Writer: Paul Dini
Artist: Kenneth Rocafort, Imaginary Friends Studios(c)
Publisher: Image
This review contains spoilers not of this issue of Madame Mirage but her big secret, which was revealed last issue. Please read at your own risk. In a nutshell, the latest issue of Madame Mirage exhibits good solid story weaving from Paul Dini, and gorgeous artwork from Kenneth Rocafort.
With the cat out of the bag, Dini's creation could have suffered from instilling ennui in the reader. Madame Mirage however is just as interesting a character as presented in previous issues.
The exposure of a weakness in the simulacrum is the only sour note Dini hits. The scene unfortunately sticks out. Dini makes the discovery too obvious, and I'd be surprised if the weakness isn't exploited a few issues into the future. Putting aside that discrepancy, reader knowledge of Madame Mirage's secret actually enhances the effectiveness of the story.
The plot sashays Mirage through a gauntlet of villainy. Knowing Mirage's secret infuses each encounter with a level of amusement and upends conventions. For instance, the intent of a hero-villain kiss if the two are the same gender can easily become sexploitation. It doesn't have to be that way, but it often is. The attempted kiss seen in Madame Mirage cannot be interpreted as sexploitation. Instead, it's a scene of pure comedy, not even a burlesque. Rather the attempted kiss acts as a hilarious backfire in the villain's scheme that works because readers know the secret of Madame Mirage.
The entire story benefits from the unique pencils of Kenneth Rocafort. His delicate linework creates a spidery feeling that suits Madam Mirage as she invites the villains in charge of the world into her web.
I must admit to being a little concerned when Dini revealed Mirage's big secret, but the revelation hasn't affected the quality of the storycrafting, and Rocafort's art has lost none of its art noveau beauty.
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