List of Checkmate members
Updated: 11/5/2025, 10:48:31 PM Wikipedia source
Checkmate is a fictional covert operations agency, as published by DC Comics. The roster of the agency has changed a great deal over the years. These roster lists are of the members during the agency's various incarnations. The codenames listed under Character are those used during the time frame of the particular iteration. Characters with more than one codename for that period have them listed chronologically and separated by a slash (/). Bolded names in the most recent iteration published are the current agency members. First appearance is the place where the character first appeared as a member of a particular iteration. It is not necessarily the first appearance of the character in print, nor the story depicting how the character joined the agency. All information is listed in publication order first, then rank, and finally alphabetical.
Tables
· Roster during <i>Checkmate!</i>
N/A
N/A
Character
Harry Stein
Real name
N/A
Position
King
First appearance
Action Comics #598 (March 1988)
Bishop
Bishop
Character
Harvey Bullock
Real name
Bishop
Position
Also member of the GCPD.
Rook
Rook
Character
Grace Guinness
Real name
Rook
Queen
Queen
Character
Amanda Waller
Real name
Queen
Position
Checkmate! #1 (April 1988)
First appearance
Concurrent leader of the Suicide Squad.
Bishop
Bishop
Character
Phil Kramer
Real name
Bishop
Pawn / Knight
Pawn / Knight
Character
John Reed
Real name
Pawn / Knight
Position
Promoted to Knight in Checkmate! #6 (August 1988).
Knight
Knight
Character
Gary Washington
Real name
Knight
Checkmate! #4 (July 1988)
Checkmate! #4 (July 1988)
Character
Winston Churchill O'Donnell
Real name
Checkmate! #4 (July 1988)
Rook
Rook
Character
Kalia Campbell
Real name
Rook
Checkmate! #5 (August 1988)
Checkmate! #5 (August 1988)
Character
Jack Wyznowski
Real name
Checkmate! #5 (August 1988)
Knight
Knight
Character
Jake Tyler
Real name
Knight
Rook
Rook
Character
Abe Crane
Real name
Rook
Position
Checkmate! #9 (December 1988)
Knight
Knight
Character
Roger Dayton
Real name
Knight
Pawn
Pawn
Character
Rene Rockwell
Real name
Pawn
Position
Killed in Checkmate! #10 (Winter 1988).
Knight
Knight
Character
Connie Webb
Real name
Knight
Position
Checkmate! #12 (February 1989)
Bishop
Bishop
Character
Valentina Vostok
Real name
Bishop
Position
Checkmate! #15 (May 1989)
First appearance
Former member of the Doom Patrol.
Knight
Knight
Character
Ray Carson
Real name
Knight
Checkmate! #17 (June 1989)
Checkmate! #17 (June 1989)
Character
Jacques Reynard
Real name
Checkmate! #17 (June 1989)
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Character
Peacemaker
Real name
Christopher Smith
Position
Field agent
First appearance
Suicide Squad #30 (June 1989)
Notes
Project Peacemaker integrated into Checkmate following The Janus Directive.
Died in Eclipso #13 (November 1993).
N/A
N/A
Character
Dr. Bridgette D'Abo
Real name
N/A
Position
Psychologist
First appearance
Project Peacemaker integrated into Checkmate following The Janus Directive.
Knight
Knight
Character
Jerry Blake
Real name
Knight
Position
Checkmate! #19 (July 1989)
Checkmate! #21 (October 1989)
Checkmate! #21 (October 1989)
Character
Conrad Mackay
Real name
Checkmate! #21 (October 1989)
Elizabeth Thorne
Elizabeth Thorne
Character
Black Thorn
Real name
Elizabeth Thorne
Position
Field agent
First appearance
Between Checkmate! #26 (March 1990) and #28 (June 1990)
N/A
N/A
Character
Mark Nagoya
Real name
N/A
Position
Knight
First appearance
Checkmate! #30 (August 1990)
Floyd Lawton
Floyd Lawton
Character
Deadshot
Real name
Floyd Lawton
Position
Freelance
First appearance
?
Notes
Former member of the Suicide Squad.
Later member of the Secret Six.
Slade Wilson
Slade Wilson
Character
Deathstroke
Real name
Slade Wilson
Position
Later member of:
The Society
Titans East
Adrian Chase
Adrian Chase
Character
Vigilante
Real name
Adrian Chase
Position
Died in Vigilante #50 (February 1988).
Pat Trayce
Pat Trayce
Character
Vigilante
Real name
Pat Trayce
Mari McCabe
Mari McCabe
Character
Vixen
Real name
Mari McCabe
Position
Former member of the Suicide Squad.
