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Dynamite's Bond comics and graphic novels

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  • CharmianBondCharmianBond Pett Bottom, Kent
    Posts: 557
    Thanks for the write up @ImpertinentGoon. I haven't got mine yet (probably because of the postal strike) so I'm glad there's a little refresher. And as @MI6HQ has handily demonstrated as I was typing there's definitely a 6th issue, but there does seem to be a lot of story crammed in so I do wonder whether it's all going to get wrapped up satisfactorily.
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited December 2022 Posts: 3,789
    Still prefer those previous artworks by Dynamite, VARGR, the Black Box, the Hammerhead, the Kill Chain, I prefer those, they've got the Bond image right.

    These recent ones, I'm not a fan of, maybe the artworks for Agent of SPECTRE, it's quite decent, kinda liked it too.

    Good artworks, appreciated it, but not a fan with how Bond looked like in these recent covers.
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    That's good to see. From the plot description of #5 it could be a corker, but I was seriously worried they could only do that for 10 pages and then had to do another 10 to tie everything off.
  • CharmianBondCharmianBond Pett Bottom, Kent
    Posts: 557
    Got my copy of #4. I also enjoy it, weaving in the exposition into what is glorified set piece was really well done. I loved the look of this issue, it's unintentional similar in style and in actual content to the newest series of Slow Horses, we even start at MI5. I found the opening not unpleasant but a bit jarring only because it doesn't feel Bondian but nonetheless it was a good instalment.

    Also I keep getting given the Edwards' covers and I really like their art style, I just wish Bond's likenesses was better. It looks nothing like any version of Bond. I know this is pot calling the kettle black but even just giving his hair more of a widow's peak would help massively.
  • BeatlesSansEarmuffsBeatlesSansEarmuffs
    Posts: 3,566
    I too chose the Edwards cover for #4 -- but I AM glad Dynamite runs a Cover Gallery in each issue so that whatever one you choose, you get a small glimpse of what the others look like. I do wish other publishers who insist on offering multiple covers for their various titles would do the same favor for their readerships. Especially when they're offering a dozen or so versions of the same issue with different covers -- do they really believe many people are going to be purchasing multiple copies of each of their collectors-item offerings? Not with so many other publications on the stands! Those of us who aren't independently wealthy gave up that particular wild goose chase long ago (or never even started it in the first place!)

    I'm also glad to know that this storyline will be running a full six issues -- five issues & out wasn't really quite enough on the past few arcs to my way of thinking! I'm hoping that Gwendolyn Gann will be revealed to be still among the living by this story's end -- she's too interesting a character to have been created solely to be shuffled off without us ever really getting a chance to know her! But we shall see...
  • moneyofpropre2moneyofpropre2 France
    edited December 2022 Posts: 859
    Moonraker, where are you ? Why do you hide... ?
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,553
    moneyofpropre2 wrote: »
    Moonraker, where are you ? Why do you hide... ?

    Ugh, I know… would be such a shame if we only got the two.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,638
    NickTwentyTwo wrote: »
    moneyofpropre2 wrote: »
    Moonraker, where are you ? Why do you hide... ?

    Ugh, I know… would be such a shame if we only got the two.

