Sensational She-Hulk In Ceremony, The #1: Review

Jan 1989

Dwayne McDuffie, June Brigman

Sensational She-Hulk In Ceremony, The #1 cover

Story Name:

Ceremony Part I

Review & Comments

Rating:

Sensational She-Hulk In Ceremony, The #1 Review by Rob Johnson (March 10, 2010)

This 2-issue series was published during 1989. I'm not sure whether the events happen chronologically before or during the Sensational She-Hulk series that started that year. The internal references either can't be used to discriminate to that level of accuracy, or are confusing. Jennifer Walters is permanently She-Hulk at this time, since Marvel Graphic Novel #18: Sensational She-Hulk. Both issues say she's a member of the Avengers, which is reasonable in the time leading up to the Acts of Vengeance crossover. Monica Rambeau (Captain Marvel) has had to recover from a debilitating accident in Avengers #293. Johnny Storm (Human Torch) is married to 'Alicia Masters' since Fantastic Four #300, but she has not yet revealed herself to be Lyja the Skrull. The absence of Invisible Woman and Mr Fantastic from the Baxter Building would tie in neatly with them being on leave since Fantastic Four #307. But Thing is shown in his normal form, and he got mutated to a craggier version in Fantastic Four #310. Putting this issue before then would make it a long way before the start of Sensatuonal She-Hulk, and probably before Captain Marvel had her accident. I would plump for post-FF#310 and put Thing's appearance down to an artistic/editorial mistake. I would also personally put this issue before the Sensational She-Hulk series, just to explain why Wyatt Wingfoot isn't mentioned there. (In the much later Sensational She-Hulk #35, Jen makes 4th-wall-breaking comments that she and Wyatt haven't seen each other since before Johnny's wedding, and that this limited series isn't canonical because Wyatt's family doesn't match with any other references.)

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Sensational She-Hulk In Ceremony, The #1 Synopsis by Rob Johnson

Twenty years ago Carlton Beatrice spent time on the Keewazi reservation and mastered the male side of shamanism but not the female side. But he also learnt to steal and consume souls, enabling him to acquire female shaman energy. (He killed Wyatt Wingfoot's aunt Miriam, who also had shamanic powers.) Since then he has become head of Carlton Industries, and has also been gathering totems that will enable him to steal all the female energy in the world. He now only needs one more totem, a basket.

Carlton can't steal the basket or buy it, he must be given it. It is currently in the possession of Wyatt Wingfoot's grandmother Roberta Elk Step. She sends it to Jennifer Walters, anonymously without explanation. Jen instinctively rejects Carlton's offer to donate any amount she wants to charity if she will give him the basket.

Jen and Wyatt had a romantic relationship when She-Hulk was a member of the Fantastic Four, but they broke up. Wyatt is still living in the Baxter Building, and is just starting a law degree.

The basket is supposed to bring Jen and Wyatt together, so that Jen can be Wyatt's spirit guide in his vision quest, and also provide the balancing female energy. Jen feels her biological clock ticking. She and Wyatt both regret splitting up. The basket's influence gets mixed up with this, so that first Jen asks Wyatt to be a surrogate father, which he rejects, and then Wyatt asks Jen to marry him, which she accepts.

Jen meets Mavis, an old friend from law school, when an abortion clinic is bombed. Mavis gives Jen advice and organises her bridal shower with Wasp and Invisible Woman. There are other Avengers/Fantastic Four female guests: Captain Marvel II, Scarlet Witch, Tigra (probably Alicia Storm, and possibly Crystal).

Carlton's second in command Michael Souris sends a Native American demon Anung-Ite to kill She-Hulk and steal the basket (humorously with a to-do list memo). Needless to say it doesn't work, but the fight makes Jen too late for her bridal shower.

Carlton has a jar of wafers, which are souls he has stolen. Every now and then he eats one. Carlton is angry with Michael because She-Hulk must give him the basket willingly. He steals Michael's soul as punishment, but I don't think he eats it because Michael is still around to obey his commands, here and in the 2nd issue.

Jen and Wyatt go to see Roberta Elk Step and Wyatt's sister Rain Falling West. Roberta explains that Carlton Beatrice sees himself fulfilling an unspecified prophecy. Only the chief of the Keewazi can stop him, using shaman magic. Wyatt should be the current chief, but he has declined the honour and doesn't believe in shaman magic.