Former and later member of the Justice League.
| Character | Real name | Position | First appearance | Notes |
| Harry Stein | N/A | King | Action Comics (March 1988) | |
| Harvey Bullock | Bishop | Also member of the GCPD. | ||
| Grace Guinness | Rook | |||
| Amanda Waller | Queen | Checkmate! (April 1988) | Concurrent leader of the Suicide Squad. | |
| Phil Kramer | Bishop | |||
| Scott Jameson | ||||
| John Reed | Pawn / Knight | Promoted to Knight in Checkmate! (August 1988). | ||
| Gary Washington | Knight | |||
| Winston Churchill O'Donnell | Checkmate! (July 1988) | |||
| Kalia Campbell | Rook | |||
| Mr. Wing | ||||
| Jack Wyznowski | Checkmate! (August 1988) | |||
| Jake Tyler | Knight | |||
| Abe Crane | Rook | Checkmate! (December 1988) | ||
| Roger Dayton | Knight | |||
| Rene Rockwell | Pawn | Killed in Checkmate! (Winter 1988). | ||
| Connie Webb | Knight | Checkmate! (February 1989) | ||
| Valentina Vostok | Bishop | Checkmate! (May 1989) | Former member of the Doom Patrol. | |
| Ray Carson | Knight | |||
| Jacques Reynard | Checkmate! (June 1989) | |||
| Peacemaker | Christopher Smith | Field agent | Suicide Squad (June 1989) | Project Peacemaker integrated into Checkmate following The Janus Directive. Died in Eclipso (November 1993). |
| Dr. Bridgette D'Abo | N/A | Psychologist | Project Peacemaker integrated into Checkmate following The Janus Directive. | |
| Jerry Blake | Knight | Checkmate! (July 1989) | ||
| Conrad Mackay | Checkmate! (October 1989) | |||
| Black Thorn | Elizabeth Thorne | Field agent | Between Checkmate! (March 1990) and (June 1990) | |
| Mark Nagoya | N/A | Knight | Checkmate! (August 1990) | |
| Deadshot | Floyd Lawton | Freelance | ? | Former member of the Suicide Squad. Later member of the Secret Six. |
| Deathstroke | Slade Wilson | Later member of: The Society Titans East | ||
| Vigilante | Adrian Chase | Died in Vigilante (February 1988). | ||
| Vigilante | Pat Trayce | |||
| Vixen | Mari McCabe | Former member of the Suicide Squad. Former and later member of the Justice League. |
· Roster between series
N/A
N/A
Character
Phil Kramer
Real name
N/A
Position
King
First appearance
Deathstroke, the Terminator #17 (December 1992)
Notes
Promoted from Bishop to King in Deathstroke, the Terminator #17.
Bishop / Queen
Bishop / Queen
Character
Kalia Campbell
Real name
Bishop / Queen
Position
Referenced as a Bishop in Who's Who in the DC Universe #7.
Promoted to Queen in Deathstroke, the Terminator #17.
Knight
Knight
Character
Gary Washington
Real name
Knight
Rook
Rook
Character
Jack Wyznowski
Real name
Rook
Position
Deathstroke, the Terminator #18 (January 1993)
Roy Harper
Roy Harper
Character
Arsenal
Real name
Roy Harper
Position
Knight
First appearance
Working with Cheshire in order to infiltrate the Brotherhood of Evil; betrays Cheshire later on.
Former member of the Teen Titans.
Later member of:
The Titans
The Outsiders
Justice League of America
N/A
N/A
Character
Winston Churchill O'Donnell
Real name
N/A
Position
Deathstroke, the Terminator #19 (February 1993)
King
King
Character
David Said
Real name
King
Position
Detective Comics #768 (May 2002)
Black Queen's Knight
Black Queen's Knight
Character
Jessica Midnight
Real name
Black Queen's Knight
Position
Detective Comics #773 (October 2002)
Black King's Knight
Black King's Knight
Character
Sasha Bordeaux
Real name
Black King's Knight
Helena Bertinelli
Helena Bertinelli
Character
Huntress
Real name
Helena Bertinelli
Position
Queen
First appearance
Gotham Knights #38 (April 2003)
Notes
Former member of the Justice League.
Later member of:
Birds of Prey
The Outsiders
N/A
N/A
Character
Maxwell Lord
Real name
N/A
Position
Black King
First appearance
DC Countdown #1 (May 2005)
Notes
Former financier of the Justice League.
Died in Wonder Woman vol. 2, #219 (September 2005).
Black Queen
Black Queen
Character
Patricia Grace-Colby
Real name
Black Queen
Position
The OMAC Project #2 (July 2005)
White King
White King
Character
Ahmed Samsarra
Real name
White King
White Queen
White Queen
Character
Oksana Verchenko
Real name
White Queen
| Character | Real name | Position | First appearance | Notes |
| Phil Kramer | N/A | King | Deathstroke, the Terminator (December 1992) | Promoted from Bishop to King in Deathstroke, the Terminator . |
| Kalia Campbell | Bishop / Queen | Referenced as a Bishop in Who's Who in the DC Universe . Promoted to Queen in Deathstroke, the Terminator . | ||
| Gary Washington | Knight | |||
| Jack Wyznowski | Rook | Deathstroke, the Terminator (January 1993) | ||
| Arsenal | Roy Harper | Knight | Working with Cheshire in order to infiltrate the Brotherhood of Evil; betrays Cheshire later on. Former member of the Teen Titans. Later member of: The Titans The Outsiders Justice League of America | |
| Winston Churchill O'Donnell | N/A | Deathstroke, the Terminator (February 1993) | ||
| David Said | King | Detective Comics (May 2002) | ||
| Jessica Midnight | Black Queen's Knight | Detective Comics (October 2002) | ||
| Sasha Bordeaux | Black King's Knight | |||
| Huntress | Helena Bertinelli | Queen | Gotham Knights (April 2003) | Former member of the Justice League. Later member of: Birds of Prey The Outsiders |
| Maxwell Lord | N/A | Black King | DC Countdown (May 2005) | Former financier of the Justice League. Died in Wonder Woman vol. 2, (September 2005). |
| Patricia Grace-Colby | Black Queen | The OMAC Project (July 2005) | ||
| Ahmed Samsarra | White King | |||
| Oksana Verchenko | White Queen |
· Roster during <i>Checkmate</i> vol. 2
N/A
N/A
Character
Taleb Beni Khalid
Real name
N/A
Position
Black King
First appearance
Checkmate vol. 2, #1 (June 2006)
Notes
Seconded from Israeli Defence Forces.
N/A
N/A
Character
Shen Li Po
Real name
N/A
Position
Black King's Bishop
First appearance
Leave of absence in issue #16 (September 2007).
Beatriz Bonilla da Costa
Beatriz Bonilla da Costa
Character
Fire
Real name
Beatriz Bonilla da Costa
Position
Black King's Knight
First appearance
Former member of:
Global Guardians
Justice League
N/A
N/A
Character
Sasha Bordeaux
Real name
N/A
Position
Black Queen
N/A
N/A
Character
Jessica Midnight
Real name
N/A
Position
Black Queen's Bishop
First appearance
British National.
Possess some degree of magicks that are kept hidden from the rest of Checkmate, excluding Fire.
N/A
N/A
Character
Jonah McCarthy
Real name
N/A
Position
Black Queen's Knight
First appearance
Died in issue #1 (June 2006).
Alan Scott
Alan Scott
Character
Green Lantern
Real name
Alan Scott
Position
White King
First appearance
Concurrent member of the Justice Society of America; forced to resign by UN Security Council in issue #4 (September 2006).
Michael Holt
Michael Holt
Character
Mister Terrific
Real name
Michael Holt
Position
White King's Bishop / White King
First appearance
Concurrent member of the Justice Society of America.
N/A
N/A
Character
Thomas Jagger
Real name
N/A
Position
White King's Knight
N/A
N/A
Character
Amanda Waller
Real name
N/A
Position
White Queen
First appearance
Resigned from Checkmate in issue #20 (November 2007).
N/A
N/A
Character
King Faraday
Real name
N/A
Position
White Queen's Bishop
First appearance
Resigned from Checkmate in issue #20 (November 2007).
Werner Vertigo
Werner Vertigo
Character
Count Vertigo
Real name
Werner Vertigo
Position
White Queen's Knight
First appearance
Current member of the Suicide Squad.
Resigned from Checkmate in issue #20 (November 2007).
Josephine Tautin
Josephine Tautin
Character
Mademoiselle Marie
Real name
Josephine Tautin
Position
Black Queen's Knight
First appearance
Checkmate vol. 2, #5 (October 2006)
Notes
Former member of the DGSE.
Lucas Terrel
Lucas Terrel
Character
Pawn 502
Real name
Lucas Terrel
Position
Pawn
First appearance
Checkmate vol. 2, #8 (January 2007)
Notes
Infiltrated Kobra organization.
Died shortly after being lifted when cover was blown in issue #23 (February 2008).
