Monstrous Morgana: Arthurian Women as Unnatural Amazons in Madame Xanadu (2008–2010)

Abstract

adame Xanadu, written by Matt Wagner and published by DC Vertigo from 2008-2010 in twenty-nine issues, is one of DC Comics' most recent retellings ofArthurian characters operating in the modern world.1 The story focuses on the sorceress Nimue (aka Madame Xanadu) as she travels through the centuries from the idyllic days of Arthur's court until she settles in New York City in the 1930s (Issue 9, May 2001) where she remains until the series concludes in the 1960s (Issue 29, January 2011). Throughout these many centuries, she battles her nemesis, her sister Morgana (aka Morgan Le Fay), whose every behavior and interest contrasts jarringly with Nimue's. Readers easily recognize Morgana as the villain of the story because of her unchecked sexual appetite, her revealing clothing, and her bloodlust as she destroys her lovers and devotees or anyone who crosses her. Morgana dresses as an Amazon warrior determined to dominate those around her through trickery, seduction, and violence. Nimue has been constructed to appeal to a more 'natural' reading of medieval fantasy femininity based on her gentle interactions with woodland creatures, her submission to the powerful men in her story-including Merlin and the Stranger-and also her girlish, waif-like appearance that positions her as more sexually demure and passive than her lascivious sister. Even though Merlin and the Stranger often behave in ways that could be seen as also questionable or self-serving, it is Morgana's gender that marks her as the clear villain.2 Yet, Morgana appears as more than a villain; she has evolved into a monster. This series offers contrasting dichotomies of womanhood that clearly envision Morgana as the unnatural, destructive, and monstrous woman whose bid for agency, sexual autonomy, and power consistently meets with punishment and reprimand by her sister. Her contrapuntal role allows writers and readers to define that which is normal, right, and good through their understanding that Morgana is inherently abnormal, wrong, and bad.MORGAN LE FAY IN COMIC BOOKSFor decades, Morgan Le Fay has appeared in a number of comics as a villain whose unnaturally aggressive sexual behaviors have almost always been the cause of her defeat and demise.3 Since the 1950s, Morgan has appeared frequently in a number of titles published by Marvel and by DC as the sexy scoundrel and hero's nemesis.4 She was first introduced into the Marvel Comics Universe in May 1955 when she debuted in Black Knight #1. Writer Stan Lee and illustrator Joe Maneely created a large-breasted, scantily clad sorceress whose character would often materialize in many other Marvel titles over the next fifty years. In these books, Morgan battled Doctor Doom, the Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, and Spider-Woman, Marvel's first spin-off heroine.5 This Morgan has made at least fifty-seven appearances in a variety of Marvel comic titles.6 Jack Kirby later introduced his own version of Morgaine Le Fay for DC Comics, debuting in The Demon #1 in September 1972 and acting again as the eponymous hero's archenemy.7 Over the decades, this Morgan also challenged many of the great heroes of the DC Universe including Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman in the series Trinity (June 2008 until July 2009).8 Generally, Morgan Le Fay's power derives from her sexuality and desire to destroy the heroes around her by using her cleavage and charms. Unnaturally libidinous, Morgan functions as a sexual deviant whose appetite may be monstrous, but she herself is not drawn as a monster. Her sexuality certainly is represented as causing alarm and disdain, but does not always mark her as totally inhuman, especially as she battles other women who also possess their own sexual agency and peculiarities in these issues.9Morgan Le Fay's dehumanization and transformation into a monster began with DC Comics' maxi-series Camelot3000, published from December 1982 until April 1985 in twelve issues and written by Mike W Barr (writer) and Brian Bolland (penciller and inker). …