The Ultimate Bond Graphic Novel... (so far)

chrisisall

These guys, the artist & writer, GET espionage like no others IMO.
Here's a small taste-




Serpent's Tooth by Moench & Gulacy. 1992.
Beg borrow or steal to get this one!

batester2005

They do a few omnibus books now of all the bond graphic novels! I was wondering if they would be worth getting? I've been a bond fan since I was about 6 or 7 In terms of the movies but I ashamedly have to admit that iv only just started reading the novels (despite owning them for about 7 years). Iv just finished moonraker so I still have a fair way to go! Should I leave the graphic novels until after the novels?!!

chrisisall

Nah, they're mostly unrelated, any time is okay IMO. I can't believe I've had this & the Mike Grell "Permission To Die" for over 20 years and I'm just NOW reading them-!!

Sir Miles

I have this graphic novel...and quite a few others too...it's ok...but it's from 'alternate Bond universe' in my opinion...

chrisisall

Sir Miles wrote:

I have this graphic novel...and quite a few others too...it's ok....

What is better in your opinion Sir Miles?

Sir Miles

chrisisall wrote:

Sir Miles wrote:

I have this graphic novel...and quite a few others too...it's ok....

What is better in your opinion Sir Miles?

All of the one's you mentioned are pretty ropey...perhaps Permission To Die isn't as bad as the others...for a much better read get hold of the ones that were originally published in the newspapers - first published in the Daily Express in 1957....and reprinted years later in complete form...such as the one's here -{

chrisisall

They have one at my comics store, it did look pretty good.

Asp9mm

God those GN's are absolutely awful. Look at Bonds dress shirt collar for one.
Permission to Die started off quite well in the first book, despite the illustrator copying iconic imagery and not quite agreeing on what face Bond should wear. He uses all the actors in that one book, including an excellent version of his own on the inside covers, which he should have kept to.

After that, Permission to Die goes downhill, and rapidly. It's quite obvious the illustrator and writer lose interest quite fast and it's a rush to complete the remaining two, and with little effort put in to both those areas. A shame really as it did have potential. Serpent's Tooth use of Jean Claude van Damme as his image for Bond is utterly awful, (but he was at his height in popularity at the time). JCVD just isn't Bond, and the whole series is very Americanised and far removed from Bond in this series. It's all very straight to video and best forgotten.

chrisisall

Asp9mm wrote:

Permission to Die started off quite well in the first book, despite the illustrator copying iconic imagery and not quite agreeing on what face Bond should wear. He uses all the actors in that one book, including an excellent version of his own on the inside covers, which he should have kept to.

After that, Permission to Die goes downhill, and rapidly.

Part two seemed rushed beyond belief, but it picks up quite a bit in part 3 IMO. I ended up enjoying it a lot.

I Serpent's Tooth use of Jean Claude van Damme as his image for Bond is utterly awful

THAT looks like JCVD to you?
I shan't be visiting your occularist... )

Barbel

chrisisall wrote:

Asp9mm wrote:

Permission to Die started off quite well in the first book, despite the illustrator copying iconic imagery and not quite agreeing on what face Bond should wear. He uses all the actors in that one book, including an excellent version of his own on the inside covers, which he should have kept to.

After that, Permission to Die goes downhill, and rapidly.

Part two seemed rushed beyond belief, but it picks up quite a bit in part 3 IMO. I ended up enjoying it a lot.

I Serpent's Tooth use of Jean Claude van Damme as his image for Bond is utterly awful

THAT looks like JCVD to you?
I shan't be visiting your occularist... )

I enjoyed Parts 1 and 3, but agree that Part 2 was the weakest. I didn't pick up on the JCVD bit, but what a terrible Q!

NeverSayDie

I was reorganising my bond collection yesterday and found
copies of these. I also found issue 1 of James Bond Jr. I'm currently
rewatching the series on YouTube. I loved it as a kid.

superado

I have these particular issues myself. I love the artwork, but for the most part was unimpressed with the stories. I don't know if anyone else feels the same, but these seemed to be too similar to the Raymond Benson novels particularly in the "Americanized" flavor of the locales, girls, etc., like I was watching a TV series from the US during the 80's. Of the post-Daily Express graphic novels, I really enjoyed the Mike Grell trilogy, esp. the 1st one, as these captured the exotic appeal of both the novels and the movies.

chrisisall

superado wrote:

I I love the artwork

I confess a great deal of story leeway I will grant because of the pretty... :v

Silhouette Man

These are probably for the real hardcore fans only - like me!

Would love to get hold of some of these!

Asp9mm

chrisisall wrote:

THAT looks like JCVD to you?
I shan't be visiting your occularist... )

The artist actually said he used JCVD and Eastwood as his main inspiration for Bond in ST as so many people complained his Bond tried to look like all the film Bonds in PtD. He also used other actors to base his characters on.

chrisisall

Asp9mm wrote:

The artist actually said he used JCVD and Eastwood

Okay, a mix then, I can see it.