    Moonraker from Dynamite would be a great 70th anniversary celebration. Also, Felix Leiter volume 2.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,553
    The only one I'm looking forward to getting is Agent of Spectre.
  • BeatlesSansEarmuffsBeatlesSansEarmuffs
    Posts: 3,566
    So I've taken a couple of days to get 'round to it...but I just picked up (and read!) 007 #5. So far as I'm concerned, this is the best Bond comics story in a long time. Phillip Kennedy Johnson is doing a great job here as writer...and while I'd still prefer a smoother, more detailed look for the inking, it's sufficient for me that Marco Finnegan's layout and pencils get the story across clearly. There's one more issue coming, and it looks like the pacing of this storyline will be reaching the finish without the sort of annoying "speed it up now, we've only got one more issue to go" effect that too many others have had to utilize. The writing is the best part of this arc to me; while Kennedy has embraced a plot that too many Bond movies AND comics have used in modern times -- the "Bond goes rogue, how can he possibly come back to MI-6 after this???" storyline -- he sets up AND finishes up this aspect of his overall story in one, convincing issue. I look forward to the concluding chapter and urge those still following Dynamite's Bond series to pick it up, in collected or issue-by-issue form, whatever shakes not stirs your personal martini.
  • coco1997coco1997
    Posts: 128
    BeatlesSansEarmuffs wrote: »
    So I've taken a couple of days to get 'round to it...but I just picked up (and read!) 007 #5. So far as I'm concerned, this is the best Bond comics story in a long time. Phillip Kennedy Johnson is doing a great job here as writer...and while I'd still prefer a smoother, more detailed look for the inking, it's sufficient for me that Marco Finnegan's layout and pencils get the story across clearly. There's one more issue coming, and it looks like the pacing of this storyline will be reaching the finish without the sort of annoying "speed it up now, we've only got one more issue to go" effect that too many others have had to utilize. The writing is the best part of this arc to me; while Kennedy has embraced a plot that too many Bond movies AND comics have used in modern times -- the "Bond goes rogue, how can he possibly come back to MI-6 after this???" storyline -- he sets up AND finishes up this aspect of his overall story in one, convincing issue. I look forward to the concluding chapter and urge those still following Dynamite's Bond series to pick it up, in collected or issue-by-issue form, whatever shakes not stirs your personal martini.

    Very encouraging to hear this, @BeatlesSansEarmuffs . After being a bit let down by the previous few Dynamite Bond titles, I decided to hold off and wait for the hardcover collection for this one. Sounds like it will be worth the wait.

    Speaking of, I know the final issue isn't even out yet, but does anyone know when the hardcover might be released?
  • ByRoyalDecreeByRoyalDecree
    Posts: 784
    I tried to read the first hardcover collections but found that the stories were a bit too adventure focused. Is this true for all issues or is there any variety?
  • BeatlesSansEarmuffsBeatlesSansEarmuffs
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,566
    ByRoyalDecree wrote: »
    I tried to read the first hardcover collections but found that the stories were a bit too adventure focused. Is this true for all issues or is there any variety?

    Sure, there's some variety -- "The Body" -- was unlike any Bond story ever done anywhere, by anybody, and Bond fandom generally seemed to thoroughly dislike it. What exactly are you looking for? Check the synopses that are posted for each title & see what catches your interest. Or just get the Fleming novel adaptations ("Casino Royale" and "Live & Let Die" have been released so far) -- you can't hardly go wrong on Bond with an Ian Fleming storyline!
    coco1997 wrote: »
    BeatlesSansEarmuffs wrote: »
    So I've taken a couple of days to get 'round to it...but I just picked up (and read!) 007 #5. So far as I'm concerned, this is the best Bond comics story in a long time. Phillip Kennedy Johnson is doing a great job here as writer...and while I'd still prefer a smoother, more detailed look for the inking, it's sufficient for me that Marco Finnegan's layout and pencils get the story across clearly. There's one more issue coming, and it looks like the pacing of this storyline will be reaching the finish without the sort of annoying "speed it up now, we've only got one more issue to go" effect that too many others have had to utilize. The writing is the best part of this arc to me; while Kennedy has embraced a plot that too many Bond movies AND comics have used in modern times -- the "Bond goes rogue, how can he possibly come back to MI-6 after this???" storyline -- he sets up AND finishes up this aspect of his overall story in one, convincing issue. I look forward to the concluding chapter and urge those still following Dynamite's Bond series to pick it up, in collected or issue-by-issue form, whatever shakes not stirs your personal martini.

    Very encouraging to hear this, @BeatlesSansEarmuffs . After being a bit let down by the previous few Dynamite Bond titles, I decided to hold off and wait for the hardcover collection for this one. Sounds like it will be worth the wait.

    Speaking of, I know the final issue isn't even out yet, but does anyone know when the hardcover might be released?

    I don't think they've announced the date for the hardcover collection yet. If I'm wrong, I'm sure somebody will be happy to correct me! Personally, I buy the floppy comics as each issue is released for one important reason: GN collections tend not to increase in "value" while the individual issues do. I've brought in five figures worth of $$,$$$ *income* over the past five years by selling old comics from my personal collection when I really needed the money! Of course, I was buying Marvel Comics off the stands at cover price back in the '60s, then salting them away for a rainy day...which came to pass for me as of about 2017. I bought the TPB collections of that material as I was cashing in on my "investments" as a teenager, and while I do occasionally wish I could reference the lettercolumns, etc., that aren't included in those reprints, the bottom line for me is: new comics can be both an entertainment expense and an investment of sorts. Reprinted collections, as a general rule, don't appreciate in "value."
    NickTwentyTwo wrote: »
    moneyofpropre2 wrote: »
    Moonraker, where are you ? Why do you hide... ?

