Friday, May 19, 2017

Review: JAMES BOND Volume 1 #7

JAMES BOND, VOL. 1 No. 7
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT – @dynamitecomics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Warren Ellis
ART: Jason Masters
COLORS: Guy Major
LETTERS: Simon Bowland
COVER: Dom Reardon
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated T+

“Eidolon”

The fictional British Secret Service agent, “James Bond,” was created by Ian Fleming, a British writer and novelist.  Fleming introduced James Bond in the 1953 novel, Casino Royale, and featured the character in 12 novels and two short-story collections.  Of course, most people know Bond because of EON Productions' long-running James Bond-007 film series, which began with the 1962 film, Dr. No.

Over the past 50+ years, Bond has made sporadic appearances in comic books, and the latest comes courtesy of Dynamite Entertainment.  James Bond, Volume 1 is written by Warren Ellis, drawn by Jason Masters, colored by Guy Major, and lettered by Simon Bowland.  The second story, entitled “Eidolon,” recently began.

James Bond, Volume 1, #7 begins with a man named Mr. Hawkwood doing a little killing because someone exposed “Eidolon.”  On the 007 side of things, James Bond arrives in Los Angeles.  His mission is to extract fellow MI6, Cadence Birdwhistle, from the Turkish Consulate.  Her cover has been blown, but it may be too late to fix this.

Apparently, the new story arc of Dynamite's James Bond, “Eidolon,” will introduce SPECTRE into this current iteration of James Bond comics.  Normally, I'd be super-excited about this, but this James Bond comic book is already fantastic after the previous story arc, the stunning “Vargr.”  The arrival (or return or debut) of SPECTRE is merely sprinkles on a ab-fab cake that is already layered with a nice, thick coating of delicious icing.

Still, upon first taste, those are some damn fine sprinkles.  James Bond, Volume 1, #7 is a compact, mean little bastard of a read.  Ellis' Bond is a blunt instrument, a skilled killer who will pop a cap in enemy ass with supernatural accuracy.

Ellis is a “name” comics creator, so he's the focus for many readers' attentions.  However, artist Jason Masters is pushing his way to the front.  I think the tenacity and the gripping nature of this story is the creation of the graphic storyteller, the visual artist and storyteller, which is Masters.  He is the guy that makes James Bond, Volume 1 explode, both within the narrative and also off the page... all over your face.  And girl, I don't mind wiping “Eidolon” stuff off my face.

Yeah, I'm still crazy about Dynamite's new James Bond comic book.  It should be outselling most of what DC Comics and Marvel are publishing.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.


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