XOWComics.com

Content Items (8 total)

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Illustration on Cover, Front

Credits

Penciller(s): Shuttershock (photograph)

Inker(s): Shuttershock (photograph)

Colorist(s): Shuttershock (photograph)

Subject Matter

Genres: espionage

Feature(s): James Bond

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 1

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Ian Fleming (story); Henry Gammidge (adaptation)

Penciller(s): John McLusky

Inker(s): John McLusky

Letterer(s): John McLusky

Subject Matter

Genres: espionage

Feature(s): James Bond

Character(s): James Bond; Professor Blauenfelder (Palermo, Sicily); La Comtesse Teresa Di Vicenzo; Maurice (Casino Royale); Marc-Ange Draco (Capu, Union Corse); Mary Goodnight (Bond's secretary); Sable Basilisk (College Of Arms); Fraulein Irma Bunt; Comte Balthazar De Bleuville (alias Ernst Stavros Blofeld, head of S.P.E.C.T.R.E.); M; Bill Tanner (Chief Of Staff); Violet O'Neill (Ireland); Pearl; Ruby Windsor (Morcambe Bay, Lancashire); Shaun Campbell (MI-6 No.2, Zurich); Hammond (M's butler); Professor Leathers; Mr. Franklin (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries); Muir (MI-6, head of Station Z, Zurich)

Synopsis: After a year of searching for Blofeld, Bond is disgusted and considers resigning. En route to Casino Royale, he meets Tracy, who he finds himself falling in love with despite her being severely troubled. It turns out her father, Marc-Ange Draco, is head of the French Mafia. He relates her story and asks Bond's help in her recovery. In return, he informs Bond that Blofeld is in Switzerland. Back on track, 2 months later, Bond is contacted by the College Of Arms, who tell of a mysterious "Count" trying to validate his title, who may in fact be Blofeld. Disguised as "Sir Hilary Bray", Bond travels to Piz Gloria, a former ski lodge turned into a medical clinic, where strange "treatments" are being done to a dozen beautiful English girls, all from various agricultural communities. At first Bond cannot believe "The Count" is the man he's after, but evidence piles up, until Bond flees the mountain for his life! Desperate, he's found by Tracy, who helps him escape the killers on his trail. Bond realizes how much he cares for Tracy, now feeling better, and asks her to marry him. Back in England, it's revealed that Blofeld is engaged in biological warfare! M determines he MUST be taken out, even if he can't get official approval. Bond asks Tracy's father for a "wedding present"-- and together, a squad of his best men assault Blofeld's fortress and blow it to hell-- though the man (and his assistant, Fraulein Bunt) escape. They keep tabs on Bond, and shortly after, as he & Tracy drive off to their honeymoon, they STRIKE-- killing Tracy and leaving Bond shattered.

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 69

Notes: Story #12. Faithful adaptation of Ian Fleming's 10th 007 novel (11h book) from 1963, barring a few minor changes to fix plot holes. Although the 1969 film is the most faithful adaptation in the entire movie series, comparing it with the comic reveals how nearly every scene contained changes from the book. (In this rare instance, the film IMPROVED on the book, which was already possibly Fleming's best work.)

You Only Live Twice

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Ian Fleming (story); Henry Gammidge (adaptation)

Penciller(s): John McLusky

Inker(s): John McLusky

Letterer(s): John McLusky

Subject Matter

Genres: espionage

Feature(s): James Bond

Character(s): Tiger Tanaka (head of the Koan-Chosa-Kyoku, the Japanses Secret Service); M; Bill Tanner (Chief of Staff); James Bond (7777); Richard "Dikko-San" Lovelace Henderson (Australian Diplomatic Corps); Dr. Guntram Shatterhand (alias Ernst Stavros Blofeld); Frau Emmy Shatterhand (alias Irma Bunt); Mariko (bath-house); Kannushi-San (Shinto Priest of Kuro); Kissy Suzuki (ama girl, ex-movie star); Kono (guard); Kazama (torturer); Miss Moneypenny; Sebastian Shinwell (Bond's solicitor); Mary Goodnight; Lawson (MI-6)

