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Queen and Country #3
Queen and Country, Vol. 3: Crystal Ball
Collecting issues 8-12 of the Eisner-winning miniseries. Tara Chace races against the clock to stop a terrorist plot to unleash Sarin gas on the British citizenry-all in the midst of a burgeoning romance between herself and fellow Minder Ed Kittering. Presented in both trade paperback and a special hardcover strictly limited to initial orders. Featuring an exclusive gallery section.
152 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 3, 2008
For quick-read spy thriller, Queen and Country can't be beat. Unfortunately, in this volume, Greg Rucka'a spot-on pacing and great dialog is mired in the shitbag that is Leandro Fernandez's art. To be fair, Q&C is always a mixed bag (who on earth thought that poor Bryan O'Malley could do a spy book) as far as the art is concerned, but what is particularly galling about this volume is the fact that Fernandez is not without skill. He's got a dab hand with a charicature, and he does okay drawing details he likes, which translates into guns and tits. He's given Tara Chance a rack that seems like it's about to snap her equally unlikely three inch waist at any moment, especially when she's jumping around shooting people. Tara is a well-written, strong female character, and it jars to see her turned into a generic armed fuckdoll. Q&C might not be high art, no matter how topical it is. But it's written really well, and it's just a damned shame to see characters that you care about drawn this poorly. For christ's sake, this isn't Danger Girl.
June 21, 2007
There's been a different artist for each of the first four volumes of Queen and Country I've read, but for some reason, even though Tara Chace looks like a normal human being in every other one, the artist on this arc decided to inflict her with superheroine syndrome. Boobs that take up half her body mass, lots of cleavage, and a teeny-tiny waist. Gross. The artwork and style varies a ton with the other three, but she looks like real in all of them.
February 16, 2021
The team scrambles after receiving word of a bio chemical attack that is about to occur. Finding out where and when though proves be extremely difficult, especially when the person who informed them is found dead.
I really liked this volume of Queen and Country. I think it was really well paced, had some good action moments, a lot of good characterization, and the plot itself overall felt very much like a thriller, which is perfect for the book. Again, Rucka takes us behind the scenes to show us not only the "on the ground" movements of the three agents that go out and handle the more action oriented goals, but also the inner workings of the department. The tightropes that their management team have to traverse in order to get things done, the risks that are constantly being taken to ensure the job gets done right. I really like that about this book as it adds another layer of drama on top of the already tense atmosphere of the book.
I would've gave this volume 4 stars. But the art.... sigh. So I like the art in every aspect except one (well two technically). I think the art overall is a step up from the previous two volumes, as it is much more detailed, and Leandro Fernández uses heavy shadows to really nail the atmosphere of the book. But the problem is when he draws Agent Chace. Holy moly, this guy went full Pamela Anderson spy thriller with her. Huge, and I mean huge boobs prominently displayed, her face molded into a Milo Manara caricature, and her waist reduced to the size of her gun barrel, I found Fernandez' art to really take away from the core of what kind of character agent Chace is supposed to be. Sure she uses sex in the very first volume, but it definitely doesn't define her. The artist reduces her to a caricature of what she is supposed to be, and that is a huge disservice to the overall series.
I think this was a great volume story wise, but the search for for an artist worthy of the book continues.
I really liked this volume of Queen and Country. I think it was really well paced, had some good action moments, a lot of good characterization, and the plot itself overall felt very much like a thriller, which is perfect for the book. Again, Rucka takes us behind the scenes to show us not only the "on the ground" movements of the three agents that go out and handle the more action oriented goals, but also the inner workings of the department. The tightropes that their management team have to traverse in order to get things done, the risks that are constantly being taken to ensure the job gets done right. I really like that about this book as it adds another layer of drama on top of the already tense atmosphere of the book.
I would've gave this volume 4 stars. But the art.... sigh. So I like the art in every aspect except one (well two technically). I think the art overall is a step up from the previous two volumes, as it is much more detailed, and Leandro Fernández uses heavy shadows to really nail the atmosphere of the book. But the problem is when he draws Agent Chace. Holy moly, this guy went full Pamela Anderson spy thriller with her. Huge, and I mean huge boobs prominently displayed, her face molded into a Milo Manara caricature, and her waist reduced to the size of her gun barrel, I found Fernandez' art to really take away from the core of what kind of character agent Chace is supposed to be. Sure she uses sex in the very first volume, but it definitely doesn't define her. The artist reduces her to a caricature of what she is supposed to be, and that is a huge disservice to the overall series.
