Review: Madame Xanadu - Broken House of Cards

Centuries after her defeat during the fall of Camelot, the sorceress Morgaine Le Fey has returned to wreak havoc on the human world. Hellbent on resurrecting her departed son, she intends to unleash atomic warfare onto the Earth with him by her side and stake her claim on what remains. There’s just one thing standing in her way – her younger sister – the precog known as Madame Xanadu.

Madame Xanadu: Broken House of Cards collects issues #16-21 of Madame Xanadu, written by Matt Wagner and illustrated by Amy Reeder.

Broken House of Cards reads like a direct sequel to the first collection of Matt Wagner’s run on Madame Xanadu. Of course, this is largely due to the return of the talented Amy Reeder on art duties and the presence of Morgaine Le Fey as this arc’s antagonist. It’s a satisfying read and is a step-up from the more subdued arc that preceded it. Once more, Wagner juxtaposes the past with the “present” (1950s New York). Through flashbacks, we get a more detailed look at Morgana and Nimue’s life long before they became known as Morgaine Le Fey and Madame Xanadu. In the present, Madame Xanadu teams up with a mysterious detective in order to stop a satanic cult that is enslaved by the enchantments of Morgaine Le Fey.

The flashbacks are, sadly, the weakest part of Broken House of Cards. While they’re intended to elaborate on our heroine’s past, they’re actually interruptive and don’t add a whole lot to the overall arc. They take up two issues, which take place immediately after Morgaine Le Fey’s epic resurrection. This means that you’re essentially left hanging and are forced into the past to witness events which don’t feel terribly relevant to the grand scheme of things. The other issue is that Wagner digs further back into England’s past, meaning that readers will need to be familiar with that history otherwise they’ll be left feeling lost. His exposition is weaker in comparison to the preceding volumes, which makes the context fuzzier.

Arguably, the opening of this arc is the most riveting part of this collection. We see the life of a bored and ignored housewife turned upside-down when she becomes the vessel for Morgaine Le Fey’s resurrection. The imagery involved during her transformation from a ‘50s housewife to a slightly grotesque witch is quite spectacular (and memorable!). By placing much of the focus on this particular character, the reader becomes invested in her and her narrative. Unfortunately, Wagner all but abandons her once she’s possessed by Le Fey. This, paired with the flashbacks, really sags the flow of the story and makes it that much more difficult to become invested. We go from empathizing with the housewife to delving into the complex relationship between Madame Xanadu and her evil older sister.

Broken House of Cards is fairly inconsistent as a whole. The story is fantastic and there’s a lot of great action, but it’s much lighter on themes and it seems Wagner failed to latch onto the right flow for his narrative. Admittedly, it meanders at parts and it’s almost as if Wagner changed his mind throughout the writing process in terms of where he wanted to go with things. Still, the return of Amy Reeder as the series artist is what makes this collection such a joy to read. Her expressive art is whimsical and truly captures the eras she’s tasked with illustrating. While nowhere near as captivating as the first trade of this series, Broken House of Cards is worth the read, if only to get some closure between the conflict of Madame Xanadu and her sister Morgana.

RATING: B+

Review: Madame Xanadu - Exodus Noir

It’s the 1940s in New York City, and clairvoyant Madame Xanadu has been hired to investigate the mysterious death of a businessman. She soon discovers that he the victim of an ancient curse, one which threatens to destroy the lives of three prominent New York families.

Madame Xanadu: Exodus Noir collects Madame Xanadu #11-15, written by Matt Wagner and illustrated by Michael Wm. Kaluta.

In Exodus Noir, Wagner juxtaposes the bustling streets of 1940s New York City with the dusty roads of 15^th century Spain to weave a brilliant follow-up to his epic ten issue introductory arc. Picking up shortly where we left her last, Madame Xanadu has opened up shop in Greenwich Village and has become a popular fortune teller through word-of-mouth. The bulk of the story deals with her investigation into the death of a client’s father. It is presented in such a way that it pays homage to the noir genre, positing Madame Xanadu as the hard-boiled detective in search of the truth. The subplot takes place in the past, showing Madame Xanadu taking up residence in Spain with a seamstress as her lover and companion. Despite her living comfortably and happily in this setting, it’s become quite clear that the nation’s religious leaders are threatening to disturb her quietude.

