DCU Comic Book Reviews

CHECKMATE #5

Selection

October 2006

Written by Greg Rucka

Pencils by Jesus Saiz

Inks by Fernando Blanco

Cover by Lee Bermejo & Patricia Mulvhill

Synopsis

In Switzerland, the selection process to choose a new Knight for the Black queen (Sasha Bourdeaux) has whittled down the candidates to four.  At Checkmate headquarters, former White King Alan Scott (aka Green Lantern) is preparing to depart after being dismissed from the organization.  White Bishop Michael Holt (aka Mr. Terrific) is also ready to resign, but Scott suggests he should stay as the new White King.  Elsewhere, in a field test, one more candidate drops out.  At the castle, Holt is unsure if he should accept the position as White King, especially because it means he would have to break off his romance with Sasha.  She tells him it would be best for Checkmate if he stayed.  On the training grounds, one more candidate drops out, leaving two.  At the castle, Black King Taleb Beni Khalid overhears White Queen Amanda Waller blackmailing Beatriz Decosta (aka Fire) unless she does what she is told.  Meanwhile, the final two candidates battle it out, leaving a winner and a new Knight for the Black Queen.

Review

This is not the issue that I had been expecting, but that one point aside, it was a good fill-in issue until the next story arc comes along.  This book continues to balance the action (in this case the selection process) with the politics (in this case Scott’s ouster) in each issue.  While I don’t think the balance works as well as it does in Rucka’s Queen & Country series, Checkmate is still different from the rest of the DCU titles and I think it is for that reason that I an so entranced by it.  The Teen Titans and The Justice League don’t have the corporate structure or the over-the-shoulders governments watching and that is the most intriguing part of the book.  But, as I said, it just does not seem to be jelling.  Perhaps the book will benefit from Scott and Holt disappearing. 

For some reason (and I don’t know why) I was expecting to read a story from the point of view of either the winner or loser of the selection process, to see what was happening through their eyes.  I figured it would be a great way to introduce a new character, especially one who would potentially have a large part in the series as one of the members of the teams that would be active in the field.  As it stands we don’t know much about the winner, but I am guessing Rucka will slowly introduce her as time goes by, or she will not become as prominent as a character as I had originally thought.  What surprised to some degree was that the ending to the previous arc with Scott being forced out was addressed as well as Holt’s potential continuing membership with Checkmate as well.  I really though the last issue was it for the both of them. Curiously, we don’t really get a answer from Holt on his decision.  Personally, I would like it if he stayed; but then, I was probably one of the few who were excited that Alan Scott was part of Checkmate. 

A consultation with the magic 8-ball reveals “Outlook not so good” with regards to the possibility that Mr. Terrific will remain in Checkmate.  On the other hand, the answer is to be “Most Likely” with regards to Mr. Terrific going back to the reformed Justice Society when it re-launches in a couple of months.  I am not exactly pleased that Rucka set Scott and Holt up in Checkmate only to pull them away so soon, but I suppose the characters needed to be doing something until the new Justice Society Of America reforms.  Actually the cynic in me knows they were added to Checkmate simply to help make sales and hope that anyone who picked it up for Scott will keep it even when he goes.  As the Magic 8-Ball says:  “Not Likely.”

Vaca is the Spanish word for “cow”

ïPREVIOUS	Main		Page	NEXTð

Home ●  Blog ● Who Are We? ● Site News
Alive and Well since April 16, 2006

 DC Universe Reviews.  All Rights Reserved
  Characters, trademarks, brands are property of DC Comics

For problems or questions regarding this website, please contact our kindly webmaster.
Last updated: 08/06/11.