I think this was a great volume story wise, but the search for for an artist worthy of the book continues.
December 6, 2011
The story was great as usual but the art while it may be good for another comic was inappropriate. The T&A greatly detracted from the realistic tone of the series. Tara Chase's breasts were all over the place. Imagine going on a mission dressed in a fishnet top.
July 21, 2021
I really like reading these Queen & Country collections. Read the first couple several years ago in trade paperback format. Thanks to Comixology Unlimited I now have access to several volumes. Enough to keep me busy for a while. I seem to be on a British kick this year, having already read novels by Stephen Leather and Andy McNabb.
I like the characters of Queen & Country. Good adult stories. Action and intrigue. Plus I enjoy Greg Rucka's writing style. A little odd getting use to the black and white art aspect, but once you do the story flows very easy. Reminds me a tad of Strike Back on TV.
I like the characters of Queen & Country. Good adult stories. Action and intrigue. Plus I enjoy Greg Rucka's writing style. A little odd getting use to the black and white art aspect, but once you do the story flows very easy. Reminds me a tad of Strike Back on TV.
October 20, 2017
Liked the story, the art not so much. Her breasts seem to have their own orbit they're so big but her stomach/midsection is about as big around as her head, if not smaller. WTF.
May 4, 2015
I'm still enjoying this as a solidly good spy series. This one was more action-packed, and all three "Minders" went on missions.
Leandro Fernandez's art was fine, but I wasn't as huge of a fan of it as Brian Hurtt's (Vol 2) art, mainly because he intentionally made Tara Chace's boobs enormous and accented them with low-cut shirts, bra tops, and unrealistic bent back poses meant to draw attention to them. I'm not sure if it was Fernandez's big-boobed pictures that made Chace's personality seem different than the first two volumes (flirty bombshell), or if Rucka wrote her differently, either because he was influenced by Fernandez's art, or because Chace was not dealing with moral ambiguity in these issues. I also wasn't a fan of Fernandez's comically large noses (which I guess made for striking shadow profiles...) and pronounced wrinkles (only on all the male characters, of course, since the females had to have smooth faces and be pretty :/ ).
Eh, I don't know how I feel about Tara and Ed hooking up. ::shrug:: We'll see.
Leandro Fernandez's art was fine, but I wasn't as huge of a fan of it as Brian Hurtt's (Vol 2) art, mainly because he intentionally made Tara Chace's boobs enormous and accented them with low-cut shirts, bra tops, and unrealistic bent back poses meant to draw attention to them. I'm not sure if it was Fernandez's big-boobed pictures that made Chace's personality seem different than the first two volumes (flirty bombshell), or if Rucka wrote her differently, either because he was influenced by Fernandez's art, or because Chace was not dealing with moral ambiguity in these issues. I also wasn't a fan of Fernandez's comically large noses (which I guess made for striking shadow profiles...) and pronounced wrinkles (only on all the male characters, of course, since the females had to have smooth faces and be pretty :/ ).
Eh, I don't know how I feel about Tara and Ed hooking up. ::shrug:: We'll see.
July 30, 2017
Tara "Strong Female Protagonist" Chace went from looking like this in volume 1:
to this in volume 2:
to whatever the hell this creature is in volume 3:
Nope. Just nope.
to this in volume 2:
to whatever the hell this creature is in volume 3:
Nope. Just nope.
August 3, 2008
I have to say, the change in Tara Chace, the main character of this series, just killed it for me. The artists have been different for each volume and the change was so drastic that it seems like a different person. The writing and story are still good, but the sexed up version of Tara was just too distracting for me -- in a bad way.
August 20, 2012
Great story, extremely poor art direction in this volume.
April 4, 2018
Wonderful artwork, good, compact story line. Not what I expected, but that's not meant as a negative critique.
July 18, 2024
Greg Rucka's Queen & Country is the best comic book series of the 21st century. Gritty and realistic in tone, this series has never failed to disappoint with its smart politics, on-the-dot characterizations of both life in Government and in the field, and the daily lives of its cast. Rucka is great at crafting dialogue that is explanatory, yet not patronizing when it comes to world affairs and the inter-personal back and forth isn't bad either.
This volume of the Definitive Edition represents the rather sad end with which the first series culminated. Tara Chace's career reaches several turning points as she grapples, at varying times, with the deaths of three of her fellow minders, the callousness international politics, and her own limits as an operative. Given that this volume ties directly in to the events within the first Queen & Country novel (A Gentleman's Game) some key points could be missed by some readers, particularly those who have not comprehensively followed the series. Mr. Rucka's many other projects obviously did not allow him to bring this series to a smooth conclusion and the last few issues are of emblematic of that fact. Regardless, the stories on their own merits hold up to scrutiny and leave the reader wanting for more.
