My enjoyment of this latest story arc stems from two sources. Firstly, Rucka explores a side of espionage one doesn't often consider when thinking about the spy genre, a dirty side that has more to do with wallets and economy than national security. And the other interesting aspect of this arc is how it exposes more of Tara's character, but it's a more grounded, less intense part of who she is, something to which the reader can relate. Again, it comes as no surprise that Rucka and his latest artistic collaborator have knocked out another amazing issue of Queen & Country.
The French government is blackmailing a British communications tycoon into setting up technological infrastructure on their soil, and he's turned to his homeland's intelligence community for help. Tara Chace is brought into the mix because she's an old friend of Rachel Beck, the tycoon's daughter and the unknowing victim of the French setup. Tara pays her friend a visit in Paris, and quietly collects information to give the Minders a chance to counteract the French government's manipulations.
Alexander's dark, gritty style suits the cynical tone of the rather sleazy plot quite well. There's an odd mix of realism and a noir sketchiness to his work that really grabs the eye. The influence of artists like Bill Sienkiewicz and Kent Williams shines through. Alexander really makes the most of the black-and-white format as well.
By opening the door to Tara's past -- to a time when she was just a regular, though bright, gal at university as opposed to an embittered secret agent -- Rucka humanizes the character even further. And there's never been a better time to plant the character's feet firmyl on the ground, given last issue's end to her romance with Ed.
My favorite aspect of the story, though, remains the notion of espionage as a tool for economic development. It paints government in a greedy light, but creating jobs is what governments try to do these days... and desperately so. Incorporating the dirty tactics seen in this storyline really isn't that much of a leap, and it adds an even more realistic tone to a fascinating series about an unreal part of the world we never see.
