I agree, Bond has been made far too sanitised in this version. My thoughts on Quarrel were given in Part One, I’m sure it will be discussed further after next weeks final instalment.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
Artwork by David Jackson from a Donne Avenell script.
This was Jackson’s first ever full length comic strip, and it shows. While some of the art is really good, other parts are not so good and I feel that it doesn’t “flow” as well as it should. It was a strange decision by the editor to green light this adaption before they did the first of the series, The Mummy.
To be continued…
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
It’s a reasonable adaption of the movie within the constraints of the comic book code of the time - some of the frames are obviously taken directly from the movie.
Next weekend, a slight change of format, where both Saturday and Sunday will be used for the same comic as it’s a long story - Casino Royale.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
It's like an alternate universe version of the story, for good reasons as you say. I much prefer the newspaper version. One question, though - how come Honey's shells have dropped so much in value cf the movie? 😁
can I upload some Dr No comic book related artwork and it will stay here? I havent tried since we maxed out our space for images a year ago
here is the cover of the British Classics Illustrated 158a, Dec 1962
nice the publisher decided Ian Fleming was a Classic author, even if they did adapt the film not the book
and this was the book that got labelled "sex, snobbery and sadism" by establishment critics just a few years previous!
here is the cover of the American Showcase 43 April 1963
and I found this house ad in an issue of Justice League of America, showing how DC promoted this oddball adaptation, at time when James Bond was not quite so well known in America
Showcase was DC's tryout title in the 1960s. When they had an idea for a new series, to reduce risk theyd run a few tryout issues in Showcase before giving a new series a number 1 issue, only after sales had been proven. The Flash, Green Lantern and the Atom would be the most famous examples of series that started in Showcase, and it was mostly superhero series. (here you can see the covers for every issue of Showcase) This Dr No adaptation was unique, there were no other Showcase issues featuring movie adaptations. I guess it was a series available for aa oneshot that would never continue, but I wonder why they chose to publish it at all?
and I also wonder why the British Classic Illustrated adapted the film in the first place? adapting the film, rather than the book, and a recent and controversial book at that, seems unusual for that title too
was this covered in The Many Lives of James Bond, which I think surveyed lesser known multimedia spinoffs including comics?
and subjectively speaking, I got an issue with how the story was broken down for this adaptation
the first half of the movie is dragged out over two thirds of the comic! theres a lot of two tier pages in the first two thirds, where not much is happening except dialog. Then the final half of the film is squashed into the remaining pages, in cramped three tier pages, compressing a lot of action and skipping some interesting details entirely.
but its that last half of the film where the most visually interesting stuff happens, where the film becomes a living comic book! if it were me, I would have reversed the proportions, squashed the duller dialog oriented first half into ten pages with all three tier pages, mostly just drawings of talking heads if all that dialog were needed. Then all the wacky stuff in the second half can get the space it deserves for some nice comic book drawings (just imagine how someone like Jack Kirby might have drawn the final fight in the reactor room)
I wonder if Classics Illustrated tend to think of their usual source material as being primarily verbal and the drawings at best are illustrations supporting the text? that is really the way I remember their normal adaptations like the Three Musketeers, text heavy, stiff art, not really taking advantage of the comic book medium
you know in the States, Classics Illustrated was one of the few American comics publishers that didnt even bother seeking the Comics Code Stamp of Approval, with no harm to sales (Dell was the other one). Their argument was their content was so obviously worthy, being adaptations of established classic literature, that parents need not worry about their kids minds getting rotted, like with those nasty Crime and horror comics. That attitude in itself suggests they did not really have respect for the comic book medium and were unlikely to take advantage of its potential as a visual medium.
Artwork by Patrick Wright from a Donne Avenell script. A little reminiscent of the Christopher Lee segment from Dr. Terror’s House Of Horrors, but it’s a nicely done short story.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
So, we come to the final segment from the movie - and a good one it is.
A third EC comic based movie was in the planning stage but due to the relatively poor returns of Vault Of Horror it was unfortunately scrapped.
In 1982 Stephen King wrote (and starred) in Creepshow, which was a homage to the EC comics - the comic book adaption will be posted here in due course.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
so, if this comics Leiter looks like Jack Lord, the original cinematic Leiter, I think Vesper looks a bit familiar too: heres two shots of Linda Christian, Valerie Mathis from the Climax Mystery Theatre version of Casino Royale
Comments
I agree, Bond has been made far too sanitised in this version. My thoughts on Quarrel were given in Part One, I’m sure it will be discussed further after next weeks final instalment.
THE MUMMY’S SHROUD (1967) Part One:
Artwork by David Jackson from a Donne Avenell script.
This was Jackson’s first ever full length comic strip, and it shows. While some of the art is really good, other parts are not so good and I feel that it doesn’t “flow” as well as it should. It was a strange decision by the editor to green light this adaption before they did the first of the series, The Mummy.
To be continued…
Yes, the script doesn't feel right. I think this is Hammer's weakest mummy movie and agree that they should have done the first one.
THE MUMMY’S SHROUD (1967) Part Two:
The Vault Of Horror (1973) Segment Four:
So we come to the penultimate story in the movie and once again it’s a fairly faithful adaption of the comic strip…
That was one of the best "Crypt" stories I've read, and I don't remember the segment in the film. There's another to rewatch.
