Well the new White Queen is in place. It's Valentina Vostok. If you're a true enthusiast you may . . emphasis on may . . remember her. She was with the Doom Patrol for a short time. A very short time. She was part of the group when they were in the Showcase title. I think it was issues #94 - #96. Anyways, she's not the real star of this issue. Although next issue we're supposed to find out who her new Bishop and Knight are. No, the real star of this issue is Josephne Tautin. She's actually Mademoiselle Marie, France's resistance hero. We learn a little bit about her legend this issue. There's been a Mademoiselle Marie around for a long time. At least since the late 1700's. It's a Sorority of sorts. Mademoiselle Marie fights for the country of France, with whom she's pledged her undying love and devotion. She does so . . until she's killed. And then, whomever she's been training takes over for her. She took over for the previous one, not because of death or injury, but because she became to old for the job. Her predecessor was Madame Sabine. She was also in the intelligence field. As I'm sure were most of the sisterhood. With this issue though, she's called back in to action. A diplomat from France, Thierry Desmarais, has had his daughter kidnapped by Biaylan terrorists. The Secretary General of the UN has called Checkmate in as a favor to help retrieve her. The Black Queen immediately assigns it to Josephine because . . first the daughter, Madeleine, is a daughter of France . . . and secondly because Theirry and Josephine were lovers at one time. She immediately accepts the assignment. But on her route to the camp, her guide turns on her as he is apparently part of the terrorist group. The issue ends with her at gunpoint and surrounded by insurgents. A great issue by Greg Rucka and Eric Trautmann. With pencils by Chris Samnee. The pencils were ok. But not great. But they did set the mood for the book. And it did catch my interest so I want to see how it all turns out.
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