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Queen and Country #7
Queen and Country, Vol. 7: Operation: Saddlebag
Still recovering from the death of her co-worker and lover, Tara Chace is granted a brief reprieve from London's rain and MI6's bureaucracy. This emotionally charged vacation takes Chace to the slopes of Switzerland for a visit with old friends and family. But being an agent for Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service leaves little time for rest. A junior minister with close ties to the Prime Minister appears to be selling state secrets to the Russians, and the Minders are assigned to quietly investigate. Tara is forced to walk a tight rope between the violent dangers inherent in the field of espionage and the discretion inherent in the bureaucracy of the government, all the while assuming the new position of Minder One and field-testing a new agent. Operation: Saltlick takes the Special Section from the safety and comfort of Great Britain to the St. Petersburg underworld.
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 11, 2005
3 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Greg Rucka
1,487 books1,906 followersGreg Rucka, is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 27, 2015
I thought the last volume was a little off-track, but this one was much better. A few different artists worked on this one, but the art was nice in every case.
We start off with some character development showing Tara meeting her mother in Europe. They have a very strained relationship. It seems her mother is about to marry some man half her age and Tara isn't happy about it. We get a glimpse into Tara's past life, then we get back into the spy game.
We have a British agent in Russia who is supposedly selling secrets to the enemy. Tara takes a new minder out to investigate, and things do not go well.
Another good volume, and on to the next.
We start off with some character development showing Tara meeting her mother in Europe. They have a very strained relationship. It seems her mother is about to marry some man half her age and Tara isn't happy about it. We get a glimpse into Tara's past life, then we get back into the spy game.
We have a British agent in Russia who is supposedly selling secrets to the enemy. Tara takes a new minder out to investigate, and things do not go well.
Another good volume, and on to the next.
July 26, 2015
Loves it! Did I mention I am pretty pissed that this comic is not on like issue 150 and I have thirty more trades to go???
Loved this issue, liked the new Minders, like the change in leadership, allowed for all sorts of cool new character development. What I love about this series is the realism and how the heroes can screw up and even lose. Enjoyable trade! Highly recommended.
Loved this issue, liked the new Minders, like the change in leadership, allowed for all sorts of cool new character development. What I love about this series is the realism and how the heroes can screw up and even lose. Enjoyable trade! Highly recommended.
March 31, 2021
A government spy always strives to get the mission accomplished. But in a world where every mistake can mean disaster, some missions don't go as planned.
I think this is easily the best volumes of the series so far. Coming off of a volume that was very interesting, but slow as far as action, this one revolves around the action entirely; from the events that lead up to the repercussions there after. What also makes this a great volume, is that we delve a little deeper into Tara Chace's life. We meet her mom, who is a source of great chaos in Tara's life, and how she has influenced Chace's demeanor and overall view of life. Also the back office tension that has been building from the past volumes... really riveting. You can tell characters just cannot stand each other, but have to work with each other, which adds an unspoken layer of tension to the already very tense situation… Rucka really hit it out of the park with this volume.
The art was another high point as well, as Mike Norton takes the helm for the most part. He has a very clean line that works really well for the more chaotic portions of the book. The realistic style of the art also fits the atmosphere and his storytelling ability is very much on point. There are portions of the book where there is no dialogue and Norton seizes upon these moments to show just how good he really is.
This is very much the culmination of all the previous volumes, and shows how well Rucka is able to handle all of the baggage and circumstances of what came before to give us a great story. Sad to see the next one is the last one, but I'm eager to see how it wraps up.
I think this is easily the best volumes of the series so far. Coming off of a volume that was very interesting, but slow as far as action, this one revolves around the action entirely; from the events that lead up to the repercussions there after. What also makes this a great volume, is that we delve a little deeper into Tara Chace's life. We meet her mom, who is a source of great chaos in Tara's life, and how she has influenced Chace's demeanor and overall view of life. Also the back office tension that has been building from the past volumes... really riveting. You can tell characters just cannot stand each other, but have to work with each other, which adds an unspoken layer of tension to the already very tense situation… Rucka really hit it out of the park with this volume.
The art was another high point as well, as Mike Norton takes the helm for the most part. He has a very clean line that works really well for the more chaotic portions of the book. The realistic style of the art also fits the atmosphere and his storytelling ability is very much on point. There are portions of the book where there is no dialogue and Norton seizes upon these moments to show just how good he really is.
This is very much the culmination of all the previous volumes, and shows how well Rucka is able to handle all of the baggage and circumstances of what came before to give us a great story. Sad to see the next one is the last one, but I'm eager to see how it wraps up.
