MCU reality is a complete fiction? It seems as if the finale of She-Hulk would lead to a total existential crisis for any relatable human being who experienced what Jennifer Walters did, confronting her creator. Bringing She-Hulk into the Avengers would either have to erase some canon and retcon the events of She-Hulk Attorney at Law, or commit the MCU to meta-weirdness so long as She-Hulk is involved. Then again, that may not be a bad idea.
She-Hulk's meta nature has never been an issue in the comics, as she has broken the fourth wall while also being a member of The Avengers and the Fantastic Four. The series also makes sure to note that she will not be able to do this again, so that will explain why she can't always go to K.E.V.I.N. to fix every issue. It also is similar to Deadpool, which constantly breaks the fourth wall yet manages to interact with various X-Men characters. With Deadpool 3 about to see the character jump from the Fox X-Men timeline to the MCU, there is a chance both She-Hulk and Deadpool will be the only one aware that the other is breaking the fourth wall.
One of the Most Well Rounded Characters
Tatiana Maslnay's performance as Jennifer Walters is probably one of the best MCU debuts since Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. Much like Chris Hemsworth as Thor or Chris Evans as Captain America, the character is already clearly defined in terms of personality. She is funny, likable, and relatable, and that is a key ingredient for being part of the MCU. Audiences want to see her dynamics with other heroes.
She-Hulk would likely have fun dynamics with Sam Wilson and Carol Danvers, which would also likely be different from her dynamics with Ant-Man and Shang-Chi. She would likely clash with characters like Thor and Doctor Strange based on their arrogance. It is already clear that she would have great interaction with any members of the Avengers, and that is one key way to being a vital member of the franchise.
Time to Hit the Big Leagues
Marvel Studios has been testing the waters regarding blurring the lines between film and television and where the two overlap. The first set of MCU series was about highlighting popular film characters like Scarlet Witch, Falcon, Winter Soldier, Vision, Loki, and Hawkeye. Those were characters that had already been in the films and helped entice viewers to watch their shows.
Then they introduced new heroes like Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, Werewolf by Night, and She-Hulk. Those characters had to stand on their own. While Marvel brought film characters to streaming, now they are bringing their television characters to the big screen. WandaVision played a big role in setting up Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, while The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was a prelude to the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. Ms. Marvel is about to be the first Disney+ character to headline her own show to be featured in a major movie with the upcoming, The Marvels.
Now it is time for She-Hulk, and the property that best suits her is The Avengers. She is smart, strong, and capable. She is the everyday person of the MCU, one who did not ask for powers but was given to them and now must find a way to deal with them. Her connections to various corners of the Marvel Universe already make her a valuable asset, and she could fit right in with any hero dynamics. It is time for She-Hulk to make her leap to the big screen, and The Avengers is the perfect property for her.