- Title: Checkmate #4 (of 6)
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
- Artist: Alex Maleev
The chess game between Checkmate and Leviathan continues in issue #4 as Green Arrow and Manhunter are able to fight off Leviathan agents Guardian and Merlyn who infiltrate the abandoned JLA Watchtower for unknown nefarious purposes. Not only are the heroes successful in driving out the invaders, but they are able to obtain a sample of Guardian’s blood which offers a clue to Mister Bones recognizing a rejected DEO program of splicing alien DNA into agents which may help explain how Mark Shaw has created his own little army.
Although he appears in the cover, we don’t get much from Superman here other than acting as a sounding board for his wife and helping Lois Lane make a discovery which seems important (but I’m not sure how it fits into this storyline). The issue ends on a cliffhanger where Leviathan comes after Checkmate suggesting things are finally heating up.
[DC, $3.99]