Synopsis: 8 months after Tracy's murder, M shakes Bond out of his depression with what he calls the "most important" mission of his life. Info from the CIA has slowed to a halt, and M wants to get his hands on "Magic 44"-- a Japanese decoding device. To do this, Bond must get into the good graces of Tiger Tanaka, head of the Japanese Secret Service. With the help of "Dikko" Henderson, Bond slowly becomes friends with Tiger, who passes on info that helps prevent the Russians from performing nuclear blackmail against England & the US. Tiger then asks a favor in exchange for the machine. A European, Dr. Shatterhand, has, with the blessing of the government, set up a botanical garden for rare plants from all over the world. However, he's stocked it with poisonous plants, man-eating fish, snakes, scorpions, spiders, effectively turning the place into a "Garden Of Death". In only 8 months' time, over 500 people have gone there to commit suicide! This is an embarrassment to the government, but as Shatterhand has broken no laws, Tiger asks Bond to go in and KILL him. Disguising Bond as a Japanese, and giving him some ninja training, Tiger takes Bond to Kuro, an "ama" island of pearl-diving girls, to recruit Kissy Suzuki, an ex-movie star who can guide Bond thru the dangerous currents. Bond discovers Shatterhand is really Blofeld-- the man who killed his wife-- but doesn't tell Tiger, as now, it's personal! Blofeld has set up his castle with the idea of blackmailing the Japanese government into paying him 10 million pounds so he'll leave! But he's also paranoid, and suspects the Japanese may be planning to stop him. Bond & Kissy sneak into the castle, but are caught. His cover blown, Bond fights Blofeld one-on-one, leading to a horrible demise for the villain. His wife, Irma Bunt, closes the outlet for a volcanic geyser, causing the entire castle and all within to be blown to smithereens. Bond & Kissy escape by balloon-- but Bond receives a head wound, and suffers amnesia. Kissy has fallen in love with Bond and doesn't want him to leave, and Tiger sends "Magic 44" to M-- along with the news of Bond's death. Mention is made of a friend of Bond who's published a series of books about him almost accurate enough to violate the Official Secrets Act. Mary Goodnight is sent to Jamaica on a new assignment. Kissy reveals to the Shinto priest that she's with child... but Bond believes he has some connection with Russia-- and goes there in search of the truth about himself.

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 51

Notes: Story #13. Faithful adaptation of Ian Fleming's 11th 007 novel (12th book) from 1964. In this case, the comic added a more "spy"-themed motivation for the villain's actions than had appeared in the book, making the comic a severe IMPROVEMENT over the novel! Only a few characters & locations from the novel were used in the subsequent 1967 film, though the villain having advanced knowledge that the Japanese Secret Service was sending someone to find him came (unacknowledged) from the comic version.

The Man with the Golden Gun

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Ian Fleming (story); Jim Lawrence (adaptation, additional material)

Penciller(s): Yaroslav Horak

Inker(s): Yaroslav Horak

Letterer(s): Yaroslav Horak

Subject Matter

Genres: espionage

Feature(s): James Bond 007

Character(s): Bill Tanner; M; Miss Moneypenny; Kissy Suzuki; James Bond; Colonel Boris (KGB); Captain Walker (MI5 Liason officer); Major Townsend (MI5 "soft man"); Colonel Ross (MI5 Jamaica); Mary Goodnight; Philip Margesson (MI5, victim of Scaramanga); Chitra Mahal (nurse, KGB); Francisco "Pistols" "Paco" Scaramanga; Tiffy (hotel manager); Sam Binion (ex-Purple Gang); Leroy Gengerella (Miami show biz); Ruby Rotkopf (Vegas Casinos); Hal Garfinkel (Chicago union funds); Louie Paradise (Phoenix slot machines); Mr. Hendriks (Dutchman, European money); Felix Leiter (CIA); Nick (CIA); Ramon (thug)

Synopsis: Believed dead in Japan, Bond returns to England via Russia, and almost kills M while brainwashed. Following treatment, he's sent to Jamaica on a "suicide" mission to take out Francisco Scaramanga, a hitman-for-hire who specializes in "scientific maiming". A virtual "hoods convention" at an under-financed resort hotel leads to a deadly train ride through a crocodile-infested swamp.

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 53

Notes: Story #14. Faithful adaptation of Ian Fleming's 12th (and last) 007 novel (13th book) from 1965. In the tradition of THE SAINT tv series with Roger Moore, this adaptation adds substantial material to the original novel while remaining faithful to it, improving the story in the process. Apart from the characters of Scaramanga and Mary Goodnight, the subsequent 1974 film bears virtually no resemblance to the novel or comic.

The Living Daylights

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Ian Fleming (story); Jim Lawrence (adaptation)

Penciller(s): Yaroslav Horak

Inker(s): Yaroslav Horak

Letterer(s): Yaroslav Horak

Subject Matter

Genres: espionage

Feature(s): James Bond

Character(s): Agent 272 (double-agent); Comrade "Trigger" (KGB hitman); M; Bill Tanner; James Bond; Miss Moneypenny; Paul Sender (MI5, West Berlin)

Synopsis: A double-agent is targeted by the KGB to be killed while he crosses the Berlin Wall; Bond is assigned to kill the KBG assassin first. While waiting, he becomes slightly infatuated by a female cello player...

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Pages: 14

Notes: Story #15. Faithful adaptation of Ian Fleming's short story which originally appeared in THE SUNDAY TIMES, which inadvertently offended the publisher of THE DAILY EXPRESS, leading to the comic-strip's cancellation for a year. It's noted the continuity of having this story appear at this point is somewhat "off", as Bond appears bored with his job (as he would have been following THUNDERBALL) rather than having a renewed desire for vengeance against the KGB (as he would be following THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN). Presumably it was the problems connected with the short story that caused the delay in its being adapted into the comic-strip. Jim Lawrence changed only the ending of his adaptation. The story later appeared, somewhat faithfully, as the opening sequence (and springboard) of the 1987 film.

