Creative Staff:
Story: Emma Beeby
Art: Ariela Kristantina
Colors: Pat Masioni
Letters: Sal Cipriano
What They Say:
In the late 19th century, a woman was defined by the men in her life. From her bankrupt father to a lecherous headmaster, Margaretha Zelle was never destined to enter high society. This notorious woman who found fame and fortune as an exotic dancer is now imprisoned as a spy, being questioned by a French military interrogator, a man determined to get her confession. But battling the wills of the men who would try to control her is nothing new to the woman who became Mata Hari . . .
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Telling the tale of someone’s past is never easy as there are so many ways to do it and so many interpretations – and that’s just from the person themselves. Emma Beeby has put together an interesting series here that flows between time periods and the way the story is being told and it often feels like Margaretha herself is piecing it together, possibly true or possibly not, which gives it an almost dreamlike aspect. Part of that is made more so through Ariela Kristantina’s beautiful artwork that comes across so well with a rawness that’s striking, particularly with how Masioni handles the color design for it. The result is something that’s earthy in nature but has an airiness about it that’s unsettling.
Margaretha’s time in the jail cell is a rough one for a range of reasons, with her disconnected from her life and all that it entails eating at her, never mind the abuse mental and physical going on for someone accused of being the greatest spy. She’s attempting to keep her composure and dignity but the situation has her swinging like a pendulum in emotions over it. At the same time this is going on we see how the police captain is being pressured into getting everything that’s needed for this very famous case to move forward that will result in a conviction. Evidence isn’t exactly something that’s required to be accurate, though the captain wants to do things right by all appearances. But with some recent issues of his own with his wife that are public, there’s a lot of leverage on him with his own future on the line to play ball.
The flashback storytelling side of the book is definitely engaging as Beeby takes us through the various stages of her younger life, where she had been sent to the temple to learn after her mother died in childbirth and how that was just its own disaster. But as time progressed we see how she tries to fit in, becoming a teacher at one point but used by the headmaster, and later attempting to find what she needs from a very unique view of soldiers as artists in the world. There’s some amusement in see how she and Macleod end up coming together and knowing where it goes over time, but there’s a charm to it as well with a weird innocence combined with the “worldly” nature of people at this time in how many moved throughout the world. Tying all that into her dealing with the police captain in the present as she relates the tale to him makes you question how much is truth and how much she’s telling to gain sympathy, but all of it has me wanting to read a more linear telling of her life.
In Summary:
Mata Hari has a solid follow-up to the first issue and is one that feels more straightforward than the first, which I definitely enjoyed but had a harder time following aspects of. More of her past is revealed here and it’s definitely intriguing to see how it’s unfolding and the challenges that she’s been facing. I’m definitely enjoying both past and present storylines for her and am really curious about the police captain and what’s going on there. What definitely makes this book work, however, is what Ariela Kristantina brings to the page. The flow of it, the nods to some of the design elements of her life, and just the realistic nature of Margaretha’s looks throughout her life really has this coming across beautifully. Each piece is coming together well and I’m eager to see what’s next and learn more.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 17+
Released By: Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 21st, 2018
MSRP: $3.99