DCU Comic Book Reviews

CHECKMATE #20

Fall Of The Wall, Conclusion

January 2008

Written by Greg Rucka

Pencils by Joe Bennett

Inks by Jack Jadson

Cover by Kalman Andrasofszky

Synopsis

A trap set by Checkmate to capture Deadshot seemingly backfires on them as he turns the tables and is about to kill Jessica Midnight.  However, Midnight casts a spell that saves her life, enabling Fire to knock Deadshot unconscious.  In New York City, Amanda Waller shows the rest of the checkmate royals here evidence that will force the United Nations to ask for their resignation.  Amanda proves that one of the royals has been Martian Manhunter in disguise, thus violating the “Rule of Two.”  Amanda asks for them to quite first, but they refuse.  Meanwhile, Checkmate interrogates Deadshot and when that proves ineffective, they call for Martian Manhunter to read his mind.  In Louisiana, “Deadshot” enters Belle Reve prison and Amanda Waller’s office.  He finds proof Amanda Waller and the Suicide Squad are abducting villains.  He also finds a little bit more.  At the United Nations, Waller presents her damning evidence.  The rest of the checkmate royals tell her they are willing to deal.  They demand her resignation.  The show her proof that, like Sasha, she has nanite in her blood and thus Amanda violates the “Rule Of Two.”  Reluctantly, Waller agrees to resign, but she will not forget what they did to her.   

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I love the final page with Mr. Terrific standing there with his arms in silent fury, even in victory and with Waller walking out of the room declaring she will remember this (and knowing her, you know she will make the royals pay).  Ultimately, I was a little surprised at the ending.  I really did not expect for Waller to be bounced out of Checkmate.  Yes, I realize the story was called “The Fall Of The Wall,” but she is such a great character and antagonist to the others despite being one of the “good guys” that I thought Rucka would find a way to keep her. 

I am also a little perturbed at the (almost) dues ex machina that Rucka provides for the ending.  At no point during this entire series can I remember Waller’s nanite infection never being mentioned, even obliquely.  I suppose I should go back and re-read the previous 19 issues to see if it is there, but it doesn’t really matter.  The ending feels like it was pulled out of thin air in order to provide a reason to get rid of Waller, rather than something that builds naturally.  Granted, I fully expected the ending to come out of nowhere as the royals demonstrate they are smarter than they seem, but I guess I just thought that whatever plot device they used to bring down Waller would’ve been revealed earlier than this issue.  For example, Mr. Terrific’s recounting of what happened with Mawzir is a perfect example of something that happened in the comic but its full import is not known until the characters explain it to us.  In contrast, the reveal of Waller’s nanite infection just came out of nowhere. 

I like the fact that the seemingly disconnected one-shot issue featuring the election of the new Castellan fed directly into Waller’s schemes and had an impact on the overall plot of this story.  It might be a minor plot point and not very important in the larger scheme of things, but it does show how much Rucka thinks of the larger picture and how it pieces together. 

In one sense, the brief sub-plot featuring Marie and Fire and the use of magic was a little annoying since it took away from the main plot.  But I did like the fact that it tied into the main theme of the issue (the Power Of Two).  Hopefully, this will lead somewhere down the road and won’t be forgotten.  Knowing Rucka, I think Jessica’s powers will come into play somewhere down the road. 

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.