March 20, 2018
What I really took away from this book is that Tara Chase deals with stress very poorly. Fittingly, I started reading the Q&C novel, A Gentleman's Game, right after finishing this trade, and the book starts off by talking about how different agents cope with the pressure of their jobs. And Tara copes by self-destructing. It's tragic and compelling, and I just can't take my eyes off of it. Rucka does such a great job keeping the plots compelling, yet subdued, while still giving us plenty of opportunties to either pity Tara or just get plain fed up with her!
Rolston & Norton are both excellent choices to illustrate these stories, because they do great body language and facial expressions, and their page layouts do wonders to keep a talking-heads book extremely visually engaging. If I have one complaint, the French (I'm assuming that it is French, but I could be wrong) dialogue in Rolston's chapter was annoying. Yes, it created a sense of authenticity, but at the very least, I'd like a translation guide at the bottom of the page or in the back of the book. Authenticity isn't good if it leads to reader confusion. Fortunately, most of the French scenes are easy to read, thanks to Rolston's art, so I'm not completely lost, but I still feel that the scene would have more impact if the reader actually knew what was being said!
Rolston & Norton are both excellent choices to illustrate these stories, because they do great body language and facial expressions, and their page layouts do wonders to keep a talking-heads book extremely visually engaging. If I have one complaint, the French (I'm assuming that it is French, but I could be wrong) dialogue in Rolston's chapter was annoying. Yes, it created a sense of authenticity, but at the very least, I'd like a translation guide at the bottom of the page or in the back of the book. Authenticity isn't good if it leads to reader confusion. Fortunately, most of the French scenes are easy to read, thanks to Rolston's art, so I'm not completely lost, but I still feel that the scene would have more impact if the reader actually knew what was being said!
August 29, 2024
Greg Rucka has spoiled me on both graphic novels and spy fiction generally with Queen and Country. Simply put, when I read this book, I lose interest in every other aspect of the genre and just want to immerse myself in the gritty, real world that he has created. I do not want the experience to ever end.
Having worked in conflict zones and in Eastern Europe for many years, I recognize both the pragmatism of Paul Crocker and yet admire his wicked sense of duty and loyalty. It is quietly and maddeningly inspiring. I marvel at Tara Chase. Her psychological make up, her cool demeanour, her quick intelligence and street smarts, even when operating in the new Russia. St. Petersburg is not an easy town and Rucka shows that here. A fabulous story, well plotted, well drawn, fabulously realized. Greg, please keep turning out this quality book, and I will remain a loyal customer for life.
Greg Rucka is the Le Carre of the comics world.
Having worked in conflict zones and in Eastern Europe for many years, I recognize both the pragmatism of Paul Crocker and yet admire his wicked sense of duty and loyalty. It is quietly and maddeningly inspiring. I marvel at Tara Chase. Her psychological make up, her cool demeanour, her quick intelligence and street smarts, even when operating in the new Russia. St. Petersburg is not an easy town and Rucka shows that here. A fabulous story, well plotted, well drawn, fabulously realized. Greg, please keep turning out this quality book, and I will remain a loyal customer for life.
Greg Rucka is the Le Carre of the comics world.
June 25, 2022
First third of the book is dedicated to Tara's fraught relationship with her Party MILF mom, and while I was initially a bit apprehensive at which side of the argument Rucka wanted the reader to be on, it does resolve itself with somewhat of an understanding and neither party admitting "guilt," whatever that may mean.
The latter two-thirds are about Tara's first big job as Minder One, and the possibility of a British government employee is selling oil secrets to Russia. The Mum prologue was a good choice for this, as this is the first time we really see Tara make a mess of things (professionally), keeping us firmly in empathy with her.
The latter two-thirds are about Tara's first big job as Minder One, and the possibility of a British government employee is selling oil secrets to Russia. The Mum prologue was a good choice for this, as this is the first time we really see Tara make a mess of things (professionally), keeping us firmly in empathy with her.
June 1, 2020
I like that Rucka can make his characters falter like real life. Here, we get even more inter-office politics and a new Minder to test. Mike Norton's art fell flat for me. Usually a fan, here I thought it was uninspired and he didn't take advantage of the black and white medium. Overall, another very solid spy tale.
October 25, 2017
Only one more series and a book to go. It's been fun.
February 11, 2017
Great spy graphic novel
Rucka at his best. Its not only read its feel like you're in the operations too.
Highly recommended
Will not disappoint you and you can not wait for the next operation
Rucka at his best. Its not only read its feel like you're in the operations too.
Highly recommended
Will not disappoint you and you can not wait for the next operation
January 29, 2015
3.5 stars, maybe? I liked the mission and breaking in the new kid, but I'm not super into what's going on with Tara and as usual with this series, the art is hit-or-miss.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews