Queen & Country: Declassified Vol. 3 Launches in May

Oni press is pleased to announce the May release of an all new QUEEN & COUNTRY DECLASSIFIED series. This will be the third Q&C DECLASSIFIED series, but the first penned by writing sensation, Antony Johnston (THE LONG HAUL, JULIUS, THREE DAYS IN EUROPE) and drawn by Christopher Mitten (THE TOMB, LAST EXIT BEFORE TOLL) under the watchful eye of series creator Greg Rucka as editorial advisor.

QUEEN & COUNTRY is unique in the comics field for being a heavily researched accurate depiction of espionage, intrigue, and the missions of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also commonly known as MI6. The first volume of this popular spin-off focused on the early career of Paul Crocker and his work as a field agent. The in-progress second volume shed the spotlight on Agent Tom Wallace and his introduction to the SIS from the Royal Marine Commandos. It follows his initial training and first assignment as a "minder."

QUEEN & COUNTRY: DECLASSIFIED, VOLUME 3 shifts focus away from the Intelligence Services and instead looks at a younger Nick Poole and his experience as an elite soldier in the British Special Air Service (SAS). Set in Northern Ireland, this arc examines the effects of two generations of conflict in that troubled region. Against a backdrop of explosions, abductions, and assassination attempts, QUEEN & COUNTRY: DECLASSIFIED, VOLUME 3 recounts how the sins of the fathers have lasting effects on their sons and daughters.

"There are two main components to Great Britain’s ability to project force. The one we have covered most is the used of the intelligence services to gather information and act upon that information covertly,” Greg Rucka explains. "The second key component is the use of military assets to project that force. The SAS is in many ways the slightly more conventional opposite side of the coin to the SIS and the Minders. As we have seen with our past roster, the Minders recruit heavily from the SAS.”

"Greg's work was one of my main inspirations to write comics, and I've been a huge fan of QUEEN & COUNTRY from the very start. So when Greg asked me to write this series, I couldn't say no," says writer Antony Johnston. "And I'm very excited about working with Christopher Mitten. I've watched his growth as an artist over the last couple of years, from the restraint of LAST EXIT BEFORE TOLL to the action-adventure of THE TOMB, and he's quickly become a favourite of mine. His work on QUEEN & COUNTRY DECLASSIFIED is amazing, and I hope we can collaborate a lot more in the future."

"In Q&C, Greg Rucka has crafted a fully realized world of interesting characters and dangerous situations," commented series editor Randal C. Jarrell. "It is interesting to see another writer's take on that world. While Q&C will always be Rucka's baby, it's nice to give the old man a break and we think fans will agree there's nobody better than Antony Johnston to take on the SAS while Greg's out."

QUEEN & COUNTRY: DECLASSIFIED, VOL. 3, #1 will feature 24 pages of black-and-white story and art, with a full color cover. With a cover price of $2.99, it will ship to comic book stores in MAY 2005. Future issues will ship on a monthly basis.