Schedule Monthly Number of issues 32 Broken Ground ISBN 978-1-929998-21-0 | ||
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Publication date March 2001 – August 2007 Genres Spy fiction, Techno-thriller Similar Gotham Central, Stumptown, Courtney Crumrin, Hopeless Savages, Whiteout: Melt | ||
Queen & Country is an American comic book published by Oni Press and written by Greg Rucka with various artists illustrating.
Contents
It was inspired by the British ITV television series The Sandbaggers (1978–1980), which was created and primarily written by Ian Mackintosh. Mackintosh is heavily praised in an essay by Rucka in Issue #1 of Queen & Country.
Publication history
The first series began in March 2001 and ran for 32 issues, finishing in August 2007.
Three Queen & Country: Declassified spin-off mini-series have also been published, the first two written by Rucka and the third by Antony Johnston under Rucka's supervision. They deal specifically with the past missions of various characters. Events of the first Declassified miniseries in particular influence what happens in later issues of the main series; it is best read before "Operation Stormfront".
Translated editions of the collected volumes are available in Polish, French and German, and several volumes are available in Spanish.
Plot
The series is centered on Tara Chace, an operative of the Special Operations Section of SIS, colloquially known as the Minders. It attempts to portray the bureaucracy and politics which the agents deal with realistically, as well as including the dangerous missions typical of the spy genre.
Other recurring characters in the series alongside Tara Chace include Director of Operations Paul Crocker, Deputy Chief of Service Donald Weldon, Chief of Service Frances Barclay (known colloquially as "C"), Mission Control Officer and Main Communications Officer Alexis and former Head of Special Section Tom Wallace.
Storylines
Collected editions
Awards
Novels
A Queen & Country prose novel written by Rucka, A Gentleman's Game, was published in 2004, also featuring Tara Chace and making reference to the events of the comic book series. A second Tara Chace novel, Private Wars, was published in 2005. The novels tie in to the comic series; issue 29 to 32 depicts events immediately after A Gentleman's Game. Private Wars takes place a few months after the end of the comic series and ends the first volume of the series. A third Queen & Country novel, The Last Run, was released in October 2010.
Scriptbook
A scriptbook, titled "Queen & Country Scriptbook vol. 1", is also available (ISBN 1929998929).
Film
A film adaptation is under development, but has been stranded in development hell for some time. On September 9, 2013, actress Ellen Page is in negotiations to star in the film, and later in March 2014 Craig Viveiros was set to direct the film.