For the first time in nearly twenty years, James Bond is returning to American comics.
Dynamite Entertainment and Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. have announced plans to create new James Bond comics. The deal includes adaptations of Ian Fleming’s original Bond stories, new stories and even an expanded backstory for Bond himself as well as comics about some of the classic Bond villains and allies.
In a statement, Dynamite editor Mike Lake explained that “Ian Fleming’s James Bond is one the best-known characters in the world, yet we know very little of his background and beginnings. The Bond villains are some of the most memorable figures in popular culture… where did they come from? And in some cases, where did they go?”
Dynamite publisher Nick Barrucci added that “we are excited to build upon Fleming’s source material with new canonical stories, and are honored at Dynamite to be a small part of his legacy, to be able to bring new stories to fans around the world.”
Related: The Dynamite Report # 2
The last American James Bond comic was an unfinished adaptation of Goldenye by Topps Comics in 1996. Prior to that, James Bond comics were published by DC Comics, Marvel Comics and Dark Horse Comics. More recently, there was a graphic novel adaptation of the Young James Bond novel SilverFin was published by Puffin Books in the United Kingdom. But that was the only blip in Bond’s 18 year absence from comics.
According to Dynamite, the new James Bond comics will be released in 2015.
