Cover: Art Thibert

Checkmate #6

Sep 1988 · DC · 1.25 USD; 1.75 CAD; 0.60 GBP

📊 ~28,884 copies sold its debut month

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In "Heat," Aaron follows a trail of smuggling links from the Italian and Texas mobs to a shadowy terrorist group in the Middle East, but his actions unintentionally disrupt a sensitive C.I.A. operation. Written by Paul Kupperberg and illustrated by Steve Erwin, with inks by Al Vey, colors by Julianna Ferriter, and letters by Albert DeGuzman, this 1988 issue delivers tense, high-stakes espionage with a grounded, character-driven edge. The cover by Art Thibert captures the simmering danger of the mission.

Contains 2 stories

Heat

16 pp · Spy, Superhero

Knight Aaron (also in flashback)Asche (flashback)Giamatti (flashback)

In "Heat," Aaron, a seasoned operative caught in a high-stakes web of international crime, follows a smuggling trail linking the Italian and Texas mobs to a Middle Eastern terrorist group—only to disrupt a delicate C.I.A. operation in the process. The story unfolds with tense precision, blending espionage and moral ambiguity in a world where every move carries unintended consequences.

Knight Game

8 pp · Spy, Superhero

Rudolph (death)

In "Knight Game," Reed faces a tense moment of uncertainty as he awaits word on his Checkmate Knight status, only to find himself thrust into a high-stakes crisis at a Redskins football game, where he must act fast—without backup—when a terrorist threat unfolds. The story captures the pressure and isolation of a hero stepping up in the moment, even before the title is earned.