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View Full Version : Checkmate #6 Recap (Spoilers)



DWEarhart
09-25-2006, 08:47 PM
Greg Rucka is joined by his fill-in buddies, Nunzio Defillipis and Christina Weir. Cliff Richards is the guest penciller and happens to draw the creepiest Amanda Waller ever on paper.

In a one man prison in Qurac, the Bronze Tiger pops in to break out that one man, an unshaven, and later to be shaved and revealed Rick Flag. Back in New York, Amanda Waller is arguing for an investigation into Myanmar over an increase in exported surplus energy most believed to be sourced from a metahuman, but has no clear proof. China is against it, as is the President.

She is turned down.

Back at Checkmate HQ, Jessica Midnight and Sasha discuss Waller’s current position, and why she was not made Black Queen. She had been under indictment when royals were first being nominated. This indictment occurred during Lex Luthor’s presidential run, but Ambassador Trautman works his power, and gets Waller in, but only on the white side. “Waller does anything remotely operational…she’s out on her ass.” – Sasha Bordeaux.

Mirror Master dials up Icicle, invites him to a meeting. Waller visits a shaven Rick Flag, facing some hostility from him and Bronze Tiger. It turns out she’s lost control of the last Suicide Squad she’d arranged before Checkmate came knocking. She wants the two to find them.

We meet the latest squad: Plastique, Punch, Jewelee, Javelin, Icicle, and the original Tattooed Man. All are worried about The Society hearing about their operation, but Mirror Master fears Amanda Waller even more, and it seems they all do to.

It turns out Waller’s suspicions of Myanmar prove to be real. The Suicide Squad move in, but it’s a total snafu. Punch is sliced and diced with automatic fire. It turns out Calculator is on to them, and informs them that their operation is over as they are face to face with nearly a dozen automatic weapons aimed at their heads, and Punch dying, if not dead already, at their feet. To Be Continued.

Not a bad issue. It’s great to see the Suicide Squad running around again, albeit like headless chickens. This was mostly setup, and it seems we’ll have Checkmate up against or working with the Suicide Squad next issue. The artwork was fair, if a tad sketchy, but it kept the feel of the book overall, adapting to the usual shade that we see from Jesus Saiz. Worth a read, truly.

Jack Zodiac
09-26-2006, 11:27 AM
Doesn't this seem to imply that The Society has something to do with the operations in Myanmar? I know everyone else in the book is painting Waller as a villain here, but I personally see her in the right. Things of this nature can't be handled efficiently through diplomacy, or the White side of the board. You need a bunch of pros like The Suicide Squad to do it right.

Good to see Rick back in the game. :) If it's happening, I can't wait to see him in th next Suicide Squad book.

Count Vertigo
09-26-2006, 02:49 PM
Rick Flag?! I thought he died during that solo mission to the Jihad's HQ, Jotunheim.

I like Punch & Jewelee during their time at Belle Reve, but I can't see them fitting. It's good to hear that Javelin's back. Tattooed Man you say? Is he the JLA Tatooed Man or is it the one I saw in Villains United being impaled by Arsenal? As for the Icicle, I thought they were all gone. Is this the original one, his son or another one? I just hope this SS isn't a throwaway group like Giffen's run.

Sean Walsh
09-26-2006, 02:55 PM
Rick Flag?! I thought he died during that solo mission to the Jihad's HQ, Jotunheim.

I like Punch & Jewelee during their time at Belle Reve, but I can't see them fitting. It's good to hear that Javelin's back. Tattooed Man you say? Is he the JLA Tatooed Man or is it the one I saw in Villains United being impaled by Arsenal? As for the Icicle, I thought they were all gone. Is this the original one, his son or another one? I just hope this SS isn't a throwaway group like Giffen's run.

Rick Flag was blown up in some complex in the original SSquad series. Him living makes sense ("we never saw a body!") - and I have to say, I knew it was him without a word being spoken. All Bronze Tiger needed to do was smile.

The Icicle is, I think, the son of the original. Geoff Johns reworked him a bit in JSA and he's been pretty decently portrayed since. Not sure which Tattooed Man this is, but he complains about having his name "franchised" by the Society so this might actually be the original...

Brady
09-26-2006, 04:47 PM
A decent issue, but a little confusing.

