She might not have been the most successful spy during World War I. She was however the most notorious. And she was in reality nothing like she appeared.
The five-issue miniseries by Dark Horse, Mata Hari seeks to blend the truth with the myth and the legend of the exotic dancer turned double agent for both the German and French intelligence communities. The world knew her as a mysterious object of sexuality and lust from the Orient of India, Malaysia, and or one of numerous far off Polynesian ports of call that she would claim to hail from. In reality, she was a Dutch aristocrat named Margretha Zeele (later marrying and taking the name MacLeod) who's family went from rags to riches.
The task of separating the fact from fiction rests with Emma Beeby. The Survival Geeks writer does this by writing the story from both Mata Hari and MacLeod's point of view. In the very first panel, the main character is portrayed as a naked prisoner writing her memoirs. It appears that the reader is going to get the real story after nearly a century of legend. However, the story of Mata Hari jumps from time period to time period quite often. Her life is never truly in order and possibly never true at all. The entire world was the daring spy's stage and she often played her audience for fools.
Issue #1 wasn't a bad read and it wasn't difficult. I actually don't mind the time jumps as I think that the historical figure of Mata Hari is really two people anyway. As a child she was the little princess or Margretha MacLeod, a pampered child who never had to want for anything. But once her dreamworld of wealth came crashing down, I believe that the young woman left that persona behind in order to forge a new one of wealth, beauty, and desire. Hence, Mata Hari was born. But as with any time you create a new character, it takes a while to form a coherent backstory and that's why nobody truly knows the facts about Mata Hari.
There is a running scene throughout this issue as Mata Hari offers herself to the Hindu god Shiva. I'm not sure where Emma Beeby is going with this part of the story. Is she signifying Mata Hari's willingness to make deals with the powers that be to enact her own desires of revenge and fame? Or is this just another facet of the myth of Mata Hari? We have 4 more issues in which to find out...
This series promises to be as mysterious and alluring as the real MacLeod herself. On the cover, Deep State's Ariela Kristantina pencils Mata Hari in her iconic temptress costume. Her right hand beckoning a hapless mark for a night of passion and information. But if you notice her left hand. it clasps a dagger, ready to eliminate any loose ends once she gets what she wants.
It's a lustful man's folly and Mata Hari knows how to manipulate it to her own benefit.
Mata Hari promises to be a historical thriller full of death, espionage, and sex. Lots and lots of sex. One thing for sure, this book was quite titillating both figuratively and literally. This first issue was heavy on backstory with not much in terms of cloak and dagger. I am sure that's coming in the next issue. Or as Mata Hari would call it- the second act!
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10.
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