Warning: The following article contains spoilers from Checkmate #4, on sale now from DC Comics.
The heroes of the DC Universe were shaken to their core when Mark Shaw -- who formerly held the superhero mantle of Manhunter -- seemingly broke bad and created the villainous persona of Leviathan. Fed up with the clandestine corner of the DCU, Shaw set out to reshape the world in his image, creating a remote island headquarters as he kicked off his grand plan by systematically began dismantling the intelligence agencies and covert organizations of the DCU. And as Leviathan plots the next stage of his plan, he has already recruited several notable supervillains and antiheroes to his cause, with his latest recruit being a longtime Metropolis superhero, the Guardian.
As a new Checkmate is formed from the fires of the crossover event Leviathan Dawn and Shaw's initial rampage, Leviathan has quietly begun expanding his own plans by targeting old Justice League facilities. After a showdown with Green Arrow, his old villain Merlyn manages to infiltrate the Watchtower, the Justice League's classic orbital headquarters which has since been abandoned after the team moved into its current headquarters at the Hall of Justice. Accompanying Merlyn is Guardian as they teleport inside the disused satellite base for an unknown asset to bring back to Leviathan Island. And in Checkmate #4 -- by Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev, Dave Stewart and Josh Reed -- Guardian's role in Leviathan is exposed to the heroes as he and Merlyn quickly discover the Watchtower isn't quite as abandoned as they initially believed.
As Merlyn and Guardian investigate the Watchtower, Guardian hints that he joined up with Leviathan because he was ignored by the rest of the superhero community despite his years of service. For Merlyn, being in the Watchtower reminds him how pious and self-righteous he perceives the heroes to be, constantly looking down at the common people to espouse to protect and serve. This unauthorized tour is interrupted by the sudden appearance of Green Arrow and the current Manhunter Kate Spencer, leading to a all out brawl between the quartet of costumed figures. And while Kate and Oliver Queen drive their two opponents into a retreat, this victory eventually proves to be short-lived.
It is unclear which version of Guardian has joined up with Leviathan, but the two main candidates could be the clone of Jim Harper or the Manhattan Guardian, Jake Jordan. Harper was cloned from the original Golden Age superhero, briefly serving on the Justice League before deciding to retire after the cataclysmic 2010 crossover event War of the Supermen. The Manhattan Guardian was introduced as a member of the Seven Soldiers of Victory who fought valiantly during crossover events like Infinite Crisis and 52's climactic World War III. Given Guardian remembers facing the end of the world, this makes his identity as Jake Jordan the more likely of the two.
Green Arrow and Manhunter may have won the battle against the two Leviathan goons but they appear to be losing the war. Guardian is seen leading a full-on attack on the new Checkmate's headquarters, with several of the heroes barely escaping with their lives. And with this brazen attack, Guardian has unmistakably crossed the line from hero to villain, now siding with the Leviathan to take up arms against the superhero community he feels cruelly discarded him as the DCU shadow wars continue to escalate.