I wasn't quite sure if the Suicide Squad had really gone rogue, as Waller told Rick and Tiger, or if that was just Waller's cover story to keep her hands clean if someone accuses her of meddling with operations?

I liked the snapshots of the squad the night before the mission. Mirror Master snorting coke. Punch and Jewelee encouraging the psychopathic habits of their son, etc.

DWEarhart
09-26-2006, 04:54 PM
A decent issue, but a little confusing.

I wasn't quite sure if the Suicide Squad had really gone rogue, as Waller told Rick and Tiger, or if that was just Waller's cover story to keep her hands clean if someone accuses her of meddling with operations?

I liked the snapshots of the squad the night before the mission. Mirror Master snorting coke. Punch and Jewelee encouraging the psychopathic habits of their son, etc.

There is no doubt in my mind that Waller is playing everyone. Her hands are all over this.

It was nice seeing small moments of the psychos, enjoying those snips of time before a possible last mission. They needed Big Sir. I wish Giffen's Suicide Squad would have shown up.

titanfan
09-26-2006, 05:53 PM
I like Punch & Jewelee during their time at Belle Reve, but I can't see them fitting. It's good to hear that Javelin's back. Tattooed Man you say? Is he the JLA Tatooed Man or is it the one I saw in Villains United being impaled by Arsenal?

It's supposed to be the first one. That said, there's a traitor on the team and Tattooed Man's suspicious presence makes him the key suspect.

Sean Walsh
09-26-2006, 06:05 PM
They needed Big Sir. I wish Giffen's Suicide Squad would have shown up.

They were mentioned, in a brief but vicious(?) remark made by Waller to Rick Flag at one point there...

Count Vertigo
09-26-2006, 06:24 PM
Concerning giffen's SS... Big Sir and Multi-Man specifically. I thought Big Sir had dense skin in addition to his strength and as for MM, well isn't he supposed to come back with a new power when he dies?

Sean Walsh
09-27-2006, 04:50 AM
Concerning giffen's SS... Big Sir and Multi-Man specifically. I thought Big Sir had dense skin in addition to his strength and as for MM, well isn't he supposed to come back with a new power when he dies?

Multi-Man came back and was used quite a bit in JOKER: LAST LAUGH. So I guess he's available..........but ever since J:LL he's not been seen anywhere...

PastePotPete
09-27-2006, 05:37 AM
Another solid issue. But I really really miss Jesus Saiz.

Waller is quickly becoming one of my favorite comic book characters. She's an evil Oprah Winfrey. Very fun.

Good to see that The Society is still calling shots. I think it's a group that should stick around for a while. But it needs new big name leadership. Without a luthor it should go to someone else...

Tequilamokinbrd
09-29-2006, 08:33 AM
I'll have to go back and re-read, but didn't Javelin die in Christos Gage's Deadshot mini?

I know there were a lot of people who's deaths in that were iffy at best, but I seem to clearly remember Deadshot using Javelin's explosives against him and blowing him up.

DWEarhart
09-29-2006, 08:41 AM
I'll have to go back and re-read, but didn't Javelin die in Christos Gage's Deadshot mini?

I know there were a lot of people who's deaths in that were iffy at best, but I seem to clearly remember Deadshot using Javelin's explosives against him and blowing him up.

I didn't read that series, but if he did indeed perish, then, all I can say for now is Superboy-Prime retcon punch strikes again.

That sounds like a good emo-band name, with their friggin' eight word titles. Ptuey. Bastiches.

Sean Walsh
09-29-2006, 09:13 AM
I'll have to go back and re-read, but didn't Javelin die in Christos Gage's Deadshot mini?

I know there were a lot of people who's deaths in that were iffy at best, but I seem to clearly remember Deadshot using Javelin's explosives against him and blowing him up.

Javelin originally died in WAR OF THE GODS back in 1991 or so. Another Javelin apparently died in that Deadshot mini.

I'm gonna assume the Society franchised the Javelin ID and either this is one of the original predecessors or the original Javelin RETCON PUNCHED back to life...

Count Vertigo
09-29-2006, 06:35 PM
I thought the same thing too but in SS/JLI 13 (31?) both teams fought each other. This Javelin in this ish of Check. spoke about it. So maybe it is the Retcon Punch of Fate