Creative Staff:
Story: Corinna Bechko
Art: Roberto Castro
What They Say:
The thrilling conclusion of Tarzan and Sheena’s adventure in London finds them facing off against a woman who shouldn’t exist, a death-mad cult with access to impossible technology, and the hard fact that neither of them is very good at working as part of a team. With Jane’s help they have just one chance to save both their homes and their futures, but will it be enough to save their own skins?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The Lords of the Jungle series in this iteration draws to a close here after six issues and it’s certainly a solid and conclusive piece overall that’s pleasing in what it accomplishes. Corinna Bechko has definitely had fun with this series and pairing the two characters along with some of the supporting side but it’s Roberto Castro that has just blown me away regularly with the artwork. I’ve talked about his ability to capture the animals so well, something many artists simply can’t do, and combining that with some great and dynamic character artwork has made this whole series a visual treat that even if the story was weak it would be worth every moment. Thankfully, the story is solid and fun throughout.
As one can expect, the finale is driven by the desire to protect the lands in both times from what Laine is doing and that means some hard choices. The early part is simply amusing in watching Sheena and Tarzan go at it since she nails him about being male doesn’t mean he’s right while he counters that it doesn’t automatically mean he’s wrong either. They’re both working from the right end goal of protecting their places but it’s just a disagreement on the best method with what’s involved. Of course, there are others in the mix as well with Jane there and the locals that make it clear that they’re going to be involved in the decision as well, which is also a strong point to be made amid the “saviors” that are deciding everything for everyone. With the mention that atomics are involved in Laine’s plan, something that only Sheena really grasps, the scale of what’s involved with this portal escalates.
Amusingly, everything shifts to a future Los Angeles where we discover that Laine’s time is one where humanity is withering at the end and she intends to bring that to completion, which was her goal through the atomic weapons. It’s an interesting shift in the story, one that I’m not sure the foundations were laid clear enough for previously, but it makes for some compelling action sequences in a new location for the group that ups the ante and stakes involved. It almost feels like there’s enough for a whole other series with what’s explored here and its connections to the past, which provides some closure before we get both Tarzan and Sheena returning to their time. The epilogue aspect of this with things resolved, in some form at least, is definitely nice as I loved that the book opened on Sheena and closes on her in her time while making clear the impact she had on Tarzan’s time.
In Summary:
While Tarzan’s not a character that really excites me (even though I did enjoy the new theatrical film this summer), I really reconnected with Sheena during the Swords of Sorrow event previously and was glad to have a new adventure with her – and hope that she has more. Corinna Bechko and Roberto Castro captured both of these characters well and would do wonderfully with either in separate series to explore more of their tales by giving them some really great life and dynamic designs. This series was perhaps just a bit too long and maybe meandered a touch while it could have expanded or seeded things a bit more with Laine in a way that worked better, but some of it just comes from the whole reading in installments as opposed to a full story, which I’m looking forward to revisiting. Definitely fun for fans of the characters and worth checking out as a gateway for both of their tales.
Grade: B
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: August 17th, 2016
MSRP: $3.99