Comic Title: Checkmate #18
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: June 1989
On Sale Date: April 25, 1989 Shipping Date April 25, 1989
Source: Direct Currents, #14

Shipping Date April 25, 1989
Source: Amazing Heroes, #163

Shipping Date April 25, 1989
Source: Previews, #2

Copyright Date April 25, 1989
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1989

Direct Market Date April 27, 1989
Source: Comic Shop News, #93, #94, #95

Cover Price: $1.50
Page Count: 32
Editor: Jonathan Peterson

Title: "Knight Fight"
Pages: 24

Feature(s):
Checkmate

Writer: Paul Kupperberg
Penciller: Steve Erwin
Inker: Al Vey
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Colorist: Julianna Ferriter

Reprinted In:
Suicide Squad:The Janus Directive TPB (2016)

Feature Character(s)

• Checkmate (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Harry Stein (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Gary Washington (last appearance in Checkmate #17; next appearance in Checkmate #26)
• John Reed (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Checkmate #28)

Guest Star(s)

• Captain Atom (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Peacemaker (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Manhunter (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Valentina Vostok (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Sarge Steel (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Firestorm (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Mikhail Arkadin (behind-the-scenes in the Firestorm matrix; last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Svarozhich (behind-the-scenes in the Firestorm matrix; last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Suicide Squad (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Bronze Tiger (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Captain Boomerang (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Doctor Light (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Duchess (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Nightshade (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Lady Liberty (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Punch (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Jewelee (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Ravan (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Shade the Changing Man (last appearance in Suicide Squad #28; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Silent Majority (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Vixen (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)

Supporting Character(s)

• Black Thorn (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Amanda Waller (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)

Villain(s)

• Kobra (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Valland (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• The Blackadders (last appearance in Manhunter #14; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Major Force (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Lois Lane (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Wade Eiling (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #87)
• Heinrich Megala (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #87)
• Babylon (last appearance in Suicide Squad #27; next appearance in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #87)
• Briscoe (last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #32)
• Flo Crowly (miscolored as a white woman in this story; last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• Jack Kovacs (aka J. Danfield Kale; last appearance in Suicide Squad #29; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)
• George Bush (last appearance in Adventures of Superman #431; next appearance in Suicide Squad #30)

Comments:
The Janus Directive: Part 9

This story is continued from Suicide Squad #29 and continues in Suicide Squad #30.

Synopsis:
After learning that Kobra has pitted several government agencies against one another, the leaders of each agency join forces to oppose the cult leader. The President appoints Sarge Steel to take charge of the operation. Steel divides the resources, consisting of the Checkmate, the Suicide Squad, Firestorm, Captain Atom, Major Force, and Peacemaker into three units. First Firestorm and Captain Atom force Kobra spaceark from orbit, then a second unit consisting of Checkmate and Suicide Squad members board the ship. From inside, Manhunter works to free the hostages held by Kobra, including Dr. Megala. During the attack, Kobra is angered and decides to utilize his microwave weapon to defeat his foes.