I simply cannot wait for another Queen & Country novel or graphic series to begin anew. These characters remain real, engaging and surprisingly endearing. In terms of comics that seek to engage the reader in an adventurous plot line, within a real world setting devoid of men in tights, this tome and the series it chronicles is peerless.
This volume of the Definitive Edition represents the rather sad end with which the first series culminated. Tara Chace's career reaches several turning points as she grapples, at varying times, with the deaths of three of her fellow minders, the callousness international politics, and her own limits as an operative. Given that this volume ties directly in to the events within the first Queen & Country novel (A Gentleman's Game) some key points could be missed by some readers, particularly those who have not comprehensively followed the series. Mr. Rucka's many other projects obviously did not allow him to bring this series to a smooth conclusion and the last few issues are of emblematic of that fact. Regardless, the stories on their own merits hold up to scrutiny and leave the reader wanting for more.
I simply cannot wait for another Queen & Country novel or graphic series to begin anew. These characters remain real, engaging and surprisingly endearing. In terms of comics that seek to engage the reader in an adventurous plot line, within a real world setting devoid of men in tights, this tome and the series it chronicles is peerless.
October 25, 2018
The chess pieces continue to move as multiple countries, agencies, and agendas compete for their piece of the world stage. Rucka once again seems like an expert in the arena of British Intelligence. The politics of this story were engaging and a treat to read. Tara's still the star of the show but the supporting cast really shine. My biggest complaint here was Leandro Fernandez's art. A lot of panels were fantastic but too many times his version of Tara was overly sexualized when it didn't make any sense to the book. It was frustrating. Overall though, another good book.
June 21, 2022
hahaha David Beckham has a cameo in this one as some Egyptian Al Qaeda wants to unleash a biologeeckal package at the 2002 FIFA KOREA/JAPAN WORLD CUP
Nice to see Chace out in the field again. Not much to say. This is a book about doin' yer job which does its job. I'll be curious to find out if those two who whacked Youssouf are part of a more comic booky organization than the Eastern Europeans and Islamic militants we've been seeing.
Nice to see Chace out in the field again. Not much to say. This is a book about doin' yer job which does its job. I'll be curious to find out if those two who whacked Youssouf are part of a more comic booky organization than the Eastern Europeans and Islamic militants we've been seeing.
December 16, 2015
This was the best and most complex storyline of the volumes so far accompanied by the WORST, most pulpy art to distract from the action. I already have a little trouble with the new artists on each volume but at least there was some consistency around general look and feel of the characters. In this volume though, Tara went from a normal-looking bad-ass chick struggling with rationalizing her job to a sluttier-looking Laura Croft flashing her navel anytime she leans over in her strip of an excuse of clothing. You literally can't see her neck at times her boobs are so enormous and her lips so pouty. And it is somehow acceptable for her to wear S&M clothing to work among all the other British spies and operations staff. It makes her ridiculous when she should be the opposite. Rucka's work is excellent, it doesn't need to look exploitative to draw readers but apparently the artist and publishers thought it wouldn't insult the intelligence of readers anticipating great spy-craft and complex characters to be treated like horny 14-year olds who can't concentrate on anything without huge tits in their face.
Thank goodness Vol 4 has a new artist. what a shame about Vol 3
Thank goodness Vol 4 has a new artist. what a shame about Vol 3
January 18, 2015
Oh, this series.....
I apparently have a love/hate relationship with Queen and Country. I want to like it, I really do, the stories aren't uninteresting but the problem here is the same as the one I had with the first volume. Only worse. The art is not very good. Actually, that is not fair, the art is what it is, but it simply does not suit this story. The main problem (of many) is the way Tara is drawn in this volume. In the first, she was a normal looking woman, pretty but nothing special, in the second, she was drawn prettier and slightly more sexual. Here, though-Bam! Porn star. Skinny waste and big boobs, it really is appalling. A few of the other characters are unrecognizable here, we are only 8 issues in and already the 'cast' are gross caricatures of themselves. The art made this a slog to get through and I actually enjoyed the story this time. The last issue of the volume does have some good action but it is too little to save it. I'm pretty sure I am done with this series. I may go back to it at a later point but for now, I'm out.
