She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawhas been entertaining so far, offering just the right amount of cameos from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Superhuman Law Division at GHL&K brought on a superhero to be the face of the team, offering a new insight into criminal cases that involve people with superhuman abilities. This approach has raised some important questions about superhuman law, and how justice can be served in cases involving magical powers.
Before it even premiered,She-Hulk: Attorney at Lawwas promoted as a series that was different from some of its predecessors.Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walterswas established as a bubbly yet intelligent lawyer, who just wanted to be able to fight crime in the courtroom. After her transformation though, she suddenly became a lawyer with superhuman strength and power, and ultimately had a greater responsibility to represent every other individual with powers. But just how does the law apply to heroes in the MCU?
RELATED:Marvel: Impressive Feats She-Hulk Pulls Off In The Comics
Thethird episode ofShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawdives deep into some court cases being led by members of the Superhuman Law Division. The one led by Maslany’s Walters, a.k.a She-Hulk, is the case of parole for Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), a.k.a the Abomination. There are moments in the episode where Walters raises valid points about how some things that heroes, or villains, in the MCU do are either unethical or unacceptable. Even though the series is packaged as a sitcom about a lawyer struggling with her dual identity, the show seems to be trying to make legal sense of some of the unique scenarios that the MCU has created in the past.
In the case ofShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the Abomination is seen fighting Wong in a cage match in an entirely different country, when he should be in his cell at the Department of Damage Control’s Supermax Prison. The incident occurs just as Walters is preparing for his case, which means that the parole board could possibly deny his release. When questioned by Walters, however, Blonsky reveals that he was taken against his wishes byBenedict Wong’s character, the Sorcerer Supreme, and in fact he returned to his prison cell willingly. When later asked for an explanation as to why theAbomination was seen fighting him, the Sorcerer Supreme responds:
“I extracted him from his prison, against his own wishes, as I required a worthy opponent as part of my training to become Sorcerer Supreme.”
The scene first played out inShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Even though he has clearly broken the law and helped a prisoner escape a high-security prison, Wong doesn’t seem to feel any remorse for his actions. He later suggests sending Blonsky to the Mirror or Shadow Dimension, once again helping him escape prison, and the law. Wong even suggests “erasing everyone’s memory,” as was done byDoctor Strange inSpider-Man: No Way Home. Walters refuses, stating it is highly unethical.
Even though the timeline might seem a little off, it makes one wonder about the unethical nature of the hero’s actions. To hide his true identity and rid himself of false rumors, Peter Parker sought Doctor Strange’s help, and the two came up with an idea to make everyone forget who he truly was. While the plan seems simple, and works for the fan-favorite web-slinging hero, the action was being performed without the consent of the citizens of the world. It makes one wonder what extent the heroes would go to for their own benefit.
Wong’s attitude during the episode is just one example of how people with superhuman abilities try to use their superhero status to escape punishment. The shape-shifting elf Runa, who claims to have come from Asgard, is another superhuman who helps raise some eyebrows about heroes’ attitudes towards the law. When brought to court for deceiving Walters’ former colleague, Runa claims that she has “diplomatic immunity” simply because she’s Asgardian. The judge has to remind her that “we’re not in Asgard.” The exchange highlights the complications that arise when superhumans have to face the law, as they seem to believe that they are above it.
Both these instances raise questions about the MCU’s heroes and their civic duty towards the world that many of them live in. The MCU has been bringing superhero stories to life for over a decade, incorporating pop culture into the lives of its fans. It has the ability to use its position to reflect upon several real-life scenarios. In many of its series,includingShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the MCU has chosen to bring in social commentary about issues that affect people in the real world. How people are dealt with by the law in case of wrongdoings, or how the world constantly tries to challenge the status quo, is an important topic that has not been covered previously.
WithShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the MCU has a chance to reflect on this issue, and talk about how power is distributed in the real world. With Episode 3, the series has already established the theme, and if it continues to explore the topic, it could affect the MCU moving forward. The only other time that the popular universe has questioned the heroes’ actions is when it introduced the Sokovia Accords in2016’sCaptain America: Civil War. The purpose of those legal documents, supposedly established by the United Nations, was to control those with enhanced abilities, such as the Avengers, and hold the heroes accountable for their actions. The Sokovia Accords stated that “the Avengers will operate under the supervision of a United Nations panel, only when and if that panel deems it necessary.”
How does the Superhuman Law then affect the heroes, and the citizens of the world? Are heroes liable for any damage caused to property during a battle? Does the law truly apply to everyone equally? These are some questions that Episode 3 ofShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawsuccessfully raised. It will be interesting to see whether the MCU benefits from such conversations moving forward, or if it is just a passing phase.
