Checkmate #24

This issue reminded me why I love this book, and also how sad I am that Greg Rucka will be leaving it after next issue. In part 2 of the "Castling" story arc, we have everything that Checkmate should be: a good old fashioned spy movie. This issue reminded me so much of those scenes in spy movies where the FBI or CIA has some task force put together and people get called in to help out, and things are reported as they happen (the best example of have of this is from the Bourne Ultimatum). Following the brief attack on the Kobra fortress in the beginning, things get rolling: seemingly the entire DCU gets deputized to help out Checkmate, the important people in checkmate stand in a control room watching and waiting, and video feed from around the world comes in showing the status of the mission. Then, just when it seems like things might actually turn out well, they don't. Bad Samaritan (whom I love, by the way) comes in with bad news, and eight pawns (who I think are just researchers) have to save the day. This is where it changes though: they don't. After a very scary panel (I will have nightmares for a week after seeing that baby), they all die and the white queen, desperate and angry with herself for killing them, needs to call in the big guns: the Rooks. In this story, we have everything that you need for an awesome, kick-ass spy movie and I can't wait to see what the Rooks end up doing, and if things will turn out well in the end. The art was good as usual, but seemed a bit off in places. Regardless of this fact, the book was easily the best book I read this week, and I'm really sad that Rucka won't be doing this anymore. Does that mean I'll stop buying the book? Most likely not, especially after reading this story arc. It will certainly be missing something, though.