Sheena Queen of the Jungle--Fatal Exams #1 // Review
There's a new girl at school. She's wealthy, of course. Wouldn't have gotten in without decent money. It IS a private school in the Central American nation of Val Verde. There's something strange about the new girl. Claims to have grown up in the jungle without running water. They say her name is Rachel, but there's a lot more going on with her than her appearance would suggest in Sheena Queen of the Jungle--Fatal Exams #1. The writing team of Steven E. DeSouza and Wes Clark Jr. open a new series with artist Ediano Silva and colorist Renato Spiller.
Rachel isn't exactly clumsy, but she DOES lack a certain level of social grace. The rest of the girls at the school instantly see her as an outsider, but it's exactly what she wants. Can't afford to look TOO much like someone who fits in. THAT would arouse suspicion. Sheena's there undercover as Rachel in the interest of investigating strange activity. She's going to have some difficulty not sticking out in the wrong way as she sneaks off at night to investigate a group of men who are engaged in suspicious activity involving what at first appears to be contraband but turns out to be...soil samples?
Clark and DeSouza set up a perfectly cool crime procedural featuring the first real female comic book hero. Her natural instincts and her ability to blend in with nature are tempered by her need to blend in with the culture of the surrounding city. The conflict between the two ends of her life makes for an interesting dynamic. There is a supernatural mind control element going on as an apparent subplot, which is definitely going to turn into a central plot point. That seems more than a little silly and could end up tangling the plot in ridiculousness, but the first issue feels quite cool.
Silva and Spiller bring Val Verde to the page with a respectably lush atmosphere. There's been some clever thought put into the overall look and feel of the school. Spiller's colors are rich enough to give off warmth and humidity. As it is the beginning of the story, there isn't a whole lot of action. When it DOES hit the page, it's quick, brutal, and deadly, with some moody elements. Drama feels respectably deep on the page, though it IS occasionally amplified in a way that feels unpleasantly stiff.
The right elements are in place for a really good story. However, there's a lot of potential silliness that seems quite ready to swoop in at nearly every corner of the plot. The drama has real potential. The political end of Val Verde seems to be resting quite clearly in the background of the story. The fictional locale for pop action fiction in films, comics, and video games doesn't often get a very close look, so it'll be interesting to see if DeSouza and company are able to place it a bit more in the foreground of an action thriller that's grounded in political drama.