N/A
N/A
Character
Thinker
Real name
N/A
Position
White King's Bishop
First appearance
Checkmate vol. 2, #9 (February 2007)
Fang Zhifu
Fang Zhifu
Character
August General in Iron
Real name
Fang Zhifu
Position
Black King's Bishop
First appearance
Checkmate vol. 2, #16 (September 2007)
Notes
Seconded from the Great Ten.
Carl Draper
Carl Draper
Character
Master Jailer
Real name
Carl Draper
Position
Castellan
First appearance
Checkmate vol. 2, #17 (October 2007)
N/A
N/A
Character
Valentina Vostok
Real name
N/A
Position
White Queen
First appearance
Checkmate vol. 2, #21 (December 2007)
Notes
Apparently KIA in Final Crisis #4 attempting to retake Blüdhaven from Darkseid's forces.
Zviad Baazovi
Zviad Baazovi
Character
Bad Samaritan
Real name
Zviad Baazovi
Position
White Queen's Bishop
First appearance
Checkmate vol. 2 #22 (March 2008)
Notes
A Georgian National.
Maks Chazov
Maks Chazov
Character
Rocket Red #1
Real name
Maks Chazov
Position
White Queen's Knight
First appearance
Member of the Rocket Red Brigade.
CWO2 Tyson Sykes
CWO2 Tyson Sykes
Character
Gravedigger
Real name
CWO2 Tyson Sykes
Position
Rook
First appearance
Checkmate vol. 2, #24 (May 2008)
Notes
Designation: Rook Alpha.
N/A
N/A
Character
Cinnamon
Real name
N/A
Position
Designation: Rook Beta.
Sebastian Faust
Sebastian Faust
Character
Faust
Real name
Sebastian Faust
Position
Checkmate's mystic consultant.
Designation: Rook Gamma.
J.A.K.E. #6.1
J.A.K.E. #6.1
Character
G.I. Robot
Real name
J.A.K.E. #6.1
Position
Designation: Rook Delta.
Lucas Carr
Lucas Carr
Character
Snapper Carr
Real name
Lucas Carr
Position
Pawn
First appearance
52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #3 (December 2007)
Bell
Bell
Character
Pawn 905
Real name
Bell
Position
Pawn
First appearance
Faces of Evil: Kobra #1 (March 2009)
Notes
Revealed to be Kobra who infiltrated Checkmate with Pawn 905's identity.
N/A
N/A
Character
Agent Samura
Real name
N/A
Position
Pawn
First appearance
JSA vs. Kobra #1 (August 2009)
Notes
Killed by undercover Kobra agents who infiltrated Checkmate.
N/A
N/A
Character
Samuel Lacina
Real name
N/A
Position
Pawn
First appearance
JSA vs. Kobra #3 (October 2009)
Notes
Killed by Kobra agents and stored in a janitor's closet in the JSA Brownstone.
| Character | Real name | Position | First appearance | Notes |
| Taleb Beni Khalid | N/A | Black King | Checkmate vol. 2, (June 2006) | Seconded from Israeli Defence Forces. |
| Shen Li Po | N/A | Black King's Bishop | Leave of absence in issue (September 2007). | |
| Fire | Beatriz Bonilla da Costa | Black King's Knight | Former member of: Global Guardians Justice League | |
| Sasha Bordeaux | N/A | Black Queen | ||
| Jessica Midnight | N/A | Black Queen's Bishop | British National. Possess some degree of magicks that are kept hidden from the rest of Checkmate, excluding Fire. | |
| Jonah McCarthy | N/A | Black Queen's Knight | Died in issue (June 2006). | |
| Green Lantern | Alan Scott | White King | Concurrent member of the Justice Society of America; forced to resign by UN Security Council in issue (September 2006). | |
| Mister Terrific | Michael Holt | White King's Bishop / White King | Concurrent member of the Justice Society of America. | |
| Thomas Jagger | N/A | White King's Knight | ||
| Amanda Waller | N/A | White Queen | Resigned from Checkmate in issue (November 2007). | |
| King Faraday | N/A | White Queen's Bishop | Resigned from Checkmate in issue (November 2007). | |
| Count Vertigo | Werner Vertigo | White Queen's Knight | Current member of the Suicide Squad. Resigned from Checkmate in issue (November 2007). | |
| Mademoiselle Marie | Josephine Tautin | Black Queen's Knight | Checkmate vol. 2, (October 2006) | Former member of the DGSE. |