I apparently have a love/hate relationship with Queen and Country. I want to like it, I really do, the stories aren't uninteresting but the problem here is the same as the one I had with the first volume. Only worse. The art is not very good. Actually, that is not fair, the art is what it is, but it simply does not suit this story. The main problem (of many) is the way Tara is drawn in this volume. In the first, she was a normal looking woman, pretty but nothing special, in the second, she was drawn prettier and slightly more sexual. Here, though-Bam! Porn star. Skinny waste and big boobs, it really is appalling. A few of the other characters are unrecognizable here, we are only 8 issues in and already the 'cast' are gross caricatures of themselves. The art made this a slog to get through and I actually enjoyed the story this time. The last issue of the volume does have some good action but it is too little to save it. I'm pretty sure I am done with this series. I may go back to it at a later point but for now, I'm out.
December 22, 2015
In this volume we see the complications that can arise when an inter-office romance develops between agents. Chace and Kittering begin to see each other, which I'm sure is not going to end well.
The main storyline involves a plot to pump sarin gas into the locker room of the UK Soccer team. It's a race against time, and very suspenseful. That's the action aspect, but really this volume is more about the people and their relationships. I'm sure later volumes will examine the relationships further.
The art is still cartoony, but Tara Chace is drawn much sexier in this volume. She had always been rendered attractive, but now shes into sexy territory. I don't mind it of course, but that really wasn't how I had viewed the character.
This is a really good series. If you like any type of spy or espionage graphic novels you should check this series out.
The main storyline involves a plot to pump sarin gas into the locker room of the UK Soccer team. It's a race against time, and very suspenseful. That's the action aspect, but really this volume is more about the people and their relationships. I'm sure later volumes will examine the relationships further.
The art is still cartoony, but Tara Chace is drawn much sexier in this volume. She had always been rendered attractive, but now shes into sexy territory. I don't mind it of course, but that really wasn't how I had viewed the character.
This is a really good series. If you like any type of spy or espionage graphic novels you should check this series out.
October 24, 2016
This story arc lost me from the first issue. Too many names, too many references to things that, for some reason, the writer thinks I'm familiar with. It's definitely not a casual read since it requires that bit of focus that I wasn't able to give it. I can't feel anything for the characters. This read was without any sort of flavour.
Thankfully, each issue clarified what happened in the last one, so it wasn't a total waste. It's about a tip that chemical weapons will be released somewhere in Britain. The artwork has hotter females, too.
Thankfully, each issue clarified what happened in the last one, so it wasn't a total waste. It's about a tip that chemical weapons will be released somewhere in Britain. The artwork has hotter females, too.
November 13, 2011
This was certainly the most epic of the missions thus far in Q&C; the team learns about an immient nerve gas attack that is going to hit a major European event. This trade is also interesting since it was the first volume that came out post-9/11, and it has hit the team hard. The stakes feel much higher, and in this case they are. There is a bit less character development in this one, but it is fantastic in the action/mystery departments. Great stuff!
March 29, 2014
This one's good on it's own, but it falters in trying to live up to the standards set by it's predecessor Morning Star- and add a little personal drama and a changed art technique for more stylization, it feels a bit - ah, comicky. The story's also a bit more convoluted than the other two. I'd still go onto the next, but it's not brilliance on display here.
June 30, 2015
One more successful mission. The lowest seniority operative, Ed, manages to parachute into Turkey to complete a mission. Tara, second in seniority of the three agents has a brief fling with Ed, third in priority. Things have been going well for the team, but that could change.
February 17, 2014
I thought the storyline itself was great. Excellent writing. But the drawings of Agent Chace for this volume were over-sexualized in a way that I found distracting. She looked like giant boob job Barbie.
July 27, 2016
I really liked the story in this one and would have given it five stars, except the art was terrrrrrrible. the drastic change in the characters was jarring, and turning Tara into an armed pair of tits was a huge turnoff.
July 6, 2017
I like the art style in this much less than in the previous two versions, but the story is top-notch.
December 18, 2013
Another very good read.
I wish a movie would come out of this...
I wish a movie would come out of this...
January 28, 2019
Though the stories in this series are pretty great, the art is always a sticking point with me. Both aspects got a bit better between volumes 1 and 2 (in my opinion), but they dropped significantly with 3. Here, Chace is suddenly a stereotypical, buxom action comic book heroine, and a predictable to,antic subplot is thrown into the mix. I’ll keep reading the series, because I really like Chace and the Minders, but I hope the quality picks up again from here.
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