Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #4 Review

 

Writers: Wes Clark Jr. & Steven E. de Souza

Artist: Ediano Silva

Colorist: Vinicius Townsend

Letterer: Taylor Esposito

Cover Artists: Lucio Parrillo; John Royle; Arthur Suydam; Cosplay

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $4.99

Release Date: December 13, 2023

 

Her roommate's father arrested Sheena's friend, Don Felipe. Gordo’s goons attacked her friend Roberto and shot Ransome, Cardwell’s Head Of Security. As Sheena and Tyler prepare for their school's 400^th anniversary, the Queen Of The Jungle wonders if the V.I.P. attendees will be safe. And what’s the story with the amulets many of the girls wear? Let's charge into Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #4 and find out!

 

Story

Unsanctioned drilling in the Forbidden Zone drew Sheena’s interest. She attacked the surveyors in the jungle and liberated some of their soil samples. The Norteamericano outsiders murdered the professor who studied what they extracted. After Sheena captured and questioned him, Omar admitted the surveyors were testing for nothing.

 

As Rachel Caldwell, Sheena rains lawyers down on Col. Pinto’s head. But with the school inviting Val Verde’s First Lady and V.I.P.’s to their celebration, Tyler’s father—and head of the secret police—can’t release Don Felipe. The aging gardener may have treated Rachel kindly, but no public records of him exist, and his soldiers found a priceless volume of Father Olvido’s diary in his room.

 

Thankfully, Doctor Domingo patched up Ransome. Along with Roberto and Chano, Cardwell’s Head Of Security found a clue to the unsanctioned operations in the Forbidden Land. As Sheena’s chief protector, Ransome doesn’t want her to follow it up. But she’s the Queen Of The Jungle, and all the alligators, hippos, and Cowodis in Val Verde can't stop her from investigating.

 

In Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #4, Wes Clark Jr. & Steven E. de Souza reveal the identity of the Cowodi boss, Don Felipe's past, and the secret behind the Blessing Goddess. Sheena's animal friends, Pete and Yagua, assist her while mischievous Chim runs up a Video On Demand bill. It's exciting to see all the plotlines converging and long-held secrets revealed. Yet the issue also boasts a surprisingly touching moment when a villain mourns a fallen colleague.

 

 

 

Art

Ediano Silva’s lifelike characters inhabit dense jungles. Hippos rise above the surface to menace Cowodis that invade their waters. Val Verde shines as a tropical paradise, while the exclusive school exudes its rich and romantic history in Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #4.

 

Vinicius Townsend imbues Silva’s panel-packed pages with multihued realism. His attractive colors lend vitality to this intriguing story filled with danger, mystery, and revelations. The purple-blue sky hangs over vibrant greenery as Sheena avoids red and yellow tracer fire, taking on a bazooka-wielding villain with her spear. Yet the magenta hippos steal the spotlight, their slick hides glowing in the moonlight.

 

Taylor Esposito’s black, uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons are easy on the eyes, even if yours don’t reflect a vision of the Blessing Goddess. Energetic and colorful sound effects help you hear small moments like a cellphone ring and a shadowy villain’s cigar ash hitting the river. Yet the big moments in Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #4 don’t disappoint either, as blades slash, hippos chomp, and explosions rock Sheena’s beloved Forbidden Zone.

 

Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

A rich man finds inspiration in the ancient writings of an imprisoned priest, and investigations into the Forbidden Zone reveal a link with America’s C.I.A. in Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #4.

 

Rating 10/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

 

Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #3 Review

 

Writers: Wes Clark Jr. & Steven E. de Souza

Artist: Ediano Silva

Colorist: Vinicius Townsend

Letterer: Taylor Esposito

Cover Artists: Lucio Parrillo; John Royle; Arthur Suydam; Cosplay

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 8, 2023

 

Someone's sending test teams into the Forbidden Zone. Sheena wonders who's disturbing the natives. Can she discover who wants to exploit the indigenes' home and why? Let’s leap into Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #3 and find out!

 

Story

As Omar cruises the river, he asks an old fisherman if he's seen a young blonde. As Sheena's friend Don Felipe realizes the young man is spinning a yarn, the vine-swinging jungle queen lands on Omar's boat. Having identified Omar as one of the Norteamericano outsiders, she draws a knife and demands answers. When Omar's men appear, Sheena must defend herself while demanding answers from the cowardly Cowodis.

 

While most of her friends are fascinated by the Blessing Goddess, Tyler is warming to her new roommate. Still fixated upon fame, riches, and earning her father's approval, the purple-haired schoolgirl leaves the amulet her friend gave her with Chim to accompany Sheena to the library. The girls research the history of their school, preparing a report to celebrate its 400^th Anniversary. But are they alone in the quiet, book-lined aisles?

 

Writers Wes Clark Jr. and Steven E. de Souza weave intertwined plot threads into Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #3. For less valorous reasons, Tyler's father—the head of the secret police—shares Sheena's interest in the Cowodi survey teams. Thanks to Tyler, he knows “monkey girl” is more than just the long-lost daughter of an influential family. Following orders, Omar’s boss Gordo searches the city for Chano, the university student who processed an ore sample Sheena secured. The Norteamericano outsiders will threaten Sheena's Human friends Bob, Ransome, and Don Felipe. And what about Chim? Given how the Blessing Goddess’ amulets affect the schoolgirls, can Sheena’s small simian resist its charms? 

 

 

 

Art

Lifelike portrayals and compelling backgrounds welcome readers to Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #3. Ediano Silva captures quiet moments of reflection and realization, social interaction, and jungle battles in exacting detail. Injuries inflicted may not appall, but Silva doesn't stint on the blood, guts, and gore. One of Gordo's goons bears a confusing resemblance to Chano. Yet all the characters and settings appeal amid pages packed with panels. A double-page spread relates the thrill of a chase in a creative flood of mesmerizing moments.

 

A forest of greens and a river of blues enhance Omar’s approach while Don Felipe tries to catch a big pirarucu. Blood and water splash as Sheena battles her attackers along the rapids. Sunlight and shadow fall on muscles, skin, and clothing, including Sheena’s animal skin one-piece. Vinicius Townsend's rich and nuanced coloring makes every character pop as Sheena hunts for the truth.

 

Given the plentitude of dialogue, Taylor Esposito’s black, uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons delight the eyes in Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #3. Energetic and colorful sound effects help you hear blows and gunfire. Tyler's amulet activates in a still room. Pete's squawks demonstrate his above-average intelligence. Now, if only Tyler would stop slurping her Vita-Glo slushies!

 

Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Wheels within wheels, a large cast of characters, balloon-packed panels, and two compelling mysteries make this jungle tale a demanding but absorbing and exciting read. For maximum enjoyment, reread the first two issues, keep your Spanish-to-English dictionary close by, and unearth the treasures buried within the pages of Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #3.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

To preview interior art & view more awesome covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.