Octopussy

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Ian Fleming (story); Jim Lawrence (adaptation, additional material)

Penciller(s): Yaroslav Horak

Inker(s): Yaroslav Horak

Letterer(s): Yaroslav Horak

Subject Matter

Genres: espionage

Feature(s): James Bond

Character(s): Franzl (mountain guide); Hannes Oberhauser (deceased); Trudi Oberhauser; May (Bond's house-keeper); James Bond; Major Dexter Smythe; Marco (maitre'd); M; Miss Moneypenny; Bill Tanner; Mary Goodnight; Yat Foo; Kim Foo; Herbert Plomer (tax auditor, murdered)

Synopsis: Bond investigates a 20-year-old murder of a mountain guide who had been like a father to him as a boy, and uncovers a gold-smuggling operation in Jamaica, run by a pair of Chinese brothers and an ex-Army intelligence major who has a passion for marine biology, and a pet octopus.

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 42

Notes: Story #16. Faithful adaptation of Ian Fleming's short story, which originally appeared in PLAYBOY. In the tradition of THE SAINT tv series with Roger Moore, this adaptation adds substantial material to the original novel while remaining faithful to it, drastically improving the story in the process, and bringing it more in line with the sort of "espionage" type of story 007 fans were used to by this time. The story was faithfully incorporated (in a convoluted way) into the 1983 film OCTOPUSSY, making the movie a sequel to the short story rather than an adaptation.

The Hildebrand Rarity

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Ian Fleming (story); Jim Lawrence (adaptation, additional material)

Penciller(s): Yaroslav Horak

Inker(s): Yaroslav Horak

Letterer(s): Yaroslav Horak

Subject Matter

Genres: espionage

Feature(s): James Bond

Character(s): Admiral Raeburn; Milton Crest; Liz Krest; Miss Moneypenny; M; Nyla Larsen; Bill Tanner

Synopsis: Bond is sent to investigate the theft of a top-secret unmanned submarine. He meets the brutal industrialist Milton Crest, whose companies built the sub, and who keeps his wife in a grip of terror.

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Pages: 44

Notes: Story #17. Faithful adaptation of Ian Fleming's short story from the FOR YOUR EYES ONLY collection (1960), which started out as the 5 best plot outlines for a proposed 007 TV series that never materialized. Once again, this adaptation adds substantial material to the original short story while remaining faithful to it, drastically improving the story in the process, and bringing it more in line with the sort of "espionage" type of story 007 fans were used to by this time. Elements added here by Jim Lawrence later turned up in several of the 007 films, all uncredited! This includes Milton Crest's character in LICENSE TO KILL (1989) being closer to the version in the comic than the short story; the "salvage" operation plot that formed the basis of the film FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981); Bond being invited by the story's villain for a "cruise" in NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983); an industrialist being responsible for the theft of a vehicle his own companies built in the film MOONRAKER (1979); and a submarine launched from the front bowels of a tanker in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977)!!!

The Spy Who Loved Me

Story on Interior Page(s)

Credits

Writer(s): Ian Fleming (story); Jim Lawrence (adaptation, additional material)

Penciller(s): Yaroslav Horak

Inker(s): Yaroslav Horak

Letterer(s): Yaroslav Horak

Subject Matter

Genres: espionage

Feature(s): James Bond

Character(s): Mike Farrar (test pilot); Yvonne Doret; Rona Vail; James Bond; M; Bill Tanner; Horst Uhlmann (S.P.E.C.T.R.E. terrorist & executioner); Madame Spectra; Inspector Grant (Canadian Mounty Special Branch); Vivienne Michel; Mrs. Phancey; Jed Phancey; Mr. Jones ("Sluggsy"); Mr. Smith alias Sol Horowitz ("Horror"); Captain Stoner

Synopsis: A revived S.P.E.C.T.R.E. tries to blackmail an RAF pilot into passing on secret info about the "Ghosthawk" stealth plane; later, en route to C.I.A. HQ, Bond rescues a girl from a remote motel who's being terrorized by a pair of thugs hired to torch the place for insurance money (with her in it).

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Miscellaneous

Pages: 54

Notes: Story #18. In a style similar to the much later film CASINO ROYALE (2006), the first half of this story is entirely new material, while the 2nd half is a faithful adaptation of the book it takes its name from, Ian Fleming's 9th 007 novel (10th book) from 1962. Once again, this adaptation adds substantial material to the original novel while remaining faithful to it, drastically improving the story in the process, and bringing it more in line with the sort of "espionage" type of story 007 fans were used to by this time. The later movie (1977) intended to feature a revived S.P.E.C.T.R.E. organization, as the comic did, but didn't due to behind-the-scenes legal hassles with rival producer Kevin McClory. As a result, the Roger Moore film has nothing in common with the novel or comic, apart from the title (though a major element seems to have come from the comic-strip version of "The Hildebrand Rarity"). Having a revived S.P.E.C.T.R.E. led by a woman predated a similar story with Madame Hydra in CAPTAIN AMERICA #109 by 2 years.