Greg Rucka surprised with this issue. There's no shocking revelation or plot twist, really. The surprise stems from the clear focus of this story arc. Last month, one of the Minders was found dead, and I'm surprised -- oddly enough, pleasantly so -- that this story isn't about that. Instead, Rucka offers up a sequel of sorts to his Queen & Country: Declassified limited series. Fortunately, for readers who didn't catch that wonderful story, he presents a thoroughly accessible script, with everything one needs to know to follow what's happening here.
As Tara, Minder Two in the S.I.S, waits impatiently for word from Caracas on the cause of death of Minder Three, her former lover, Tom returns from the School with Brian Butler, the young turk who's taking Ed place among the Minders. Meanwhile, Paul Crocker's superior, the deputy chief of the agency, tells him he's learned of the kidnapping of a Russian businessman in Georgia, and the victim's connection to one of Crocker's old missions during as time as a Minder. Crocker is warned not to take any action, as no British citizens are involved in the situation, leaving the rebellious intelligence officer to turn to other sources for help.
McNeil's artwork continues to impress. Her simple style captures a remarkable level of realism, and there's a slightly depressed, grey atmosphere looming over the characters. Her work here puts me in mind of Mike (X-Statix) Allred's and Terry (Stranger in Paradise) Moore's styles. She also captures Brian's wide-eyed and youthful energy, and it makes for a nice contrast against Tara's fatigue and anger. What sets her stuff apart here is the meticulous thatching. It adds a harshness to the visuals that reinforces the darker, more dreary elements of the story.
The resolution to Crocker's dilemma of conscience was an unusual one, but a welcome change of pace. In this case, playing by the rules seems to work out for the man known for breaking them. I'm also surprised and intrigued by Tara's emotional distance. It's clear she's bottling up her feelings regarding Ed's death, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they'll emerge or affect her.
Just about every story arc in this series seems to be about injecting new elements into the world of the Minders and exploring how they react and adapt. It started with Tara's guilt and grief after an assassination mission. Recently, Rucka decided to see what would happen if a romantic connection arose in the office. And now, the new element is Butler. In the world of espionage, the arrival of new blood (and loss of colleagues) is a likely scenario, and Butler's presence offers plenty of new storytelling potential, new avenues to explore characterization.
