Why She-Hulk Belongs in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars

Jennifer Walters belongs in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And if you don’t believe it, just ask Bruce Banner, Wong, and Daredevil—key Marvel characters who all crossed paths with Jen in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

For Tatiana Maslany, the star of She-Hulk, Walters works best when her story is self-contained. “There’s something about She-Hulk being the star of her own show that makes sense,” Maslany said on the Bingeworthy podcast. “Because of the direct address, she is our narrator. So, I think it would be a real cool challenge to see her in some other context, but I do think like the sort of joy of She-Hulk is in the singularness of it.”

She-Hulk’s Unique Place in the MCU

Maslany’s perspective isn’t without precedent. Even Deadpool was confined to his own corner of the MCU, limited to interactions with the TVA and a brief cameo from Happy Hogan. The John Byrne comic run from the late ’80s and early ’90s—credited with shaping Attorney at Law—also broke the fourth wall, setting her apart from the rest of the Marvel Universe. In fact, the first issue of that run famously featured She-Hulk threatening to rip up readers’ X-Men comics if they didn’t buy her book.

Yet even Byrne found ways to integrate her into the broader Marvel Universe. Notably, She-Hulk was an Avengers member when Byrne began working with her. He was so fond of Jen that he brought her into the Fantastic Four during his legendary run, replacing the Thing after the events of Secret Wars.

Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars Could Change the Game

The Fantastic Four are set to enter the mainline MCU in Avengers: Doomsday, later this year. Their universe’s retro 1960s aesthetic will merge with ours as they confront their arch-nemesis, Doctor Doom. Following Doomsday, Avengers: Secret Wars will likely draw inspiration from the 2015 Jonathan Hickman storyline rather than the 1985 crossover that briefly sidelined Ben Grimm, making room for She-Hulk.

Given the early inconsistencies in Doomsday—such as the Thing’s unexpected presence in Wakanda—this is a prime opportunity to introduce She-Hulk into the Fantastic Four lineup.

Balancing Tone and Story

Maslany’s concerns aren’t just about roster space; they’re about tone. Byrne’s work proves that metatextual storytelling and mainstream superhero adventures can coexist. The MCU could follow suit by letting She-Hulk engage in epic team-ups with the Fantastic Four in Doomsday and Secret Wars, while still preserving her solo adventures—complete with fourth-wall-breaking antics and a flirtation with Matt Murdock.