Religious extremism and scapegoating is at the centre of Wagner’s tale. For a magic user and sexually liberated woman like Madame Xanadu, this spells trouble. The sequences set in Spain are infuriating and frustrating, as we see a nation overrun by religious leaders who use their power to condemn and murder anyone who is unlike them. Wagner uses these themes to his advantage, as he shows how events in the past continue to resonate decades and even centuries later. We see how passivity, assimilation and finger pointing only begets more violence, leading to oppression and grudges that last for years. Specifically, Wagner highlights the consequences that stem from the Catholics’ condemnation of the Jews. He painstakingly details the brutal acts committed upon the Jews and how, even when assimilated, they are never truly free. All of this, as you can imagine, informs Madame Xanadu’s investigation in the ‘40s.

While the writing itself is of a tremendously high quality, the art doesn’t quite reach the same level. While Michael Wm. Kaluta is to be given credit for having been Madame Xanadu’s original artistic creator, it seems that the years have not been quite so kind to him. His illustrations in this collection are rough and don’t properly capture the eras being written about. His art lacks the whimsical qualities and adaptability of his predecessor Amy Reeder, whose work on the previous collection was beautiful in every sense of the word. Kaluta’s lack of character definition and the overall unattractive Neanderthal-like qualities to them make it difficult at times to fully enjoy this trade.

Like the preceding collection, Exodus Noir is perfect for fans of historical narratives. While it lacks the same kind of epic scale and expansive qualities, it is still a thrilling read nonetheless. Wagner continues to build on Madame Xanadu’s character, giving her qualities fit for any champion of the people. Incorporating elements of noir, themes social injustice and religious intolerance, as well as adding a heaping dose of magic, Wagner creates a not-to-miss story that builds perfectly on the foundation of his first ten issues.

RATING: B+

Review: Madame Xanadu - Disenchanted

From the enchanted forests of Camelot to the dingy streets of 1930s New York City, the immortal mage Madame Xanadu has spent her life using her abilities to see into the future to help the rich and poor alike. However, as time has passed she's come to view the mysterious being known as the Phantom Stranger as an increasing threat to humanity. Now she's more determined than ever to hold him responsible for his inaction to stop the death and mayhem she's seen in her long lifetime.

Madame Xanadu: Disenchanted collects Madame Xanadu #1-10, written by Matt Wagner and illustrated by Amy Reeder Hadley.

For history lovers and mythology buffs, you don't get much better than Madame Xanadu. Over the course of the ten issues collected in Disenchanted, Wagner and Hadley weave an incredible tale of magic, fate and responsibility. The titular heroine is complex and flawed. On the one hand, she's selfish and vain, initially choosing to remain separated from the human world by living in the forests surrounding Camelot. Over the course of centuries, she matures and becomes a champion for those who need her help. From the emperor of China to the prostitutes of London, she uses her precognitive powers to protect whoever she can. She often sees things as black and white, which makes her all the more relatable. The recurring tension between Madame Xanadu and the Phantom Stranger anchors these issues, and is used to highlight Xanadu's own flawed perception of fate. In a way, Disenchanted is like a bildungsroman that sees a childlike witch mature into a confident and determined heroine.

The narrative itself is broken up into five two-part stories, which see Madame Xanadu travelling from her forest home in Camelot to China, France, England and, finally, to America. During the course of her journeys, she encounters many figures from both history and fiction. Though not necessary, it helps to have a working knowledge on the context behind the events she's planted in. Luckily, Wagner provides quite a bit of exposition. For instance, the third segment of Disenchanted sees Madame Xanadu acting as a fortune teller in the court of Marie Antoinette. Wagner fills in the blanks by providing exposition through Xanadu's inner thoughts and some pretty nifty splash pages. 

While each segment can stand on its own, they work best when strung together. However, each one varies in its quality. The best of the bunch is easily the fourth, which takes place during Jack the Ripper's infamous crime spree on the streets of London. Madame Xanadu takes it upon herself to protect the prostitutes of Whitechapel. It's engrossing and wraps the narrative with an air of mystery, while also heightening the tension as Jack the Ripper becomes more and more vicious in his attacks. Artist Hadley also does an impeccable job capturing the muddied gothic aesthetic of the era. Although, to be fair she also manages to perfectly incapsulate the opulence of Marie Antoinette's reign and the whimsicality of King Arthur's Camelot. Still, both she and Wagner seem to struggle with the final segment set in the Depression era New York City. Unlike previous segments, it's not based in any one historical (or mythological) event in time. Instead, it's focused on a brief affair Xanadu has with Golden Age hero Giovanni Zatara.

