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Comments
Yup. Better than #1 for sure. Ending is a little bit jarring. I like that there's an improvement from #1 and there's some potential here even if it is all a bit ham fisted so far.
I read it and regret doing so. It's a very dull story lacking in espionage and the codes and conventions of a Bond story. While I appreciate that they are trying something different, it's strange in that Bond is a side character, similar to his role in the Oddjob series.
With the exception of Origin Dynamite have really dropped the ball.
I've read the second issue as well and found it a little better than the first but still a very poor Bond story. I've lost all interest in the plot line already! Thinking about dropping this one especially given how long Oddjob went on I could not take another 10 issues of this.
Although looking at the sales figures of 7,188 for the first issue I'd be surprised if it lasted beyond 6 issues.
I've got LALD but i think it will take me a while to get to it as I've a few other books to read first.
As for issue #2 of the hilariously named "James Bond"... i pretty much said my piece on the last page about this series, and i see no reason to change my opinion. It feels like someone was trying to write a story outline based on the NTTD Trailer, mainly the interaction between Nomi and Bond, and stretched it out to a whole series without any context.
The new characters are annoying as hell, Bond is not the lead character, and since this has been established for 2/6 or the story now, it will not miraculously change.
I am not even really interested in Reflections of Death because it features the same writers, but we'll see.
As long as Diggle isn't coming back to finish what he started, or Moustafa, Percy, Parker or Robinson, i will be very cautious about new output from Dynamite.
Although I appreciated Casino Royale, this adaptation is more on par with what I wanted from these graphic novels. Here's hoping the artists return for subsequent entries - particularly Diamonds are Forever for the gangster violence, and Doctor No for the villain design and designs of Quarrel and Strangways!!
I hope a lot of Bond fans finds their way to LALD and buy it. It's definately worth every penny! If it sells well, the chances are bigger they'll continue on with Moonraker as well [-O<
If Dynamite does Moonraker, expect many delays. Every graphic novel of theirs does, Fleming or original.
I've read most Bond graphic novels from dynamite so far. I liked them but didn't love them for different reasons. While most of them are a bit too violent and too packed with head shots etc, the problem of Casino Royale was that it was too similar to the novel. I understand that this is the reason why some of you love it even more, but why shouldn't I just read the novel when the text is identical anyway?
The other issue is that I didn't like the violet/pink colour of the CR images and even Vesper was drawn sometimes very unattractive.
To sum up: I'm not sure yet if I will buy LALD...
The artwork. That's why I bought it. Buying the comic is just another way of consuming a story you love. Like why people buy different editions of books when the text is the same.
I know nothing about comic art, but there's an obvious difference between the CR and LALD adaptations. CR is more 'shadowy' and darker in the colours and more abstract in the illustrations. The panelling is quite rectangular and regular.
LALD is much much more colourful, panels are varied and dynamic (circular panels, action moments are given special framing) and character art is more detailed and colourful. The cover for the book is enough reason to get it, and I was surprised they were both drawn by Fay Dalton (of Folio Society book fame)
No, non, and no : censor is not a good thing!
I too am principally opposed to censorship but the word is like TNT these days and we don't want explosive situations.
It’s a tough call with this one. I’m glad they left it in the Folio Society LALD and the penguin collection I have at home, but I’m ok with them changing it for the graphic novel. These publications are a way to bring in new fans of literary Fleming and it’d be understandable if this level of 50’s racist language would turn people away. Let the collectors and long time fans have their untouched editions, and let the graphic novels be for a wider range of fans.
"We want you all to get hyped, because we noticed that the series is crashing and burning in reviews and must be in sales as well, so Dynamite asked us to do some damage control with a social Media post."
That being said i actually like the idea of bringing in Mr. Big. It's in continuity with the latest Goldfinger series, and since the newest release was LALD and Mr. Big was a great villain in that, i can see potential there... BUT this series has been a dumpster fire from the start and I am not getting more excited with or without Mr. Big, and I don't really trust these writers to do it justice. Time will tell.
I'm on my last two chapters of LALD and will post my thoughts here shortly on that.
Looks like Reflections of Death has a new release date.
Amazon has it on April 14. Just after NTTD opens.
In short, this book is amazing. 5 out of 5 stars.
I should probably start off by saying that LALD is my favorite Fleming novel (i'm re-reading the Books for the first time in 10 years and have finished the first 5 so far)
While CR is the origin of Bond, the character, LALD is the birth of the Bond formula, especially the cinematic one. You have Bond traveling from luxurious places to dangerous ones and an exotic Finale on his first trip to Jamaica. In the middle you get an existential monologue about life and death when Bond sits in the plane. It's one of my favorite moments in the series, and really defining for the character.
To me the book was always very immersive, helped by the fact that i've been to some of these places. I had a copy of LALD with me when I went to NY and the King cole bar. And I am amazed that this comic book not only captured all of that beautifully but managed to add some layers of it's own as well.
In concept i never cared for the Fleming adaptions, because if you read the Books what's the point really? CR was ok but not groundbreaking for me. But that changed with LALD, as i can see now how a visual adaption (done right!) can add a lot to a story. The locations shine through, you feel like you are in those places, New York, Harlem, the train, Florida, the warehouse and especially Jamaica. Mr. Big is also such a great presence, really brought to life by the visuals throughout this book, and I can see now why it would be interesting (in theory) to have him back in future story's.
It's very text heavy, as others have pointed out, but this helps with the immersion. No detail is seemingly left out and you feel like you've read through the whole novel by the end, and every scene is greatly added upon by the right visuals. The images effortlessly capture both the romantic and beautiful scenes and scenery as well as the most gruesome and dark moments, of which there are plenty.
I really don't have anything bad to say about this book at all. A couple people complained about a certain chapter-title change, but i am glad to say that the language throughout the book has not been watered down. You will not mistake this as a book placed in modern times. It is firmly placed in the 50's in terms of language. Personally i'm ok with the title change as this is a comic book adaption and it's pretty much the only artistic license that Van Jensen has taken to change the source material. It simply might have been a bit 'too much' by modern standards.
I applaud Van Jensen and Baal for really capturing the essence of LALD. This might be my favorite Dynamite release yet and for the first time i'm actually looking forward to the next Fleming adaption.
That's it for my review, now i also want to address the big Elephant in the room once more. After finishing LALD it is even more aparent to me how shizophrenic Dynamite lately seems to be with their Bond output.
On the one hand they release amazing and intact adaptions of Fleming, and even Origins was a great take on Bond's younger years. But with their modern titles they drift off more and more into blatant PC and representation BS, and are not even trying to be subtle about it... Constantly shifting the focus away from Bond. What the hell is going on? If that's the course they want to take from here on, then i will have to hold out for the Fleming adaptions and stop caring for their original stuff, as sad as it is because i think they had a great run with some of their titles.
Thanks, i think you should give it a try. For me, the CR adaption didn't leave much of an impression when i first read it, it did not really improve on the Book itself. I think i will re-read it soon though.
But LALD went much deeper in my opinion, as if reading the novel for the first time and discovering tons of details.
Just saw this in my Twitter Feed. Is he involved with Reflections of Death? Can't place his name.
Edit: I checked, he does not seem to be attached to Reflections of Death. So this could either be a new series or the MR adaption.