Checkmate #3
	Story Title: ‘The Game of Kings’ (Part 3) Writer: Greg Rucka Pencils: Cliff Richards (Guest Penciller) Inks: Bob Wiacek & Steve Bird (Guest Inkers) Colorist: Tanya & Richard Horie Letterer: Travis Lanham Cover: Lee Bermejo & Patricia Mulvihill Assoc. Editor: Rachel Gluckstein Editor: Joan Hilty Published by: DC Comics Checkmate created by Paul Kupperberg & Steve Erwin
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

I don’t know what quite to make of this series. On one hand, the increased political play in the DCU (post OYL) makes me want to keep a track of it, but on the other hand, even after three issues, for the life of me, I cannot bring myself to care either for any of that politics…or for this title. Then again, it might be just me, after all, I am not getting even one single issue to anything related to Marvel’s Civil War, an event based on and around conflicting political ideologies and not giving up any chance to play up historical (recent and past) events. (eg. The Japanese internment, the current situation in the US, Civil Liberties vs. National ‘Home Land’ Security etc etc)

While not as ‘inciting’ as that series/event, and supposedly being primarily a ‘espionage’ series, Checkmate is nevertheless not all that exciting. Granted we have the obligatory fight scenes (both verbal and physical), the work vs. country loyalty, the question of America’s heavy handedness and other countries’ counter/reaction to it, double crossing/backstabbing, well, near about everything that are needed in a good spy mystery. But even with all that, somehow, Rucka and company can’t seem to inject the one very important thing. LIFE.

While two Blacks (Queen-Sasha, King’s Knight-Fire) and two Whites (King’s Knight-Jagger, Queen’s Knight-Count Vertigo), make their moves to infiltrate a secret facility in China’s Hebei Province, their actions and interactions making for an interesting start, the happenings at the ‘castle’ (back in Switzerland) don’t quite hold up. And being the mainstay of this issue, it lost me pretty soon. Even Alan’s actions in France don’t quite seem as convincing. But on the flip side, his Queen’s (Waller) behavior in London comes across as exactly hers.

A mixed bag of hits and misses, the ending once again rises to near about the same level as the start with one tenth of China’s Great Ten showing up. (check out 52 #6 for more on the ‘Great Ten’)

Conclusion: Don’t know how long I will last with this series. Starting at a medium pace, instead of gathering speed things have been slowing down…quite rapidly.

RATING: 7/10