DCU Comic Book Reviews

CHECKMATE #2

The Game of Kings, Part #2

July 2006

Written by Greg Rucka

Pencils by Jesus Saiz

Inks by Jesus Saiz

Cover by Lee Bermejo & Patricia Mulvhill

Synopsis

At the Castle, King Faraday and Amanda Waller discuss the United Nations resolution regarding Checkmate that was recently vetoed by China. Faraday suggests they blackmail China to gain their vote; Waller agrees.  Elsewhere, Kobra make plans for revenge.  Back at the Castle, Alan Scott is upset at the number of casualties that occurred during the raid of the Kobra facilities.  At a meeting of the Checkmate royals, they agree to pursue the members of the United Nations in the hopes of putting forth a new resolution.  While the White side makes sure the Us, UK, and USSR will still vote yes, the black side will prepare a covert action to find out if Kobra is connected to China.  However, Waller has evidence of a metahuman experimental in China.  If Black Queen Sasha Bourdeaux can get proof of what China is doing, Waller guarantees China will vote yes for the resolution.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“Tell me you weren’t out here all night?”

“Nah, It’d have made me jealous. So they call him Mr. Terrific for a reason, then?”

There is a lot of stuff going on in this issue and Rucka and Saiz do a fantastic job to make it clear and coherent that it can be followed without getting cross eyed.  What I really enjoyed about this issue is that it looks as if the China meta-human facility and Checkmate’s attempts to unearth what they are really doing will tie into the recent news that DC will be introducing (in the near future) Chinese super heroes.  I really dig when the DC Universe intersects like.  Pretty cool.

The core of this particular issue is the conversation between Sasha and Alan Scott regarding taking human life in order to successfully complete a mission.  Sasha certainly has come a long way since she was with Batman, but she’s got a point -- as does Alan Scott.  Neither is wrong and it really comes down personal preference.  But I liked how this is discussed and I am going to believe this will continue to be a recurring theme in this series, unless, the resolution is passed with the caveat that Checkmate cannot kill or some other such nonsense.  I hope not.  For a book that seems so grounded in politics and intrigue, the debate over killing or not killing deserves to continue.

I was taken aback slightly by Sasha jumping into bed with Mr. Terrific (she should be pining for Batman, dammit) but I think this works and will prove to be an interesting dynamic.  I hope Mr. Terrific’s relationship with his former wife is touched upon.  In JSA, the death of his wife was big deal.  Please don’t brush it under the carpet and forget about it.  One more point, and this is important, I do not want this to turn into a “whom is sleeping with whom” type of situation.  Rucka has shown in his Queen & Country series he can handle inter-office romance, so I have faith, but I do not need to see Amanda Waller acting all lovey-dovey.

Comic Connection

Jessica Midnight mentions “Nightwing’s personal goon squad is making a mess of things in Central Africa.”  These events occur in Outsiders, beginning with issue #34.  White King Alan Scott appears briefly in issue #37.

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