After our review of the first volume of this series, here comes the time of the denouement with the second and last volume of the Macau series published by Glénat since the end of August.
Stuck in luxury
L'Envol du Phénix marks the continuation of this series whose scenario is by Willy Duraffourq and Philippe Thirault (Le Signe, Rimbaud), the drawings of Federico Nardo (Le Vent des Khazars, Lépanto, Un loup est un loup) and the colors of Aretha Battitstutta. Léon Chung, a journalist with a blocked career, must write the biography of Kwan Tao, owner of a casino, the Crown of Macau, because he wants to go into politics. In the first volume, Leon discovered the dark and deadly side of this environment as well as the complex personality of Tao, a rich owner but also the head of a mafia clan.He finds himself trapped in the hotel while his friend is dead and his girlfriend has disappeared. This is further complicated because Leon, pampered by Tao without us understanding why, is jealous of the son of this mafioso.
This volume begins when, taking advantage of the friendship of a guard, Leon manages to go to the ransacked apartment of his mistress. Wanting to report this disappearance, he finds himself confronted by shocked cops that he dares to file a complaint against Tao. The only honest policeman in the police station offers to collaborate together to bring down this mafioso. Journalist, biographer, prisoner, our hero then becomes the undercover agent of the police in the Crown of Macau. Without wanting to spoil everything, the album closes with an unexpected and well-felt twist.
A casino with endless discoveries
This volume allows us to continue exploring new parts of this gigantic building: in this volume, Roman baths and a greyhound racing track. Leon, however, is no longer at all captivated by this luxury. In a few weeks, he has become a regular who sees only the dark aspects such as prostitution which is omnipresent.
Another mafia
We find in this new volume the stereotypes of the Asian thriller but by a classic Franco-Belgian line and layout. Beyond the action, there is also a journalistic element on prostitution and organized crime in Macau. The Mafia is presented in a totally different way from the Italian branch or the American branch. There is certainly violence, but relations between the clans are regulated by a Grand Family Council that votes on important decisions. There is no anarchy but democracy. However, this does not prevent the settling of scores and attempted murder between them.
L'Envol du Phénix closes this cycle in style between a report on the mafia and an action story. No need to buy Le Monde, read Macau instead while waiting to see where Philippe Thirault will take us in his next comic…
