Margaretha Geertruida Zelle MacLeod, better known as Mata Hari, was a controversial figure in the early 20th century. Not only did she dance and pose with barely any close on in a time you went to jail for that, she was accused of being a spy for the Germans during World War I. Writer Emma Beeby and artist Ariela Kristantina tackle her life in their newest comic, and it’s as intriguing as Mata Hari herself.
The first issue starts off at the beginning of her trial. Along the way, we get flashbacks of her life from her youth in Holland to a few early glimpses of her glamorous career.
It takes a certain talent to craft a story out of a real-life person, especially one who’s only been dead for a century. Beeby has shown that she has a lot of passion for Mata Hari and not as just this mysterious figure that everyone knows about. Beeby treats her as a real person with real feelings. Here, we get a glimpse of her being sad, angry, happy and even showing regret. This way of writing gives the reader a much more intimate look into Mata Hari’s life and it even humanizes her.
Kristantina’s art does a wonderful job of showing off the different moods of the comic. The comic’s colors are vibrant and full of life during the scenes showing her doing her thing, dark and drab whenever she’s in prison and during her trial and has that faded look whenever we see her youth. It’s a great contrast to different periods of her life and is expertly done. Add expertly drawn character designs and here’s a comic that shows the artist put a lot of heart into it.
That’s the main thing here, heart. Both creators obviously have a lot of interest in this person and her life and it shows. That is why the first issue of “Mata Hari†is a joy to read and the great writing and art creates this wonderful comic.
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