Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #5 Review

 

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

Artist: Ediano Silva

Colorist: Vinicius Townsend

Letterer: Taylor Esposito

Cover Artists: Lucio Parrillo, Joseph Michael Linsner, Arthur Suydam & Cosplay

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $4.99

Release Date: January 31, 2023

 

Gordo dreams of Sheena, the Matayana or Jungle Witch of The Zona Prohibida, attacking him. His coworkers insist he’s safe. Sheena may have discovered their former base of operations, but their plan is nearly complete. As Rachel Cardwell, Sheena and her roommate Tyler prepare their presentation for the school’s 400^th Anniversary celebration. Will Sheena be too busy to track Gordo down and foil his illegal project? Let's grab a vine, swing into Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #5, and find out!

 

Story

Unauthorized incursions into The Zona Prohibida prompted Sheena to attend L’école des Jeunes. As Rachel Cardwell, rescued from her upbringing among the natives, she enrolls in Val Verde’s exclusive girls' school. Sheena patrols the adjacent jungle at night, seeking answers to why unsanctioned surveyors are taking core samples. By day, she helps Tyler, the daughter of Colonel Raphael Pinto, compile a report on the school’s origins.

 

Someone stole the first page from Father Olivo’s 1624 diary. Gordo’s team created the Blessing Goddess’ broadcasts using a photo from a school yearbook. Miss Gomez complained to Maestro Pesado about red dirt in the girls’ laundry. While Sheena and Tyler seek answers to these mysteries in the school library, stable, and grounds, her friends Chano, Roberto Kellerman, and Ransome discover that Gordo’s jungle base once conducted broadcasting experiments.

 

Colonel Pinto, the head of Val Verde’s Secret Police, fixates on Don Felipe as the culprit. The former revolutionary, who posed as the school janitor, seems a tailor-made culprit. Colonel Pinto may share his daughter's inclination to leap to incorrect conclusions. Still, he reveals a softer, caring side in Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #5. Perhaps that’s why Tyler insists he's the Director of the Bureau Of Internal Security when everyone else regards him as the head of the Secret Police.

 

Wes Clark Jr. & Steven E. de Souza tie the writhing vipers of their intricate plot together to bring readers an exciting finale. Sheena, aka Rachel Cardwell, remains front and center as she and her friends pursue this involving mystery to its conclusion. The writers provide a scientific basis for the Blessing Goddess and her amulets. They reveal the historical basis of Gordo’s vengeful Matayana, portray the ramifications of colonialism, and show how greed turns people into heartless monsters.

 

Still, if Rachel and Tyler don't deliver their presentation before Val Verde's First Lady as scheduled, Principal Solis will give them detention in Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #5!

 

 

Art

Sheena transforms from a beguiling jungle beauty into a vengeful wraith before Gordo awakens in his hastily appointed control center. Ediano Silva illustrates how Governor Alba enslaves Father Olvido’s newly baptized believers. Books fall from the pile Sheena carries onto a table in the booklined library, awakening Tyler from her slumber atop an ancient diary. Dust fills the air as Sheena races her horse between gymkana poles in Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #5.

 

Pete perches before a fruit plate by Don Felipe's head while Chim sits at Don Felipe's feet. While the parrot shows little interest in the food, the monkey enjoys watching movies on his tablet. Chano and Roberto hustle Don Felipe out of the hotel as Colonel Pinto arrives with his squad. Even shaved and wearing a suit, can the aging revolutionary escape the grasp of Val Verde's Secret Police?

 

Vinicius Townsend’s loaded palette brings appealing colors and realism to four-star hotels and Val Verde’s exclusive school for girls. A soft blue glow surrounds Tyler’s laptop when she awakens in the dimly lit library. The Blessing Goddess amulets emit pink light when reducing the students to zombies. Monitor-covered walls fill Gordo’s temporary headquarters with light blue, matching the clouds obscuring the dark blue star-filled sky and glowing full moon. Colonel Pinto and his soldiers fill panels with green, matching the dangers awaiting those seeking to exploit The Zona Prohibida. Rachel dominates every scene, thanks to her vibrant purple hair.

 

Rich in dialogue, Taylor Esposito’s black, uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons don't stress readers' eyes. Despite a few tiny exchanges, most words are large-size, and there's adequate spacing between lines of text. Brown lowercase handprinted words evoke the allure of an ancient journal. Energetic and colorful sound effects help you hear gunshots, pounding hooves, and Pete’s intelligent squawking. Yet as Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #5 hurtles to its biting finale, readers may rue the end of Tyler's endearing slurping.

 

Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review. Now, if only they had included a Vita-Glo Slurpee!

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Like the Val Verde Chameleon, Sheena hunts down a murderer in civilization and lets nature judge the accused in the jungle. Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #5 reveals the dangers inherent in Amazon Wishlists, Artificial Intelligence, and watching too much TV.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For more covers and a one-page preview see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

 

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.

 

Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #2 Review

 

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

Artist: Ediano Silva

Colorist: Vinicius Townsend

Letterer: Taylor Esposito

Cover Artists: Lucio Parrillo; Joseph Michael Linsner; Arthur Suydam;

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 6, 2023

 

Unsanctioned drilling in the Forbidden Zone draws Sheena’s attention. What are they searching for, and why is El Presidente allowing it? Let’s leap into Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #1 and find out!

 

Story

Global corporations haven’t moved into tranquil Val Verde yet. As of now, the Clumsy City Cowodi surveyors are only taking samples. Working to a grid pattern, they’re searching for something. But what?

 

Under a full moon, Sheena swings in to observe. When she gets too close, gunfire erupts. Her friends Chim the Monkey, Yagua the Jaguar, and Pete the Parrot help her survive the ambush. But if they were waiting for her, are her friends in the city in danger?

 

The following morning, the privileged students at L’école des Jeunes Filles du Val Verde have trouble staying awake. Fascinated by the Blessing Goddess, their evening gatherings lead to slumber during class. Despite her nocturnal exploits, Sheena’s ready to give Hermoine Granger a run for her money. But what did her roommate Tyler observe when Sheena wasn't looking? Might it get our vine-swinging heroine into trouble in Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #2?

 

Sheena statue from Big Bad Toy Store

 

Art

Ediano Silva brings lifelike realism to Wes Clark Jr. & Steven E. de Souza’s entrancing mystery. Gestures and movements are spot-on, and the characters look good from every angle. Blankets and garments fold, flow, and tumble. Action lines and blurred backgrounds rarely obliterate compelling, photographic scenes in this tropical paradise.

 

Vinicius Townsend imbues scenes with vibrant color that howls its realism in the moonlight. His heavily loaded palette delivers highlights and shadows that convey depth and texture at any time of day. Even the most art-clueless City Cowodi will drool at the visual feast of Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #2.

 

Taylor Esposito’s white balloon arrangement is always easy to follow. His pleasing black, uppercase letters are a joy to read in Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #2. Lively and colorful sound effects help you hear the drilling operation, Chim’s yeeps, Pete’s squawks, and Yagua’s growls. Readers feel each second of the battle as bullets fly, arrows slice through the air, and spears impale soldiers.

 

Final Thoughts

Greed, corruption, and a strange form of spiritualism make Sheena Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #2 an action-packed mystery involving death in paradise.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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