None may taint the land of the Queen … without dire consequences.
Creative Staff:
Writers: Marguerite Bennett & Christina Trujillo
Artwork: Moritat
Colors: Andre Szymanowicz
Letters: Thomas Napolitano
What They Say:
In this riveting relaunch, the guardian of the jungle, SHEENA, pursues a mysterious invader that has come to spy on the Amazon’s most ancient secrets… Following the path of the trespasser, she encounters a forbidden ruin in which even more deadly dangers lie in wait — and begins an adventure that will take her beyond her wildest imaginings!
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
Sheena – Queen of the Jungle surveys her realm, weary of outsiders who would dare to intrude upon this sacred land, when a strange beast appears upon the horizon. This flying turtle of the cowodi is no match for her swift draw, keen eye and steady hand, that is until the Protector regrets this decision. While her arrow found its target true, this creature of the Outsiders still proves to be a threat as it finds a resting place within forbidden grounds, a place even the Queen dare not venture. Her duty is to secure the land of Mother Forest, there is none where she does not venture to preserve her charge … all except for this singular area. This temple is forbidden for all to enter, not even the animals of her kingdom would wish to anger the keepers of these ruins, but now she herself must do so to correct her own grievous mistake.
The dead leaves which litter the forest floor easily part ways as Sheena’s powerful muscles propel her forward toward an uncertain goal. Even as she regrets her hasty choice in downing the soaring creature, the one she now makes has even more repercussions upon her now frayed nerves. These ruins have not been entered for ages due to the taboo, but now she must break that tradition to correct her error, even if it means to incur the wrath of ancient spirits. The Queen’s footsteps are tentative, even more ginger than her normal light footed gait, all in an attempt to keep from disturbing the inhabitants of the sanctum. Overgrown vines cling to every statue she sees, their numerous vegetative tendrils disguising traps which sloppily attempt to snare the agile woman, her cat like reflexes being more than a match for the clumsy and antiquated devices. Dust layers an exposed platform with another curious cowodi artifact, but she cannot be distracted … her hasty actions have caused one problem for today, it cannot be the blame for another.
In Summary:
To be quiet honest, when I saw the price for this issue, I thought this would be an introductory sample of the story and Dynamite Entertainment would skimp on the quality … I am glad I was wrong. Of course, anyone familiar with the character will know this incarnation is based on the S.M. Iger and Will Eisner creation, but this time she has been transplanted from Africa to the Amazon. While this could make little difference in future stories, the lushness of a South American rainforest, the plight of indigenous peoples and reduction of a once thriving ecosystem, should make for interesting narratives by writers Marguerite Bennett and Christina Trujillo. The barren savannahs of the African wilderness were a good starting point for the protector, but now that she has been established, who is to say which should be the right place for this new version? After all, Sheena is supposed to be the Queen of the Jungle, and that continent isn’t exactly what you think of when you hear about her protectorate – unless it is referring to the savagery of the wildlife, which would be an astute observation for the fauna.
But now that Sheena has found a new home, it is the obligation of Bennett and Trujillo to give her a new purpose, and this premiere is an amazing start. They begin her Amazonian escapades with a patrol within the stunning beauty of the canopy, only to have that same responsibility devolve toward something of her own doing, all due to a naiveté to the outside world. While it is understandable that the pair couldn’t help but emulate another jungle protector in a loincloth, the departure into someone who is certain of her own abilities plus an amount of ego from her strength, makes this a heroine who could be a match to anyone or anything she may face in the future; but at the same time, that overconfidence can work against her by impugning her own pride into thinking she cannot be defeated, causing the Queen to leap into situations before she thinks of the consequences. While these flaws may be trivial for the time being, what I do admire with the current situation is Sheena’s strong sense of duty to guard her realm from any intruders, but at the same time, her innocence and belief in cultural superstitions of the past makes her someone who you cannot but smile when you see her cower and hesitate all due to her lack of knowledge. But the ferocity of this guardian cannot be denied, and while her beauty is tangible, her spirit is what drives this woman into being someone you would not want to challenge in a fair fight … and that is what will make us come back for even more of her adventures.
