Dynamite has announced, ahead of San Diego Comic-Con, that James Bond is making his return to comics. Yes, return. And this time, he’s bringing a ton of talent with him.
Specifically, they’re bringing beloved comics writer Warren Ellis, an expert at writing gritty, complicated stories about espionage and dark secrets. Bleeding Cool has dug up what Ellis has to say about Bond and in and of itself, it sounds amazing:
Bond is not a superman. He prevails because he is quite simply nastier and more determined to wreak utter bloody havoc than the next guy. In some ways — and I don’t think Fleming was unaware of this — he is what Allen Ginsberg called “bleak male energy,” causing and taking immense damage in single-minded pursuit of what he wants… He is England’s blunt instrument of international assault — the spiteful, vicious bastard of a faded empire that still wants the world to do as it’s bloody well told.
This is especially cool because the comic is licensed from Ian Fleming’s books, not the movies. Some may be concerned that Dynamite might stray from Bond, but this is the same company that’s adapted Ernest Tidyman’s Shaft novels into one of the most compelling crime series on the stands right now, and if they’re not pulling punches there, one doubts they’ll do it with Bond.
Fleming’s books were notably a lot grittier and harsher than the smooth secret agent we know and love, and this book will deal with some of Bond’s past, while also updating the novels and delivering original stories from Ellis. They also have the superb Jason Masters on art, so it’s going to be a vivid, action-packed Bond, just the way we like it. Look for Bond in comics shops this November.
(via Bleeding Cool)