James Bond: Kill Chain #1
Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Luca Casalanguida
Colorist: Chris Blythe
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: Dynamite
A review by Josh Rose
007 is doing what he does best. Spying. Well, that and seducing. And this time Bond is directing his energies towards a beautiful, potential MI6 recruit. Full of action, a car chase, and an amazing cliffhanger–James Bond: Kill Chain #1 is pretty much everything you’d expect, and that I need in a Bond comic.
One of my favourite things about James Bond: Kill Chain #1 is how after an operation goes awry, 007 does something that many would consider out of character. For me that signifies that Andy Diggle is going to put Bond through the wringer and more! That opinion is backed up by the aforementioned cliffhanger. Diggle is reaching back into the original 007 stories and using some classic elements in this new adventure.
Each Bond actor has their own unique spin on the role, choosing to focus on a particular characteristic or refining . This Bond I imagine to be a combination of Daniel Craig, tough and gritty, and Sean Connery, suave and the ultimate British spy. Still working out his voice in my head. (What would Daniel Craig sound like with a Scottish accent?)
Luca Casalanguida’s art is gorgeous, and full of action that is easy to follow. I am especially a fan of the use of shadows in James Bond: Kill Chain #1. They’re often used when the espionage is at its greatest and effectively set the dark mood for a couple scenes. Chris Blythe’s colours are effective at directing your attention and are at their most vibrant for the technology and gadgets fans expect. That being said, the technology and gadgets being used are realistic and the furthest thing from Moore and Brosnan’s campy, electric watches and exploding pen type gadgets.
The Verdict
Buy it! James Bond: Kill Chain #1 has the potential to be a great Bond story. It’s a realistic story with none of the camp, while bringing back some elements from the classic 007 adventures. Its full of exciting action, and is everything you’d expect from 007. I am genuinely excited to see how this series will turn out.
