Leviathan

Checkmate #6

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Betrayal is the main theme of the final issue of the Checkmate mini-series. Talia al Ghul has been revealed, but Checkmate steps up to successfully prevent her from stealing the Heroes Network (although she’s learned enough to keep Leviathan off their radar going forward). The Snowman’s Ticket has also managed to turn back Mark Shaw who faces betrayal from within Leviathan as it’s old queen returns to sit on its throne.

Mark Shaw has been defeated but Leviathan remains, and, as the Checkmate members discuss, it might be a far more dangerous organization than it ever was with a former hero running it. With Leviathan still very much a threat, it appears our heroes will be sticking around, which also apparently includes King whose true identity is finally revealed.

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Checkmate #5

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Picking up exactly where Checkmate #4 ended, Leviathan has invaded Checkmate‘s headquarters, which they then teleport into the middle of Thailand. Although their building is rubble, the heroes aren’t quite out of the game as Mark Shaw had planned, thanks to King‘s use of the extra-dimensional doors which deliver them into the basement of the Hall of Justice with hopefully enough time to prevent Leviathan from getting their hands on the Heroes Network.

And, of course, this turns out to be the perfect opportunity for Talia to double-cross the heroes. It’s still not clear what exactly she’s getting out of helping Shaw, but incapacitating the heroes at the point they might stop him from realizing his goal certainly works in Leviathan’s favor.

Lois Lane is fairing a bit better with the sudden appearance of a brother she never knew about, but the “Snowman’s Ticket” is still a git of a mystery, except, perhaps to Mark Shaw.

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Checkmate #4

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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.

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Checkmate #3

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Checkmate #3 comic reviewAlthough Mark Shaw was able to successfully survive a stand-off with Superman over the capture of Talia al Ghul, the mastermind behind Leviathan does make a mistake with Lois Lane. Her kidnapping ends awkwardly and unexpectedly with the reporter being returned. However, Shaw’s choice of destination for her clues the reporter in on his next target.

The latest issue by Brian Michael Bendis and artist Alex Maleev gets almost too cute for its own good a couple of times, including a major twist that doesn’t seem to track from the story explored earlier. While successfully standing up to the Man of Steel helps solidify Shaw as a major player, the machinations within machinations begin to wear a bit thin here. That said, the reveal of the target being the heavily-guarded Heroes Network would certainly be a prize Leviathan would covet.

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Checkmate #2

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Checkmate #2 comic reviewThe six-issue mini-series continues as Brian Michael Bendis and artist Alex Maleev remind us that Talia al Ghul can be a hell of a character when put in the hands of the right creative team as Leviathan’s captive starts causing trouble for the cabal. (Although I’m not quite sure where the Damian part of the plotline is going). She’s not the only female highlighted here, as Lois Lane‘s investigation into Leviathan’s actions leads her to being kidnapped by the group leading to an inevitable showdown.

Speaking of Superman, although the Man of Steel is given only a cameo here, the second issue of the series has some fun exploring Mark Shaw‘s obsession with the Kryptonian and his struggle to bring the hero over to his side. So far things aren’t going all that well on that front and I don’t know that kidnapping his wife will help matters.

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