Dave Stevens SHEENA QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE 3-D #1 (1985) Sheena illo

This page represents a step in the creation of the 3-D comic, SHEENA QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE 3-D #1 (1985). Released by Blackthorne Publishing Group in 1985, it collected several Sheena stories previously published in 1953 by Fiction House, and made them available in a cool 3-D comic for new readers.

The cover to the 3-D Sheena Special comic was of course illustrated by the inimitable DAVE STEVENS and is a true masterpiece! Dave is also credited with assisting Ray Zone with some art edits to the interior of the book to enable the 3-D process. It turns out in the process, Dave produced some new original figure drawings to enhance some pages as part of the process. Another artist named Henry Mayo is also credited with providing some edits and art touch ups to some pages as well.

At it's most basic level what you are looking at is original art afixed to a stat of the original Fiction House comic page in the background. It is a new drawing of Sheena glued on top of where the original Sheena comic image is. This combination of stat and original art became the initial production page that would be used for reproduction and manipulation in the process of creating the 3-D effects.

This page appears to be the first step of the reproduction process used for creating the 3-D SHEENA QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE 3-D comic. There is another part of the production process displayed in the gallery of another CAF member. That page is a stat taken from this page with some parts cut and repositioned and touched with white out to facilitate the 3-D effects.The owner of that page references Dave Stevens' contribution in creating the Sheena image.

The gorgeous central image of Sheena was created on a separate page then cut out and attached to the stat page. This was undoubtedly done to improve the attractiveness of the overall image because the stat image would not reproduce crisply on its own.

While the drawing retains some similarity to the published image in the original FH comic, it clearly reflects Dave Stevens' talent for understanding and portraying the female form. The enhanced drawing has all the tell-tale signs of Dave's finest work. Sheena's form and voluptuous curves are on display as only Stevens' hand could portray, and Dave's trademark drawing process with blue pencils visible underneath perfect inking is evident.

Apparently there has been some debate about the extent of Dave Stevens' contribution to the central Sheena figure. A previous owner of this production art attributes the Sheena drawing to Henry Mayo, who as mentioned, provided some art edits in the production of the comic.

With all due respect, I say no way! There's simply no way Dave's hand didn't touch this drawing. For my eye which has been studying Dave's work for 40+ years, that just doesn't add up. It is crystal clear that Dave at least had a hand in the composition and completion of this Sheena illustration. There are simply too many markers of his style, and too much historical context, to have any doubt.

Unfortunately, Dave left us back in 2008.

Since this drawing was published way back in 1985, there remain only anecdotal recollections of conversations about its creation to reflect on. It was created so long ago that memories are cloudy, so for some there remains uncertainty about the creation of this fantastic image.

It may be impossible to determine definitively that the drawing is 100% Dave's work, or if he was assisted by or aided Mayo in finishing it.

Regardless, i remain convinced this is a very beautiful Dave Stevens original Sheena illo, and I am super-thrilled to add it to my collection. I will leave it to others to decide for themselves.

Many thanks go to the previous owner and good friend, Jeff Singh, for letting it come my way.