New Comics Wednesday Review: JAMES BOND: SOLSTICE

By pghhead -

JAMES BOND: SOLSTICE  (Dynamite Entertainment, November 22, 2017 release date)  Writer and Artist:  Ibrahim Moustafa.  Colors:  Jordan Boyd.  Letters: Simon Bowland

 

     I’m a sucker for a good one-shot story that begins and ends in the same issue. It’s a great way to sample a series, and I wish comics publishers would do it more often.  So, if you’ve been curious about the JAMES BOND titles at Dynamite, here is your opportunity to check it out without making a multiple issue commitment.  Just keep in mind that this is not an ongoing monthly title at Dynamite but an assortment of mini-series (with different writers and artists) featuring British MI-6’s secret agent 007.

 

   In spite of that, JAMES BOND: SOLSTICE is fairly indicative of how the legendary character is being handled at Dynamite: with respect for the legacy and history, and keeping the character portrayal accurate and true to form. 

 

    The story revolves around Bond’s pre-Christmas assignment, to eliminate a Russian agent who’s been romancing a British citizen in order to get closer to MI-6 and plant a spy/mole. The details get complicated due to a family connection to a high ranking official. 

 

  The story contains plenty of text-free action scenes to showcase both Bond’s infiltration and fighting skills as well as some cool Moustafa art

 

 BC RATING SYSTEM

 

 STORY:  Simple but effective. Moustafa manages to work in some of the Bond trademarks, giving Q a hard time, flirting with Moneypenny, the snappy patter, etc.  2 POINTS. 

 

ART: Makes maximum use of the opportunity to let the story flow through much of the art. 2.5 POINTS.

 

COVER: Gets the job done. 1.5 POINTS.

 

READ AGAIN? It’s a fast read and worth enjoying again sometime in the future, but no need to do so now. The story isn’t complex enough that you get more through additional readings. 0.5 POINTS.

 

RECOMMEND? If you want to read some JAMES BOND and only can handle one issue, then this is it. If you are willing to invest time along story, I really favor the JAMES BOND: VAGR limited series. 0.5 POINTS.

 

TOTAL RATING: 7 POINTS out of a possible 10. Average to slightly above average. A discretionary read. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Robert Kirkman: Invincible, Walking Dead, Wolf-Man

By -
Image
I wasn't actually a huge fan of Robert Kirkman when I first started reading his books.  He was competent, sure, but I didn't see the appeal-- The Irredeemable Ant-Man was a boring side story in the middle of  Civil War and  The Initiative (although I've since changed my mind about this), and his  Ultimate X-Men run was, in many places, a mixed bag (although I did very much enjoy his "Phoenix?" storyline).  And  Marvel Zombies  just seemed like a ridiculous idea--not that I bothered to try it at the time. Now, though?  I've completely reevaluated my opinion on his work, and when his name is attached to a project, I'm far more likely to give it a look.  I don't know if I'd classify him as a master storyteller or a comics icon--but he's very skilled, he has an incredible knack for dialog, and he writes stories that, no matter how ridiculous, seem real .  In a medium where characters frequently violate the rules of physics, that's not alway
Read more

more random readings from May 2009

By pghhead -
Image
What else did I finish reading last month?  Here’s a cross-section of various titles . . . . . . . . . WITCHBLADE #126 “War Of The Witchblade Part 2” by Ron Marz and Stejepan Sejic  (Top Cow/Image) Preface:  Now here’s an interesting concept! = In order to attract new readers to its’ titles Top Cow is giving out free books each month as part of it’s Let Us Win You Over project.  ( www.topcow.com/freecomics )  Every month it’s a different title. And they work through different comics shops each month as well.  In April the title was Witchblade #126 and one of the participating dealers was Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, DE (my preferred supplier) so voila! - - - I find a copy in my hands. Since the last time I explored the Witchblade series the mythology has expanded to a battle between the forces of light and dark with each side choosing its agents on Earth, hence the Darkness vs. the Witchblade.  I’m still not overly interested in this type of fare on a regular basis, but
Read more

Best descriptive 2013 title: Vampire Vixens of the Wehrmacht

By pghhead -
Image
VAMPIRE VIXENS OF THE WEHRMACHT “If You Want Blood” one-shot (Bump and Grind Comics, August 2013, second printing with foreword by film maker Paul Campion) Writers: The Emperor + Alex Ronald.  Artist: Alex Ronald.  Letterer: Jim Campbell. Original Concept: Alex Ronald.  (Parental Advisory, Adult Content)  Limited print run, but digital copies are available from http://www.vampirevixens.co.uk/           If you can’t figure out what this comic is about from that title, then I’m guessing you’ve been living for decades in a cave without a DVD player and no access to cable television.   VAMPIRE VIXENS OF THE WEHRMACHT is a fast-paced horror comic driven by action, rooted in World War II history, and dripping with blood, gore and tantalizing sexual imagery.  What makes it work is a light-hearted approach to the subject matter, all in fun but never silly or stupid.  You may find yourself laughing at several of the scenarios or chuckling at the devilish dialogue.           VAMPIRE VIXENS O
Read more