    Ugh, I know… would be such a shame if we only got the two.

    I have absolutely NO inside information on this topic, but if I may hazard a guess: I suspect the Fleming adaptations haven't sold as well as Dynamite was expecting... otherwise, MR and DAF would have already been produced and released.
  • coco1997coco1997
    Posts: 128
    ByRoyalDecree wrote: »
    I tried to read the first hardcover collections but found that the stories were a bit too adventure focused. Is this true for all issues or is there any variety?

    Yes, as @BeatlesSansEarmuffs pointed out, it probably depends on the type of Bond you prefer. For example, my favorites so far have been HAMMERHEAD, BLACK BOX and KILL CHAIN because they were the most cinematic 007, and that's what I enjoy most. On the other hand, I wasn't a huge fan of EIDOLON or VARGR because they weren't cinematic enough. I also found AGENT OF SPECTRE, despite having a really compelling premise, far too rushed and thin on plot.
  • Max_The_ParrotMax_The_Parrot ATAC to St Cyril’s
    Posts: 2,426
    Anyone know what's happening with the Spectre hardback release? I've had it on pre-order for what seems like a year now and still no release date showing for me.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,553
    Max_The_Parrot wrote: »
    Anyone know what's happening with the Spectre hardback release? I've had it on pre-order for what seems like a year now and still no release date showing for me.

    Hopefully soon, looking forward to reading it.
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    Upon first read-through I can't say that I totally get everything that is going on in #5, but it's very propulsive and all falls in the right lanes. It's a very interwoven story, which I like in general. I suspect it will read very well in collected form or in re-reads. I don't want to get too spoilery, but this is exactly why I hoped this would be 6 issues. One to clean up the driving plot strand and another to finish off the evils. Let's see what they have in store for #6.

    Little sidenote: I feel like the author really manages to make MI6 a living place. Would love for him to get a bit more to do in the franchise.
  • BeatlesSansEarmuffsBeatlesSansEarmuffs
    Posts: 3,566
    ImpertinentGoon wrote: »
    Little sidenote: I feel like the author really manages to make MI6 a living place. Would love for him to get a bit more to do in the franchise.

    Seconded. However, Phillip Kennedy Johnson is very much in demand right now... he's doing Superman over in Action Comics, beginning a new story cycle after finishing up "Warworld"... so he may not really have much time to devote to 007. We'll see...
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    Posts: 3,789
  • CharmianBondCharmianBond Pett Bottom, Kent
    Posts: 557
    I loved this issue. Something I really value about the comics is that they allow Bond to touch base with M and Moneypenny mid-story which gives it that sense that MI6 is a living, breathing place.
    It took me a re-read to get the £ being code for Moneypenny, I thought that was a neat little detail, and the whole 'underground meeting'. I loved how Moneypenny was drawn and I enjoy seeing the minutiae of London depicted. Without checking, this feels the most London-centric of the comics and the Slow Horses fan in me doesn't mind that one bit, I think it's a nice change of pace.

    I'm looking forward to seeing how it all resolves in the final issue but it's easily shaping up to be one of my favourites runs.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    edited January 2023 Posts: 4,638
    https://bleedingcool.com/comics/phillip-kennedy-johnson-writes-new-james-bond-for-70th-anniversary/

    New Bond storyline: It is called 007: For King and Country. April 2023. Fingers crossed for Moonraker graphic novel this year!
  • CharmianBondCharmianBond Pett Bottom, Kent
    Posts: 557
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    https://bleedingcool.com/comics/phillip-kennedy-johnson-writes-new-james-bond-for-70th-anniversary/

    New Bond storyline: It is called 007: For King and Country. April 2023. Fingers crossed for Moonraker graphic novel this year!

