Review: Frank Cho’s Jungle Girl Omnibus
In today’s, some would say over-sensitive, world (someone has to explain to me how Orcs are racists in D’n’D), this book will be an opinion splitter. On one hand it’s a tits and ass book that parodies the female form and borders on porn; on the other, it’s a cheesecake celebration of the female form and of a serial style of storytelling. Where do I stand on this? For those who have read a number of my reviews, not to mention the various podcasts I appear on for the UCPN, you should know that I am firmly in the latter camp, despite the lack of fishnets in the jungle.
Jana is the Jungle Girl in question; living in a Savage Land type of affair, with a number of tribes and tribal politics to navigate, it’s Tarzan in a bikini. From out of the sky, a “metal bird” crashes and drops a group of “civilised” travellers. Left to their own devices, they would certainly fall afoul of the locale. Jana has other ideas, offering them protection leads her into all sorts of scrapes, dangers and costume changes!
Frank Cho has often been associated with controversy. If it isn’t parodies of “that” Spider-Woman cover, its trouble on Paradise Island with Wonder Woman. For me, I think people just need to shut up! Cho’s style is definitely cheesecake and if that offends, then don’t hire him for your book! Anyways, Cho provides the covers for this collection as well as plotting duties. Writing can also be cheesecake; Cho has Jana in all sorts of escapades which allows the artist to accentuate her form. However, the book isn’t just a pin-up. With fellow writer, Doug Murray, the adventures remind me of Jane, the old British wartime strip. Yet both Cho and Murray ensure that Jana is never weakened or put in situations that demean her. She is a strong female survivor with a wealth of knowledge over her land. The dialogue, at least early on does feel a little exposition heavy, though this rights itself with more cast to work with.
The book is split into three seasons; the first two feature interior art from Adriano Batista, who shows a level of style that maybe was only hinted at on the Galactica book. Here he seems to be channeling Cho, as the poses work well. You know what you are going to get with camera angles. Ironically this is highlighted by the use of video cameras by the trespassers. The art is pacy and whilst there are times that body structure and faces change, it doesn’t detract too much. The final season has interior art by Jack Jadson. Its a different style for sure, maybe more elongated, taking some of the Amazonian element from the character. Part of this may be the deviation in tone of this story. Personally, I prefer Batista’s work for sure. Frank Martin Jr. provides colors for season one and season two, though is joined by Giovani Kososki on the latter. The first season does see changes in environments which are handled well, with the overall scheme feeling breezy and light. Colorist for season three is Inlight Studios which offer a totally different scheme to match the darker tone. Letters are well covered from Zachary Matheny and Marshall Dillon. With this being an omnibus, there are extra pages depicting the various (it is a Dynamite book after all!) covers as well as some “work in progress” pages, which I always like to see.
Buying, or liking this book doesn’t mean that you are a bad person. Does it objectify women? That’s up to you to be honest. I have said many times, that I like women to be drawn like women. This book has this in spades. But surely, some will argue, does she have to walk, run, jump around in a bikini? Would a man be expected to? Well, the answer is yes; Tarzan ran, jumped, swung around in a banana hammock, so that’s the equality aspect dealt with. Some will say that the characters treat Jana like an airhead; again have you seen a Tarzan movie? Cheesecake art, in my opinion, is a complementary form of art that accentuates, not diminishes women.
Writing – 4 Stars
Art (Batista) – 4.5 Stars
Art (Jadson) – 3 Stars
Colors – 4 Stars
Overall – 4 Stars
Plotted & Written by; Frank Cho & Doug Murray
Art by; Adriano Batista & Jack Jadson
Colors by; Frank Martin Jr., Giovani Kososki
Letters by; Zachary Matheny & Inlight Studios
Published by; Dynamite Entertainment
Author Profile
- I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow
Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network
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