Madame Xanadu #5 Cover

Previously in Madame Xanadu:

After saving Kublai Khan’s favored consort from assassins, Marco Polo and Nimue are awarded for their bravery. Marco Polo accepts an emerald lantern from the Khan’s grand chest, a descendent of the Green Lantern lamps. Upon receiving the artifact, Phantom Stranger escapes the prison. He reunites with Nimue and they share an emotional moment together, until Khan’s guards find him. Aware that she is now as much a criminal, Nimue and Phantom Stranger flee to the outskirts of town. However, as an agent of fate, Phantom Stranger abandons Nimue in the desert to fend for herself.

**Spoilers after the break**

In the third chapter, entitled In the Cards, Nimue, now known as Le Madame de Xanadu, serves as seer to the powerful monarch, Marie Antoinette. Having been in power for a dozen years, the extravagant lifestyle that she made known to France was still thriving, but not without anger from its citizens. Vowing to never again interfere in matters of state, Madame Xanadu leaves Marie Antoinette, but warns her of a coming revolution – the French Revolution. Although saddened by her departure, Marie expresses her thanks, but pays no heed to her warnings: a vital mistake.

Upon leaving, Madame Xanadu reunites with Phantom Stranger during the brink of the revolution. He warns her not to interfere in these matters, but with Xanadu still bent on his last departure, she causes a scene. Some of the angered townspeople see the two and try to attack them, but Phantom Stranger reveals them to actually be goblins, drawn by the mayhem. Phantom Stranger explains to Madame Xanadu that he is taking his part to curtail these infernal beings and allow history to unfold free of them. As the two defeat the goblins, the revolution looms forward as mobs storm the walls of Le Bastille, ready to overthrow the Bourbon monarchy.

Amidst the ensuing chaos, the beginning of the Reign of Terror, Phantom Stranger makes clear that nothing can be done to alter the fate of the monarchy. Instead, he suggests that, perhaps, a time of peace and unity will come after times of hardships have passed – a time that will not come for another ten years. With that, Phantom Stranger departs and leaves Madame Xanadu alone again.

Freeing herself from the pain and guilt, Madame Xanadu moves to Provence, in the southeastern part of France. Here, she lives a life of harmony, while occasionally peering into future events with her cards. But after finding out that the royal family have been arrested and tried for treason, Madame Xanadu finds her guilt overwhelming. Four years pass, and Madame Xanadu ignores her suppressed emotions until – what seems to be – Robespierre (Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore de Robespierre (1758-94)) declares the execution of Louis XVI. At that moment, Madame Xanadu packs her belongings and leaves for Paris, in search of her friend and patron, Marie Antoinette.

With the help of her witchcraft, Madame Xanadu makes her way through the chambers until she finds Marie Antoinette, a woman strained of her youth after four years of torment. She vaguely remembers Madame Xanadu, and recounts her hardships, not to mention consumption, probably tuberculosis. Phantom Stranger soon reappears and explains to Madame Xanadu that she should have paid heed to his words and not involved herself in these affairs. Marie Antoinette, unable to see Phantom Stranger, suspects Madame Xanadu of necromancy and calls for the guards to take her away. They attack her, take away all of her belongings and imprison her within the chambers.

Once again, another impressive issue of Madame Xanadu comes and goes, but not without several rereads. Sometimes, it’s hard to imagine so much can be fit into 22 pages. Not only is each issue packed with important moments in history and legends, but also the raw emotion and subtle drama are what make this series unlike most others.

Madame Xanadu #6 is to be released November 26, stay tuned for a review shortly after!