Put simply, Madame Xanadu: Disenchanted is a joy to read. It's a unique take on a character who has long been relegated to the fringes of DC Comics' mainstream universe. Publisher Vertigo and the team of Wagner and Hadley place her firmly in the spotlight, proving that she's multi-dimensional and compelling as a heroine. Disenchanted's revisionist narrative is creative and absolutely engrossing. For fans of Justice League Dark, this will be one throwback reading that is obligatory!

RATING: A

Review: Justice League Dark Volume 3 - The Death of Magic

When Zatanna and the young wizard Tim Hunter are spirited away to another world, the rest of Justice League Dark must make ally themselves with the government once more in order to rescue their friends. Meanwhile, Constantine’s House of Mystery is taken from him by an unseen foe, who releases nightmares to keep Constantine and his teammates busy.

Justice League Dark Volume 3: The Death of Magic collects Justice League Dark #14-20, written by Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes with art by Mikel Janin.

After the Justice League Dark arrives in the otherworldly dimension where Zatanna and Tim Hunter have disappeared into, they quickly discover that nothing is as it should be. Deadman is alive, Black Orchid has transformed into a hulking monster, Madame Xanadu’s immortality is gone and she’s aging at a rapid rate, and Constantine cannot tell a lie. This shift in the status quo makes the characters vulnerable, particularly since Constantine’s transparency makes it that much more difficult for him to manipulate his teammates and keep them at a distance. Similarly, we see Madame Xanadu’s stoic veneer drop. She’s exposed and defenseless, but even in this aged state she’s hellbent on using her visions to help her allies. This level of character work is as refreshing as it is touching. We get to see aspects to these characters that we’re otherwise denied under normal circumstances. Of course, not all of the changes that happen to our protagonists make them vulnerable. In fact, Zatanna is more powerful in this world and we see her kick some serious ass as a kind of dark warrior. Some of the most memorable action sequences involve Zatanna unleashing her magic upon her foes.

Beyond the strong character work, The Death of Magic has a fantastic story with compelling themes. We learn that this other world was once a place where magic ran wild, until science took over and banished it to the fringes of society. It’s reminiscent of the narratives of Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy XIII, albeit much more simplified. Lemire and Fawkes are clearly interested in the way in which science and industrialization has a destructive effect on the natural world. They intertwine this with themes concerning destiny and responsibility, as we witness characters embrace who they’re meant to be in an honest and sincere way.

Through and through, The Death of Magic is a traditional fantasy story that pulls in familiar creatures like elves and fairies. It’s a thrill to see our heroes in an environment like this, as they’d previously been surrounded by the darker elements of magic. This lightness offers a new perspective to the book, as it shows that not all magic is evil and destructive. It can heal and protect as well.

In the aftermath of the first arc in this collection, Lemire and Fawkes pen another enthralling story where a powerful warlock known as Doctor Destiny takes control of the House of Mystery and sends nightmares after the Justice League Dark. As these nightmares wreak havoc across New York City, Constantine and his allies get a little help from the Flash. It’s an interesting choice in a guest star, but in the best possible way. In fact, the chemistry between the Flash and Frankenstein is so electric that it makes me wish the former was a permanent fixture in the book.

On the subject of Frankenstein, it’s worth mentioning that his inclusion in the team was a fantastic decision. He meshes in a way that previous members haven’t (Shade, I’m looking at you) and provides a more physical presence in battle. Where the others resort to magic, it’s actually great to have someone in the group who can hack and slash.

Despite the presence of the spotlight stealing Flash, the real star of this particular collection ended up being Madame Xanadu. For nearly 20 issues, Justice League Dark has been focused primarily on Constantine and how he relates to the other characters. However, The Death of Magic shifts to provide more insight into the enigmatic Xanadu. From her heroic sacrifice in the opening arc to her flirtations with Deadman to the revelations about her past, it’s incredibly satisfying to finally see her fleshed out as a fully-formed character. Better yet, it shows that there’s still so much to learn about her.

Justice League Dark continues to impress. It has carved out a nice little niche in the DC Universe and, thanks to writers like Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes, readers are treated to fantastical stories that are driven by richly drawn characters. This is a book that’s atypical in so many ways to the normal output from DC Comics. Our protagonists aren’t larger than life heroes who are paragons of good, instead they’re deeply flawed individuals who are just trying to do the right thing. The Death of Magic is exceptional in every way. The two arcs collected are total page-turners and all the characters involved are extremely compelling. If anything, The Death of Magic proves why Justice League Dark is such an important book for DC Comics.

RATING: A

Review: Justice League - Trinity War

When Superman seemingly murders one of the members of the Justice League of America,  a war is incited amongst Earth's finest heroes. His closest allies seek to prove his innocence, while the government uses the opportunity to devalue the Justice League's authority. At the centre of it all is the mysterious woman known as Pandora, whose actions may have led to the fall of Superman.

