James Bond 007 #1 Review

 

Writer: Garth Ennis

Artist: Rapha Lobosco

Colorist: Jorge Sutil

Letterer: Rob Steen

Cover Artist: Dave Johnson

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $4.99

Release Date: January 17, 2024

 

Sebastian, the heir to the Costanza empire, lies in his grave. His family, infamous for their brutality, mourns his passing. Can anyone—even Britain's preeminent espionage agent--survive the Constanzas’ relentless hunt for vengeance? Let’s leap into James Bond 007 #1 and find out!

 

Story

Bond’s boss is unhappy. Bond should have avoided identification while dispatching Sebastian. Thanks to 007's negligence, the region will be in chaos as factions battle over the mighty narcotics empire.

 

But M has more weighty matters on his mind. Fifty years ago, 00 agent Archibald Tryon stole a secret project from the Russians. He destroyed everything that Soviet researchers could use to reconstruct their experiments. Ministry Of Defence scientists recently perfected the weapon at the Porton Down facilities. Within days, someone stole the project and all associated records.

 

Archibald lives in Bournemouth. Bond isn’t impressed that the 00 agent reached retirement age. Nor does he view Britain as a civilizing force in a chaotic world. James Bond protects his King and Country. Whether that means attacking a crime family or recovering a weapon that kills people without harming property or the environment, James Bond won’t stop until he secures his country’s safety.

 

In James Bond 007 #1, M wishes Bond were a scalpel, not a club. Moneypenny often sees Bond as coarse. Q views 007 as juvenile and wasteful. Writer Garth Ennis paints James Bond as a man who does his best and doesn't sweat others’ expectations. His story unreels quickly, ends explosively, and leaves you wanting more.

 

But then, can you ever get enough of James Bond?

 

Art

Sebastian’s family resides in a lavish mansion. Pablo Costanza stands on the terrace and gazes at the setting sun. His family gathers in the living room and listens to their patriarch's rage. Sebastian's brothers look as cool as Bond. His sisters pose like supermodels. Despite his grandmother's failing health, fire still burns in her eyes.

 

Jorge Sutil applies a loaded palette to Rapha Lobosco’s artwork. He bathes panels in browns in James Bond 007 #1, yet brings an unexpected sparkle to even mostly monotone panels. Jorge also shows a preference for blue. Such panels emphasize Bond's cold determination, MI-6's importance to the world, and Stalvoda’s clinical effectiveness. Jorge adds drama to the Costanza family through his choice of background colors. He helps us feel the loneliness of the offseason Bournemouth coast and the cold necessity that drives 00 agents.  

 

Large, uppercase black letters inhabit white dialogue balloons in James Bond 007 #1. Stressed words and shouts are bold and italicized. Rob Steen’s sedate lettering and lack of sound effects enhance the cinematic feeling of Garth Ennis' story and remind us of the dispassionate way Bond dispatches enemies. It's more Daniel Craig than Roger Moore. But then, this is 2024, not 1973.

 

Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Chimpanzees get flash-frozen, hit men pursue Bond, and a Weapon Of Mass Destruction goes missing in James Bond 007 #1.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.