Checking In With Checkmate

Checking In With Checkmate

Jan 24

Going into the title, Checkmate was probably my most-anticipated spinoff of Infinite Crisis. I’d first grown to love Greg Rucka’s work by picking up some back issues of his Wonder Woman run, which demonstrated his gift for marrying superheroics to detailed, precise storytelling. Broad strokes when it comes to the action, but finely-tuned intrigue when it comes to characterization.

Which made him the fella perfectly suited to bringing his spy book gifts from Queen and Country over to the DCU, merging guys ‘n gals in tights with guys ‘n gals in form-fitting jumpsuits that have zippers up the front.

In spite of all that, at first, I wasn’t blown away by the book. I think it was because it seemed to be trying a bit too hard to bounce off the “new DCU” and shoehorn in characters like the Great Ten. It also sunk readers straight into the deep end of complex intrigue, and maybe I’m just stupid, but I need some time to get used to that shit.

Now I’m finally in this title’s unique groove, and what a phat slab o’ groove it is. A few single-issue “breathers” have allowed me to get to know the characters a bit more and to get used to the intricacies of Rucka’s spies-meet-spandex vibe. The two-parter with the Suicide Squad gave us Amanda “The Wall” Waller doing what she does best: Stirring up shit.

And the latest issue I’ve read, number 9 (…number nine, number nine, number nine…), finally seems to connect with the concept’s full potential, miring Checkmate deep in the modern DCU by dragging in the US-based Department of Metahuman Affairs, Kobra (depicted as a radical terrorist cult), and even Shadowpact for a fun extended cameo.

I also like how Rucka’s sticking with shorter stories so far, since I think that helps with following things, too–again, I don’t want stupid comics, but the floppy format doesn’t always lend itself to following an intricate cloak-and-dagger spy storyline, and the smaller portions make for a more satisfying reading experience.

If you like getting your espionage mixed up with your superheroic action, then Checkmate is at last the book for you.