Without a doubt, the best spy series out today is a comic book. In my days of comic shopping, there was one title that brightened up my day when it made its appearance in my weekly pulls: Greg Rucka’s QUEEN & COUNTRY. Oni Press has done a fantastic job reissuing the series in omnibus collections with covers by Tim Sale.
For those unfamiliar with the series, as Rucka stated in the letters column in the first issue, it’s a total reworking of the old British TV show THE SANDBAGGERS. Sadly, that piece is not included in QUEEN & COUNTRY: DEFINITIVE EDITION — VOLUME 1, but that’s a minor misstep in an otherwise fantastic presentation. The series follows a spy — or minder — named Tara Chace, who, when we first meet her, is on an assassination assignment that will play havoc with her life.
Included in this volume are the series’ first three story arcs. First up is “Operation: Broken Ground,” which deals with the aftermath of one of Tara’s missions. Second is “Operation: Morningstar,” where we see Tara deal with the aftereffects of the first storyline, while other minders in her group are sent off to retrieve a very valuable list is in Afghanistan. The third, “Operation: Crystal Ball,” follows our group of minders as they try to discover a terrorist plot set to disrupt a large gathering of some importance.
Each story is so timely, it’s frightening, especially when it was coming out monthly. Each story also has its own artist, so the style is ever-changing, depending upon their own takes on these very distinct characters. Finishing off the first volume are bonus character sketches, non-inked pages and mock-ups for the original trade paperbacks.
QUEEN & COUNTRY: DEFINITIVE EDITION — VOLUME 2 is terrific as well, but there is a glaring omission. Since the cover claims the book is complete, it’s missing a DECLASSIFIED spin-off that plays a intregal part to the complete picture of the series, and one that should be read beforehand.
In this collection, we are treated to three more story arcs. “Operation: Blackwall” deals with an old friend of Tara’s whose father is being blackmailed with a certain kind of videotape of his daughter. Then you have “Operation: Stormfront,” about a kidnapped businessman whom Tara and a new minder are sent to retrieve. This story works a lot better if you have read the DECLASSIFIED story that deals with Tara’s boss back in the day when he was minder. The final story really deals with the pettiness and infighting between MI-5 and MI-6, with Tara being used as bait to gain information from a diplomat.
Again, we are treated to three completely different styles of artwork from the ultra-realistic to a very comic style. But both work well. I remember reading letters where readers would just scream about the artwork. But you know what? It wasn’t the art that kept me interested in these stories, but the writing.
What is truly fantastic is that we see Tara grow as a character throughout these stories. Rucka shows her going from a woman who can only deal by drinking herself to sleep, to then later in the series becoming the head of the minders and dealing with even more pressure.
For those who are sick of people dressed up in wacky costumes, grow up and read one of the most fantastic comics out there. Oni Press has really outdone itself with packing so much for so little money, compared to other comic companies that will only give you one story for the same amount. VOL. 3 is now out as well, with VOL. 4 to follow in February. —Bruce Grossman
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF GREG RUCKA:
• 52: VOLUME ONE by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid and Keith Giffen
• 52: VOLUME TWO by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid and Keith Giffen
• 52: VOLUME THREE by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid and Keith Giffen
• 52: VOLUME FOUR by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid and Keith Giffen
• PATRIOT ACTS by Greg Rucka
• PRIVATE WARS by Greg Rucka
Related posts:
- Patriot Acts
- 52: Volume One
- Mystery Writers of America Presents The Blue Religion: New Stories About Cops, Criminals, and the Chase
- 52: Volume Four
- 52: Volume Three