It’s certainly been critically underrated since release, I love the movie.
The Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954) Part Four:
I think this is a fine adaption of the movie…news of what is next will be given after the conclusion of DN tomorrow.
DR. NO (1962) Part Four:
It’s a reasonable adaption of the movie within the constraints of the comic book code of the time - some of the frames are obviously taken directly from the movie.
Next weekend, a slight change of format, where both Saturday and Sunday will be used for the same comic as it’s a long story - Casino Royale.
It's like an alternate universe version of the story, for good reasons as you say. I much prefer the newspaper version. One question, though - how come Honey's shells have dropped so much in value cf the movie? 😁
And obviously looking forward to CR!
can I upload some Dr No comic book related artwork and it will stay here? I havent tried since we maxed out our space for images a year ago
here is the cover of the British Classics Illustrated 158a, Dec 1962
nice the publisher decided Ian Fleming was a Classic author, even if they did adapt the film not the book
and this was the book that got labelled "sex, snobbery and sadism" by establishment critics just a few years previous!
here is the cover of the American Showcase 43 April 1963
and I found this house ad in an issue of Justice League of America, showing how DC promoted this oddball adaptation, at time when James Bond was not quite so well known in America
Showcase was DC's tryout title in the 1960s. When they had an idea for a new series, to reduce risk theyd run a few tryout issues in Showcase before giving a new series a number 1 issue, only after sales had been proven. The Flash, Green Lantern and the Atom would be the most famous examples of series that started in Showcase, and it was mostly superhero series. (here you can see the covers for every issue of Showcase) This Dr No adaptation was unique, there were no other Showcase issues featuring movie adaptations. I guess it was a series available for aa oneshot that would never continue, but I wonder why they chose to publish it at all?
and I also wonder why the British Classic Illustrated adapted the film in the first place? adapting the film, rather than the book, and a recent and controversial book at that, seems unusual for that title too
was this covered in The Many Lives of James Bond, which I think surveyed lesser known multimedia spinoffs including comics?
and subjectively speaking, I got an issue with how the story was broken down for this adaptation
the first half of the movie is dragged out over two thirds of the comic! theres a lot of two tier pages in the first two thirds, where not much is happening except dialog. Then the final half of the film is squashed into the remaining pages, in cramped three tier pages, compressing a lot of action and skipping some interesting details entirely.
but its that last half of the film where the most visually interesting stuff happens, where the film becomes a living comic book! if it were me, I would have reversed the proportions, squashed the duller dialog oriented first half into ten pages with all three tier pages, mostly just drawings of talking heads if all that dialog were needed. Then all the wacky stuff in the second half can get the space it deserves for some nice comic book drawings (just imagine how someone like Jack Kirby might have drawn the final fight in the reactor room)
I wonder if Classics Illustrated tend to think of their usual source material as being primarily verbal and the drawings at best are illustrations supporting the text? that is really the way I remember their normal adaptations like the Three Musketeers, text heavy, stiff art, not really taking advantage of the comic book medium
you know in the States, Classics Illustrated was one of the few American comics publishers that didnt even bother seeking the Comics Code Stamp of Approval, with no harm to sales (Dell was the other one). Their argument was their content was so obviously worthy, being adaptations of established classic literature, that parents need not worry about their kids minds getting rotted, like with those nasty Crime and horror comics. That attitude in itself suggests they did not really have respect for the comic book medium and were unlikely to take advantage of its potential as a visual medium.
Thank you for the information @caractacus potts your input is always welcome.
CASINO ROYALE - Chapter One
This is a stunning comic strip version of the 1953 novel…chapters will be posted every Saturday and Sunday.
To be continued tomorrow…
CASINO ROYALE - Chapters Two & Three
To be continued…
CASINO ROYALE - Chapter Four:
To be continued…
This one I'm really enjoying (of course). It's very atmospheric and faithful.
CASINO ROYALE - Chapter Five:
To be continued next Saturday…
Apologies for the delay in posting - my vacation was busier than I first imagined.
CASINO ROYALE Chapter Six…
To be continued…
CASINO ROYALE Chapter Seven
To be continued…
Leiter looks a bit like Jack Lord!
Yes, I thought that too.
Me as well. Thoroughly enjoying this version, thanks CHB.
Van Helsing’s Terror Tales #13
Artwork by Patrick Wright from a Donne Avenell script. A little reminiscent of the Christopher Lee segment from Dr. Terror’s House Of Horrors, but it’s a nicely done short story.
The Vault Of Horror (1973) Segment Five:
So, we come to the final segment from the movie - and a good one it is.
A third EC comic based movie was in the planning stage but due to the relatively poor returns of Vault Of Horror it was unfortunately scrapped.
In 1982 Stephen King wrote (and starred) in Creepshow, which was a homage to the EC comics - the comic book adaption will be posted here in due course.
The one in post 145 I liked, but not 146. The story was good, but the artwork didn't appeal to me
CASINO ROYALE Chapter Eight:
To be continued…
so, if this comics Leiter looks like Jack Lord, the original cinematic Leiter, I think Vesper looks a bit familiar too: heres two shots of Linda Christian, Valerie Mathis from the Climax Mystery Theatre version of Casino Royale
That’s a good spot @caractacus potts
CASINO ROYALE Chapter Nine:
To be continued…