| Pawn 502 | Lucas Terrel | Pawn | Checkmate vol. 2, (January 2007) | Infiltrated Kobra organization. Died shortly after being lifted when cover was blown in issue (February 2008). |
| Thinker | N/A | White King's Bishop | Checkmate vol. 2, (February 2007) | |
| August General in Iron | Fang Zhifu | Black King's Bishop | Checkmate vol. 2, (September 2007) | Seconded from the Great Ten. |
| Master Jailer | Carl Draper | Castellan | Checkmate vol. 2, (October 2007) | |
| Valentina Vostok | N/A | White Queen | Checkmate vol. 2, (December 2007) | Apparently KIA in Final Crisis attempting to retake Blüdhaven from Darkseid's forces. |
| Bad Samaritan | Zviad Baazovi | White Queen's Bishop | Checkmate vol. 2 (March 2008) | A Georgian National. |
| Rocket Red | Maks Chazov | White Queen's Knight | Member of the Rocket Red Brigade. | |
| Gravedigger | CWO2 Tyson Sykes | Rook | Checkmate vol. 2, (May 2008) | Designation: Rook Alpha. |
| Cinnamon | N/A | Designation: Rook Beta. | ||
| Faust | Sebastian Faust | Checkmate's mystic consultant. Designation: Rook Gamma. | ||
| Robot | J.A.K.E. | Designation: Rook Delta. | ||
| Snapper Carr | Lucas Carr | Pawn | 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen (December 2007) | |
| Pawn 905 | Bell | Pawn | Faces of Evil: Kobra (March 2009) | Revealed to be Kobra who infiltrated Checkmate with Pawn 905's identity. |
| Agent Samura | N/A | Pawn | JSA vs. Kobra (August 2009) | Killed by undercover Kobra agents who infiltrated Checkmate. |
| Samuel Lacina | N/A | Pawn | JSA vs. Kobra (October 2009) | Killed by Kobra agents and stored in a janitor's closet in the JSA Brownstone. |
· Roster during <i>Checkmate</i> vol. 3
Oliver Queen
Oliver Queen
Character
Green Arrow
Real name
Oliver Queen
N/A
N/A
Character
Talia al Ghul
Real name
N/A
N/A
N/A
Character
Lois Lane
Real name
N/A
Kate Spencer
Kate Spencer
Character
Manhunter
Real name
Kate Spencer
Robert Todd
Robert Todd
Character
Mister Bones
Real name
Robert Todd
Vic Sage
Vic Sage
Character
Question
Real name
Vic Sage
N/A
N/A
Character
Steve Trevor
Real name
N/A
| Character | Real name | Position | First appearance | Notes |
| Green Arrow | Oliver Queen | |||
| Talia al Ghul | N/A | |||
| Lois Lane | N/A | |||
| Manhunter | Kate Spencer | |||
| Mister Bones | Robert Todd | |||
| Question | Vic Sage | |||
| Steve Trevor | N/A |
Checkmate members from the DC Universe · In other media › DC Universe
Chris Smith
Chris Smith
Character
Peacemaker
Real name
Chris Smith
Actor
John Cena
First appearance
Peacemaker 2x8 "Full Nelson"
Danielle Brooks
Danielle Brooks
Character
Leota Adebayo
Real name
Danielle Brooks
Adrian Chase
Adrian Chase
Character
Vigilante
Real name
Adrian Chase
Actor
Freddie Stroma
Jennifer Holland
Jennifer Holland
Character
Emilia Harcourt
Real name
Jennifer Holland
Steve Agee
Steve Agee
Character
John Economos
Real name
Steve Agee
Sol Rodríguez
Sol Rodríguez
Character
Sasha Bordeaux
Real name
Sol Rodríguez
Tim Meadows
Tim Meadows
Character
Langston Fleury
Real name
Tim Meadows
Rip Jagger
Rip Jagger
Character
Judomaster
Real name
Rip Jagger
Actor
Nhut Le
Dee Bradley Baker
Dee Bradley Baker
Character
Eagly
Real name
Dee Bradley Baker
| Character | Real name | Actor | First appearance | Notes |
| Peacemaker | Chris Smith | John Cena | Peacemaker 2x8 "Full Nelson" | |
| Leota Adebayo | Danielle Brooks | |||
| Vigilante | Adrian Chase | Freddie Stroma | ||
| Emilia Harcourt | Jennifer Holland | |||
| John Economos | Steve Agee | |||
| Sasha Bordeaux | Sol Rodríguez | |||
| Langston Fleury | Tim Meadows | |||
| Judomaster | Rip Jagger | Nhut Le | ||
| Eagly | Dee Bradley Baker | |||