    This is amazing news, and the art on the first and the last covers have my whole heart 😍
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    edited January 2023 Posts: 1,351
    That story teaser seems like a massive spoiler for the last issue of the current run :-O

    However, Kennedy Johnson returning and them finally doing something for more than 5 issues before a complete reset is indeed fantastic news.
    Not sure about the artist, though. Has anyone read anything by him? Scrolling through his twitter, the style seems very basic and cartoony.

    Edit: I didn't see it in this article, but the press release by Dynamite states April 2023 as the release for #1. So quite soon!
  • BeatlesSansEarmuffsBeatlesSansEarmuffs
    Posts: 3,566
    ImpertinentGoon wrote: »
    That story teaser seems like a massive spoiler for the last issue of the current run :-O

    Yes, but....

    First of all, the teaser does say that 003 is still "presumed dead"... also, my earlier reviews of this storyline did mention that it was a shame that a cool character like Gwen G. was dead and sort of suggested that she might turn out to be alive after all. So we shall see what we shall see... but hey, at least Phillip Kennedy Johnson is signed up for another 007 story arc!
  • CharmianBondCharmianBond Pett Bottom, Kent
    Posts: 557
    I hope we get to see more of her not in flashback but it is a tiny bit interesting that we've got two 003s: Gann and Harwood who have a few things in common running concurrently, albeit in separate 'universes'. Makes me wonder what IFP's rationale for that was 🤔
  • SIS_HQSIS_HQ At the Vauxhall Headquarters
    edited January 2023 Posts: 3,789
    MaxCasino wrote: »
    https://bleedingcool.com/comics/phillip-kennedy-johnson-writes-new-james-bond-for-70th-anniversary/

    New Bond storyline: It is called 007: For King and Country. April 2023. Fingers crossed for Moonraker graphic novel this year!
    CharmianBond wrote: »
    This is amazing news, and the art on the first and the last covers have my whole heart 😍

    My favorites are the first cover and the third cover, sleek and stylish, thanks! Someone got Bond right in these covers!

    It's been a while since we've got amazing and stylish covers like these, where they've made Bond handsome and sleek.
  • GerardGerard
    Posts: 5,997
    No news yet on a Reflections of Death trade paperback ?
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,187
    Gerard wrote: »
    No news yet on a Reflections of Death trade paperback ?

    I'm not sure they will release that any time soon, though I could be mistaken.
  • CharmianBondCharmianBond Pett Bottom, Kent
    Posts: 557
    I finished reading Issue #6 of 007 and yeah I can think I can confidently say that this is one of the best runs that Dynamite have ever done and I am actually going to miss this art style it's really grown on me. I was worried that all the plot threads weren't going to be wrapped up satisfactorily
    but King and Country is indeed a direct follow up so it didn't have to cram a resolution into a single issue which is good but also feels like a bit of a cheat, this is in essence the half way point of a 12 issue run
    but with James and Rook, I think that was always going to be a little predictable but it was an engaging bit of action and I'm really happy with how the comic ended and I look forward to seeing more of Johnson's work in April, luckily we don't have too long to wait.
  • ImpertinentGoonImpertinentGoon Everybody needs a hobby.
    Posts: 1,351
    YES!

    Best Bond comic in years. Can't wait for the continuation. Agree with @CharmianBond about the ending, but all in all I think it's a good call.

    I know that one should take these as their own medium and appreciate them for that, but I can't stop looking at the films. There are three big-picture things I'd like for them to take into consideration for the films (I'll spoiler them, just in case):
    1. A strong, shit-talking henchman. Rook in this is a much bigger focus than Fromm and while he was annoying in the beginning, their final fight works because of him. Them trading one-liners instead of just silently bruising each other is really good for a comic, but would also be very welcome in a film. Ash was a tiny bit like that, but we get very little in the fighting department from him.
    2. Widen the world. I've written about this before, but these little touches that show there are more people in MI6 than Bond, M, Q and Moneypenny are so, so good. Other and former 00s. Analysts in the bullpen who Bond actually interacts with. An oversight committee M has to answer to. All good and all welcome in a film.
    3. A sub-mission. Of course you'd have to be careful not to overdo it and complicate the script, but having a set-piece mission in the second half of the film before the finale Bond has to accomplish in order to get to the main guy is good to raise tensions and get some action in. Mission Impossible films do these all the time, f.e.
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