Justice League: Trinity War collects Justice League #22-23, Justice League Dark #22-23, Justice League of America #6-7, Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1-3, Constantine #5, Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #11 and The New 52 Free Comic Book Day Special 2012. It features writing by Geoff Johns, Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes, with art by Ivan Reis, Doug Mahnke and Mikel Janin.

At its core, Trinity War is a story of loyalty and friendship. Despite Superman's apparent guilt, Batman and Wonder Woman refuse to believe that their closest friend could truly be capable of murder. Their leadership unites the Justice Leagues, but fractures them as well. Under Batman's guidance, his group looks to the victim for answers. Wonder Woman leads her team on a crusade to find Pandora and learn the truth about the mysterious box that may have infected Superman with great evil. 

The tensions between Batman and Wonder Woman are palpable. While both have the same goal, their approach is entirely different and it's exciting to watch them butting heads. It's equally as thrilling to see Wonder Woman be given such a prominent role during a rather important event, since DC Comics' rival company is rather infamous for diminishing the role of its female characters during their events.

As far as crossovers go, this one is pretty epic. We see the clash of all three of DC Comics' Justice Leagues, giving fans a whole lot of hero versus hero action. This also means getting to see many of your favourite heroes interacting with one another when they otherwise wouldn't be. Though she has very little in the way of dialogue, Catwoman is one of the sassier characters in this crossover. Other standouts include Element Woman and Katana, as well as the aforementioned Wonder Woman. Batman is also written extremely well. Lesser writers will depict him as arrogant, always right and annoyingly flawless in battle. Here, he's sensitive and caring. His willingness to do whatever it takes to prove Superman's innocence is touching.

On top of that, a couple Wonder Woman villains get some rather impressive panel time. Giganta and Doctor Psycho's appearances within this crossover is a nice touch that any Wonder Woman fan should appreciate. At the same time, it would have been nicer to see the involvement of the villains bumped up a bit. If there was one thing Trinity War was missing in the way of its narrative, it was villainy.

While Trinity War is near flawless in theory, the execution is off. Not all issues collected in this trade are equal, with the quality varying from issue to issue. It's evident that there wasn't a lot of cohesion between the writers and artists, as the story doesn't progress as organically as it could have. The biggest problem with this particular collection is how meandering it feels due to the inclusion of Pandora's solo issues, as well as an issue of Constantine. Though Pandora's background is elaborated upon in her series, it adds very little to the ongoing story and it feels like an inconvenient interruption. The crossover is better read without these issues.

Beyond the poor pacing, there's another glaring issue with Trinity War and that is its lack of payoff. The crossover builds towards a rather impressive all-out battle between the heroes as Pandora's Box infects them with its evil, but rather than receiving a neat little resolution, the story ends with a cliffhanger. Ultimately, this diminishes the impact the story has since it means that Trinity War is little more than a lead-in for another crossover event. Despite this, the revelations made during the concluding moments of the story are pretty damn cool. There's a rather unexpected betrayal and the reveal of Pandora's Box's true origins is very creative.

There are a lot of pros and cons to Trinity War. The pacing is haphazard, the execution is a bit messy and the payoff is missing. However, characterization is strong and the action is intense. While all characters may not get to shine, those that do shine brightly. This is a testament to the strong writing from Johns and Lemire. Beyond all of that, Trinity War is just plain gorgeous! The superstar artistic talents of Ivan Reis, Doug Mahnke and Mikel Janin really elevate the story, turning each page into a masterpiece. If anything, Trinity War should be read just to see the great work these talented artists have contributed.

RATING: B

Review: Justice League Dark Vol. 2 - The Books of Magic

When Constantine and his band of magical misfits are recruited by a government organization for a rescue mission, they uncover an artifact that will reveal the location of the ancient Books of Magic. These legendary tomes are said to hold the very essence of magic, which means that this ragtag Justice League must find them before anyone else can.

Justice League Dark Volume 2: The Books of Magic collects issues #7-13, 0 of the titular series and Justice League Dark Annual #1, written by Jeff Lemire and illustrated by Mikel Janin.

Picking up right where the previous volume left off, Constantine and his allies are pulled into a conflict agains the vampire Cain after the death of the vampiric champion Andrew Bennett. In these two issues, the Justice League Dark dukes it out against a horde of vampires in the muddy streets of Gotham City.

