The story opens with the shocking death of Sheena. Carrion birds circle her corpse dumped unceremoniously on the beach by Nazis leftover from the war. Though old, they display no feebleness and are very much still a threat.

Ransome and Bob make an escape that's plausible yet thrilling, but out of the frying pan, et cetera. Meanwhile Sheena's animal friends help her recover from the trickery that saved her life and a very sharp officer in Val Verde's forces investigates the kidnapping that led to these events, which includes a novel foray into head hunting.

De Souza and Livingston come up with a crackerjack pulp adventure that's given the English of modern day sophistication. The Nazis and the headhunters could have been eye-rolling excursions, but the writers give the villains and the antagonists dignity. If these were over the top figures or poor stereotypes then Sheena wouldn't actually be necessary to deal with them.

By treating the characters on the other side of the coin fairly, the writers alternately imbue the hero with depth and strength. Sheena has to be part of this adventure to save Ransome and Bob. Sheena rescues her companions in an unusual way that's motivated by her heroism. Sheena must be strong and smart to survive Nazi interrogation. She must be brave in order to go back and confront her tormentors.

While action is the language spoken in Sheena, the dialogue is actually fun to read and meaningful. Sheena's voice displays a dead pan wit and I can imagine softness becoming fierce when reading her words. The scene on the boat becomes a lively and unexpected family farce, with exquisite timing.

This issue of Sheena: Dark Rising introduces artist Rebekah Isaacs to the adventures of the Jungle Queen. Isaacs exhibits a superb understanding of anatomy and storytelling. Her Sheena is lithe, beautiful and dangerous, and the entire cast benefits from her care. Colonel Pinto and the non-white characters exhibit interesting examples of ethnicity, and colorist Serrano exploits the bonds between characters to foreshadow some of the gags.

The second issue of Sheena's second series of modern day adventures offers the reader a rousing adventure that's played seriously. The writers respect the cast, and Sheena retains her status as a strong female hero.

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