However how could you have such a wonderful story without artwork which matches in its unbelievable magnificence to the lushness and allure of both habitat and protector … you cannot without the talent of illustrator Moritat. The first glimpse of the environment is stunning – an unbroken canopy to guard the outside world from what hides beneath. Although that scene is eclipsed by the beauty which protects this splendor, and she is Sheena displayed in all her splendor barely clad in a jaguar pelt, allowing for maximum exposure of tanned muscular yet lithe legs, slender torso, and graceful lines, leaving almost nothing to the imagination; while at times it may appear to be bordering on the edge of being obscene, the artist still endeavors to keep the cleavage akin to a single piece swimsuit – sensual in its looks, but still projecting a hidden strength within those tense limbs and alertness behind the Queen’s darting eyes, hidden within her gentle face, surrounded by a luxurious blonde mane. But none of this would be effective without the outstanding palette of Andre Szymanowicz, controlling surroundings via a masterful manipulation of organic colors, light and shadow, allowing for the reader to witness the awe inspiring grandeur of nature itself. The breath of life flows into the surroundings, luscious greenery in opposing contrast to the occasional bright plumage of a scarlet or military macaw soaring high above, weaving between branches to greet the protector. Even when we descend beneath the overgrowth, he still remembers to change the intensity of the illumination, allowing for the canopy to filter sunlight upon the ground and therefore, dimming the brightness into shadows. While this limitation may hinder some artists and colorists, it does not for Moritat or Szymanowicz, instead open up the gates of their imagination, allowing us to delve into the ruins without any restraints, just as the narrative itself thrusts the audience into an amazing ending. This is the way synergy should work and coordinate for a title to reach its best results, with all disciplines becoming one.
Even while I state the obvious, there is still one glaring detail which cannot be overlooked, since it appears on the glory which is Sheena. From the very start of her display, just under the curves of her bustline, there are a strange array of lines along her torso, defined like the scales of a great python. At first, I was confused by this oddity, thinking they were a mistake in delineating the Queen’s abdominal muscles, but then as the story progressed, this error repeated. With each panel where we marvel at the protector’s amazing physique, it seemed these peculiarities persisted, but in an unnatural way, not moving in a normal muscle fashion. Finally, I figured out what they were: the four horizontal stripes which restricted her movement were part of her costume. If you take a close look at Emanuela Lupacchino and Fabio Mantovani’s preview cover, you will notice those same ripped strips of fabric across her belly. While I can appreciate such a fashion statement to appear within the depths of the Amazon rainforest, it does not translate well to the interiors of this issue; the major problem is Moritat does not take the time to delineate each strand of material as a separate entity, instead they blend into Sheena’s physique as if they are the muscles themselves, even if they appear to be poorly drawn as dark lines. Additionally, the confusion is multiplied by allowing Szymanowicz to compound this oversight by masking any implied details with too much shadow, especially once she begins to explore the ruins. With all of the beauty this duo projects within this story, it is a shame such a simple blunder can take away from the majesty if you let it, but the strength of their talents allows the audience enjoy the narrative, even amid the discord of a strange anomaly.
This first issue of Sheena Queen of the Jungle is a courageous effort by a talented writer’s Marguerite Bennett and Christina Trujillo and the skillful hands of Moritat and Andre Szymanowicz for allowing us to once again tread lightly upon a hidden land long forgotten. The excitement is barely contained as we watch the panther-like strength of this queen defend her kingdom from all who would trespass, while she attempts to learn of the world beyond her charge. Beware those who may challenge her domain, Sheena is the ruler of this jungle and she will allow none to transgress without permission, but I for one cannot wait until our next visit – for this one was far too short for the value.
Grade: A
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: August 02, 2016
MSRP: $0.25
