DCU Comic Book Reviews

CHECKMATE #4

The Game of Kings, Part #4

September 2006

Written by Greg Rucka

Pencils by Jesus Saiz

Inks by Jesus Saiz

Cover by Lee Bermejo & Patricia Mulvhill

Synopsis

At Checkmate headquarters, White King Alan Scott has brought in the Kobra agent that tried to kill.  Meanwhile, In China, Black Queen Sasha Bourdeaux and her team are being attacked by members of the Chinese Great Ten, who are protecting Checkmate’s infiltration of their meta-human facility.  The Great Ten are able to capture Sasha and her team and tell them to leave, but Sasha recognizes the use of banned alien technology by the Great Ten, forcing the August General In Iron to consult with his superiors.  Back at headquarters, Alan Scott confronts White Queen Amanda Waller about her use of excessive force to kill the Kobra agent that came to kill her.  She tells him she was sending a message.  Scott tells her there is a better way to send a message.  In China, while Sasha waits for the Great Ten to make a decision, Vertigo infiltrates the facility looking for information.  He is caught.  August General in Iron orders them all killed.  The arrival of Ambassador Shi and Alan Scott stops that order.  Using his ring, Alan Scott finds the Kobra traitor in the midst of the Chinese.  For this, Ambassador Shi agrees to pass the Checkmate resolution before the United Nations Council.  Also before the council is the confirmation of the Checkmate royals.  because of hsi actions, Alan Scott’s nomination gets vetoed. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“Everyone’s been so anxious to prove their points, now I’m going to prove mine...There are other ways to attain Checkmate’s goals than with deceit and death.”

You go, Alan.  There was a reason why this story arc was called “Game of Kings.”  The story was basically about Alan and his own sense of morality and how that plays into Checkmate.  Ultimately to Alan, he cared more about doing it the way he felt it should have been done and less about the actual job.  This was a great start to this series and I definitely look forward to more. 

If there is one thing to learn about this opening story arc is that there is no permanence to this series.  First, Jonah McCarthy was killed in the first issue and now Alan Scott has been kicked off the series, as well.  Characters will come and go.  I like that idea and I really hope that future issues will alter the status quo to the Checkmate hierarchy.  In contrast, however, I am a little disappointed that Alan Scott will be gone.  I liked him and I liked him the role of White King.  More than that, however, I get the feeling that his presence in the first couple issues were just a marketing ploy, a way to get new readers who might be interested to see why the original Green Lantern would be involved with Checkmate.  People would be more likely to try a new series with a character they know than characters they don’t know.  So, after 4 issues, Scott is gone, most likely back to the JSA.  I wonder what will happen to Mr. Terrific. 

Apparently Alan Scott was kicked off of Checkmate because he was out in the field, something the White side is not allowed to do.  Yet, White Knight’s Vertigo and Jagger were also out in the field.  Or is it only the Kings and Queens that must remain out of the field.  I’m confused.

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