50 years ago, an MI6 00 Agent stole Soviet Russian research for a form of weaponised water: Stalvoda (“Steel Water”). Now, the Brits having perfected its use, the Russians have stolen it back. The man tasked with retrieving it and killing the thieves? Bond. Jamesh Bond. Da da duun da da! Doo doo doo doo… etc.
Garth Ennis, the most seasoned comics writer of gun-wielding sociopaths, is a good fit for another character that fits the bill: James Bond. And Ennis’ first issue, while not even attempting to reinvent the wheel, is an auspicious beginning to this new series.
The opening scene is good. We meet a drug cartel crime family whose patriarch is ranting about vengeance and I was thinking, oh yeah, I know where this is headed, and immediately felt less excited. But then Ennis does something that instantly changes the trajectory of that storyline and had me thinking that Bond in Ennis’ hands feels more fresh and exciting.
Immediately contrary to that feeling (what a rollycoasty!) is the typical Bond checklist that Ennis faithfully runs through next: the quippy convo with Moneypenny, the briefing from M, more quippery with Q, and then onto the story proper. Which isn’t to say that any of that is boring to read - with Ennis, it’s rendered well - but it’s still very by-the-numbers Bond and unexciting to see.
The final part of the issue is similarly more flat table-setting but the ending injects the story once again with more pep and makes me want to see what happens next. Ennis’ Bond certainly lives up to the comic’s subtitle - Your Cold, Cold Heart - as he coolly delivers death in two scenes without so much as a raised eyebrow.
Serious Ennis is much more preferable than Whacky Ennis (longtime readers of this writer will know exactly what I mean). A few years ago, he wrote an abysmal Bond pastiche called Jimmy’s Bastards which was an entire series that was somehow made up of one bad joke and the Bond character in that title - the whole series, in fact - was painfully unfunny to read. So I’ll take the more restrained version of the character we see in this comic, over the more daffy type that Ennis could’ve written, every single time.
Rapha Lobosco isn’t called upon to draw anything that showcases his abilities - a lot of the comic is set in ordinary surroundings with people talking. On one page near the end though he’s able to shock the reader with his visuals. The art so far isn’t that special, nor is it that bad - like Ennis’ story, it’s so-so, but could be potentially better later on down the line.
Which is how I’d rate James Bond: 007 #1: decent with a chance of things becoming great - or bad - as the story arc plays out. It’s a promising start though, especially given how many brilliant comics Ennis has written about a guy with a gun and a dark narrative tone. This story arc seems worth checking out whether you’re a fan of the writer or the character, or both.
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