Back in October, it was announced that Dynamite Entertainment gained the license to publish James Bond 007 comics. The original announcement stated the comics would happen in 2015. With half the year gone by, we've been left waiting for more news. That day has come.
We may still have a few months to wait but knowing the creative team should make that wait worth it.
Dynamite proudly announces that fan-favorite author Warren Ellis will be writing the James Bond 007 ongoing comic book series, the first to appear in over two decades. James Bond 007 is scheduled for release in November 2015, featuring interior artwork by Jason Masters (Batman Incorporated, Guardians of the Galaxy).
The news of the high-profile author's involvement with the James Bond 007 series follows Dynamite's announcement of their partnership with Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. (IFPL), the Fleming-family company that owns and administers the literary copyright of Ian Fleming's published works, including his fourteen James Bond books. Under their agreement, Dynamite has been granted worldwide rights to publish comic books, digital comics, and graphic novels starring 007. Launching their James Bond 007 line with a writer of exemplary skill and reputation has been a priority for Dynamite, and Warren Ellis' stewardship will guarantee a debut story with all the hallmarks of high-octane action and international intrigue that exemplify the franchise.
"Ian Fleming's James Bond is an icon, and it's a delight to tell visual narratives with the original, brutal, damaged Bond of the books," says Warren Ellis.
The first six-issue story arc in the James Bond 007 comic book series will be entitled "VARGR."James Bond returns to London after a mission of vengeance in Helsinki, to take up the workload of a fallen 00 agent... but something evil is moving through the back streets of the city, and sinister plans are being laid for Bond in Berlin.
Great-nephew of Ian Fleming, Diggory Laycock says, "We were thrilled when Warren agreed to write the first story in this exciting new chapter of literary James Bond. Warren's style is gritty, dark and unique and we can't wait to see James Bond embroiled in an adventure of his creation."
"Warren Ellis is one of the most brilliant writers of the 21st century, not just in comics but across all media," says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. "When we approached him for the launch, we hoped he could make time in his very busy schedule, and we are ever fortunate and thankful that he was able to. We met with Warren and the everyone at IFPL, and Warren's passion for the novels showed. He really is the perfect writer for Bond, and I can't express how excited we are that Warren is tackling the ongoing series. This will be JamesBond unlike anything you've ever seen before, true to Ian Fleming's source material yet bursting all preconceptions of what a Bond story should be."
Senior Editor Joseph Rybandt says, "I've long been a fan of Warren, going back to his earliest works including Lazarus Churchyard when it was first published, and pairing his creative mind with the iconic James Bond will make it the most talked about and exciting comic of 2015."
"We have the extraordinary opportunity to create the very best James Bond stories that you've never read, and we have one of the most extraordinary contemporary adventure writers in the world to launch with," says Editor Mike Lake. "After more than 40 years in the business, this is the best project I've ever had a hand in, and am very proud to have helped bring it about."
"I've wanted to draw something Warren Ellis wrote since I first read his work on The Authority," says artist Jason Masters. "Each of his carefully composed pages is filled with wonderful ideas that make you wish you were smarter. More ingenious than Warren's writing might be Dynamite's decision to have him write James Bond. James Bond by Warren Ellis! I'd buy that sight unseen if I wasn't lucky enough to be the guy drawing it."
James Bond 007 will be solicited through Diamond Comic Distributors' Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of James Bond 007 with their local comic book retailers. JamesBond 007 will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital. Fans and retailers are encouraged to follow Dynamite Entertainment and Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.'s official social media channels for the latest updates regarding creative teams and release dates.
"Ian Fleming's James Bond is an icon, and it's a delight to tell visual narratives with the original, brutal, damaged Bond of the books," says Warren Ellis.
Instant win! Not that goofy crap they have in the movies now.
It's great to see Dynamite carve out a place in the comic book world for themselves. Yes we have DC and Marvel, then Image, but then these guys seem to be doing really well. Project Superpowers was interesting, and although I'm yet to read any of their other stuff, it looks pretty encouraging what big names they have. There's an extremely high chance I pick this up.
@jonny_anonymous: I enjoy Connery or Brosnan 007 better. The current movies, the plot, etc. are entertaining as always but not the Bond character himself.
@jonny_anonymous: I enjoy Connery or Brosnan 007 better. The current movies, the plot, etc. are entertaining as always but not the Bond character himself.
I disagree. I think the Bond character was the only good thing about the last movie, the plot was dreadful.
Man Dynamite is really kicking some butt lately. I am liking the Swords of Sorrow story arc and read The Spirit this last week. We are getting a Vampirella Army of Darkness crossover this week which should be awesome. It is nice to see Dynamite get some stories in there after Marvel and DC.
Can't get any better than Warren Ellis. I hope they're not afraid to move Bond into the 21st century though instead of relying on the "old Bond traditions". A move they accomplished with the first Daniel Craig movie Casino Royale but unfortunately backpedalled with the subsequent installments.
I was seriously surfing the web the oter day to see if there had been any new news on the development of this series. Such a big 007 fan. Hyped to see this.
"Ian Fleming's James Bond is an icon, and it's a delight to tell visual narratives with the original, brutal, damaged Bond of the books," says Warren Ellis
Geez, how did I miss that? I wonder if he'll smoke as much as he did in the books? I always felt like he had superhuman tolerance to the damaging affects of cigarettes. My favourite was the begining of Thunderball when M makes him go to a health retreat because his physical assessments are slipping. They mention that he smokes about 60 cigarettes a day!!! WTF, that's several packs. I can't remember how much they said he drinks but it was a hilarious amount. Dang right your health is slipping.
"Ian Fleming's James Bond is an icon, and it's a delight to tell visual narratives with the original, brutal, damaged Bond of the books," says Warren Ellis
Geez, how did I miss that? I wonder if he'll smoke as much as he did in the books? I always felt like he had superhuman tolerance to the damaging affects of cigarettes. My favourite was the begining of Thunderball when M makes him go to a health retreat because his physical assessments are slipping. They mention that he smokes about 60 cigarettes a day!!! WTF, that's several packs. I can't remember how much they said he drinks but it was a hilarious amount. Dang right your health is slipping.
Yeah I remember he drinks pretty much everyday. Also the Bond in the books is only suave on the outside, on the inside he's pretty cold but you never see that in any of the movies.
Yeah I remember he drinks pretty much everyday. Also the Bond in the books is only suave on the outside, on the inside he's pretty cold but you never see that in any of the movies.
True about the novels for sure, but I found that after Casino Royale Bond got pretty cold and heartless in the movies as well. He might seem less harsh in the films because that's a products of modern writing and attitudes so he's not as much of an a-hole to women and stuff like that.
Connery brought a lot of that old school attitude in the movies, but it went away as those movies got worse and worse.
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