The inclusion of these issues is both exciting and frustrating. Peter Milligan handles the writing, penning some incredible action, while Admira Wijaya and Daniel Sampere knock it out of the park with their art. The cameos of Batgirl and Batman are a nice touch as well. On the downside, the story itself is disjointed. These are two pieces of a larger crossover and, since the conclusion isn't found in this volume, this means that the narrative goes unresolved.

Canadian writer Jeff Lemire takes the reigns following this crossover, beginning the epic "Books of Magic" storyline. This multi-part narrative sees the aforementioned Justice League Dark battling it out against Felix Faust for control of the map to the location of the Books of Magic. Where Milligan struggled to give the characters depth and the story scope, Lemire provides snappy dialogue and a fantastic globe-trotting adventure.

Reading Lemire's work here is truly like watching a movie. His cinematic sensibilities allow the story to unfold like a great adventure film, giving readers the feel of an Indiana Jones epic with a twist of Harry Potter. Beyond the story itself, Lemire excels at writing the characters. He digs deep with Constantine, giving him a layered and complex personality that translates well in his dialogue. He also seems to understand Zatanna in a way that allows her to be that much more captivating as a character. He allows her to become the heart of the team without forcing it. New addition Black Orchid is also a welcome change to the team's dynamic. Her aggressiveness and take-no-prisoners attitude is refreshing in contrast to the more laissez-faire attitude of the others.

Another major plus in this trade paperback's favour is Mikel Janin's art. In the previous volume, his work often felt stiff and traced. However, his work is vastly improved here. The characters, Zatanna especially, are so much more expressive and truly pop out of the page. He is also to be praised for his composition, as he isn't afraid to try out different layouts and perspectives, as well as putting together some rather impressive action scenes.

As a whole, Justice League Dark Vol. 2: The Books of Magic is practically flawless. The characters are vividly written and the art is both whimsical and gritty. Still, the inclusion of the "Rise of the Vampires" issues feel unnecessary as they have very little bearing on the rest of the collection. 

Furthermore, Lemire inundates readers with the introductions of new characters. While it was understandable for him to replace the newly departed Mindwarp and Shade (good riddance!), the introductions of Steve Trevor, Dr. Mist, Felix Faust, Black Orchid, Tim Hunter, Nick Nero, Frankenstein and Amethyst become tedious and overwhelming. He really could have gotten away with trimming the cast a little.

That said, it's really hard not to love this collection. The storytelling is impeccable and cinematic in nearly every sense of the word, the characters are relatable and Lemire gives this team a true presence within the DC Universe. For fans of the supernatural or adventure stories, this collection will not disappoint.

RATING: A

Review: Justice League Dark Vol. 1 - In the Dark

When the dangerous sorceress known as Enchantress unleashes her magical fury on the world, Madame Xanadu assembles a supernatural task force to stop the psychotic witch.

Justice League Dark Volume 1: In the Dark collects issues #1-6 of Justice League Dark, written by Peter Milligan and featuring art by Mikel Janin.

As one of the launch titles in DC Comics' The New 52 initiative, Justice League Dark established itself as a standout with its atypical approach to the superhero genre. With a cast of magic-themed characters and its gritty tone, the book uniquely appeals to horror enthusiasts and lovers of the supernatural. While the story structure itself may be quite conventional, the characters involved and the overall aesthetic are distinct. Writer Peter Milligan strives to write deeply flawed individuals, emphasizing the notion that power does not guarantee happiness. Overall, he captures the essence of fringe comics and packages it within the realm of the mainstream.

Given the fact that this collection tells the origin of this mystical iteration of the Justice League, Milligan has a lot to contend with. He has to find a way to organically bring together the individual members of the team and succeeds by using Madame Xanadu as the catalyst for their assemblage. Unfortunately, each of these characters have their own subplots and backstories. This clutters the primary narrative. Milligan also isn't big on exposition, despite dropping references throughout about the characters' individual circumstances. For anyone unfamiliar with this cast, it'll make it that much more difficult to understand who they are and be able to root for them. Sadly, this title is actually one of the least accessible from the New 52.

Artist Mikel Janin's work in this collection is amazing. His characters are so expressive and there's a sense of realism about them. He has an excellent sense of composition and his layouts are quite creative, contributing to the book's atypical approach to comic books. Above all else, Janin's execution of the gory elements to the story is perfection.

Justice League Dark: In the Dark is undeniably one of the most distinctive and unusual books from DC Comics' New 52 initiative. It's deliciously devious and downright gruesome. While it may not be as accessible as it could be and underutilizes fan-favourite Zatanna, its potential and aesthetic is enough to make up for its shortcomings.

Rating: B