#331-#333 = JAMES BOND: ORIGIN #7-#9 byJeff Parker and Ibrahim Moustafa (Dynamite Entertainment, May-July 2019) “Russian Ruse, Part 1-3 of 3” In the last installment young Bond’s courage and ability during chaos earned him a spot on the secret service branch of what would become the Ministry of Defense. To serve the confidential nature of his duties, Bond is accorded the rank of lieutenant in the Special Branch of the Royal Navy, and assigned to a warship off the coast of Norway. Bond suspects foul play when a Russian freighter claims to have witnessed the Germans sink a Norwegian supply ship containing gold to finance their war efforts. It was actually the Russians who killed the Norwegians and stole the gold. Bond smuggles aboard the Russian ship to get evidence/proof, but is captured.
The Russians off load James Bond at Murmansk, in the care of the beautiful Oksana until he can reunite with the Navy. She may be his ticket to safety, or lead to his doom. It’s getting hard for Bond to know ally from foe, especially when his tea has been drugged.The Russians try to brainwash Bond into believing there was no gold on the Russian merchant ship.
Bond manages to escape his captors, just as the bombing of Murmansk by Germany begins. He masquerades as a German officer and steals a jeep to make for the docks, where he is shot but rescued by Norwegians (ironically).He did manage to make off with a gold nugget to prove the Russian deceit.
I’m enjoying this series because it’s more realistic. Bond isn’t perfect. He has a lot to learn and each story arc showcases his budding skills as well as his development. Suspenseful, and well done. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#334-#336 = JAMES BOND: ORIGIN #10-#12 by Jeff Parker and Ibrahim Moustafa (Dynamite Entertainment, August-October 2019) “The Debt, Part 1-3 of 3.In 1941, Lieutenant James Bond has been ordered back to England to recuperate from injuries sustained in Murmansk. Meanwhile in Geona, Italy his mentor Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Ronald Weldon is shot down in the streets after leaving a gambling house. However, the news that comes back to Britain is that he was transferred to Gibraltar where he died in a bombing raid.
The mysterious F from the Ministry of Defense contacts Bond, reveals some photos that show Weldon in Italy gambling, and dispatches Bond there to obtain evidence to vindicate him. There he meets a former associate from training camp, who wants to make up for bad feelings by helping teach Bond how to gamble and gain entry into the private club that Weldon frequented.
Before the story ends, Bond learns about indebtedness, friendship, loyalty, betrayal and comes out of the efforts a stronger, more determined agent. He also learns the true nature of Weldon’s visit to Italy, an undercover mission that left his reputation as a hero. While the entire 12-issue run has been very good, this final three-part story arc was my favorite.
THREE AND THREE-QUARTER STARS.
#337-#346 = BALLAD FOR SOPHIE graphic novel by Filipe Melo and Juan Cavia (Top Shelf Productions, 2021) A full review of this was posted to the blog for Thursday, May 22. FIVE STARS.
#347-#348 = THE KIDS one-shot by Garth Ennis and Dalibor Talajic (Image Comics/Ninth Circle, March 2025) Here’s a short synopsis: During a quiet evening, in a single instant, every child under the age of one shoots up in growth to adult size. They are hungry, confused, and scared. People don’t understand exactly what happened and react as if their child has been stolen by a naked person who broke into their home. Things escalate quickly into some horrifying situations.
When comics creators have only a single issue (even an over-sized one) or a short story to lay out their tale and conclude it - - the rule of thumb is to keep it simple. However, when the name of certain creators is attached, for example = Garth Ennis, then expectations may rise and more is anticipated. Ennis didn’t disappoint with this one, although it’s not going to rank with any of his notable works of more length, those which really allowed him to get in depth and flex those creative muscles.
Still, he did an awful lot here with the material at hand. It is a cool premise, and could lend itself to many possibilities. Ennis focuses on a single family, how they react, what actions they take, what they learn, and what they take away from the experience. He even manages to get in a few jabs at parenting in general and put in a word for those without children who are sometimes looked down upon.
When it comes down to it, this is an adventure yarn - and a good one. The ending was abrupt - - as quickly as things turned chaotic they turned just as quickly back to normal.
Neat art from Dalibor Talajic - he depicts these infants suddenly growing into adult bodies as awkward and unwieldy as should be expected. FOUR STARS.
#349-#350 = EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS #11 (Oni Press/EC Comics, May 2025) My favorite this issue, and also one of the best of this series so far, is “Ill Temperance” by Jay Stephens and David Rubin. A perpetual drunk frequents a bar from open to close. He can, because he’s self employed - - and ill tempered. One day, he receives a message left for him at the bar by an unknown sender. That leads him down a trail of discovering the consequences of his poor habits.
Don’t be stingy with tipping the floral delivery person in “Pruning Lessons” by Greg Pak and Dan McDaid. You never know when those modern gardening innovations might blossom. Payback isn’t rosy.
A successful female governor in a Puritanical village meets with disdain from her male legislators when she suggests vaccination as a cure for the smallpox plague. She’s been too good at her job, which makes the council suspect she’s a witch who made a deal with the devil. Burn, witch, burn.
Overall, another FOUR STAR collection.
#351-#352 = VATICAN CITY #2 of 3 by Mark Millar and Per Berg (Dark Horse Comics, May 2025) It feels like this story is just getting started - - but it’s going to wrap up in one more issue. Credit Millar for not stretching things out and keeping it tight - - since when all is said and done this is simply an action-adventure story. There’s not much in the way of character development, which surprises me for a Millar book, but there just hasn’t been enough time to get there. Still, young Guido Cavelti, the applicant for a new Swiss Guard position at the Vatican, shows his courage, integrity, and caring this issue as he stands up to the leader of the vampire horde seeking to release the Queen entombed/trapped beneath the multi-layered Vatican building.
The Catholic Church’s long history with vampires is revealed and the role of the Vatican in keeping things under wraps for centuries. Guido outsmarts the vampires and creates a stalemate: come any closer and he’ll blow up the Queen. His plan is to demand a plane so he and those he is protecting can escape (and bring the Queen with them). What he hadn’t counted on is revealed when the Queen’s resting place is finally uncovered - - she’s huge.
Since I had already pre-ordered Issue #2 before I even had a chance to read Issue #1 - - I just went for it and pre-ordered Issue #3. Might as well see this through to the end. As adventure stories go, this is decent. Although, I’m not entirely satisfied with Per Berg’s art style - too sketchy for my tastes. Note to Millar fans: if you’re a collector of his work you’ll want this. However, it’s not the title to persuade your friends to read more Millar. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
