James Bond 007 #[5] - The Man with the Golden Gun

(February 2004)

The Spy Who Loved Me (Table of Contents: 1)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 1 page (report information)

Script

Lucy Fleming

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Introduction by Lucy Fleming, Ian Fleming's niece.

Bond in Books (Table of Contents: 2)

Bond In Books / comic story / 2 pages (report information)

Script

Paul Simpson

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Part 1 of 6. Details Ian Fleming's background and how he became a writer, on up to the debut of the newspaper strip adaptations of his work. Because the first few Titan books in this series were published out of sequence, this article continues in OCTOPUSSY (Titan, May 2004).

The Men with the Golden Pens (Table of Contents: 3)

text article / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Yaroslav Horak

Inks

Yaroslav Horak

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Introduction of writer Jim Lawrence and artist Yaroslav Horak, who took over the JAMES BOND newspaper strip with the 14th story, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN. The series became more violent and complex, in effect closer to Fleming's concept, even as the adaptations became less faithful but more fleshed-out.

The Man with the Golden Gun (Table of Contents: 4)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Yaroslav Horak

Inks

Yaroslav Horak

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Introduction notes that the comic gives James Bond a much stronger motivation for going after the story's villain than the original novel (published after Fleming's death, presumably from an unfinished, 1st-draft version). Elements of this story turned up early in the film DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002).

The Man with the Golden Gun (Table of Contents: 5)

James Bond 007 / comic story / 53 pages (report information)

Script

Ian Fleming (credited) (original story); Jim Lawrence (credited) (adaptation)

Pencils

Yaroslav Horak (credited)

Inks

Yaroslav Horak (credited)

Letters

Yaroslav Horak

Genre

spy

Characters

Bill Tanner; M; Miss Moneypenny; Kissy Suzuki; James Bond; Colonel Boris (KGB); Captain Walker (MI5 Liason officer); Major Townsend (MI5 "soft man"); Colonel Ross (MI5 Jamaica); Mary Goodnight; Philip Margesson (MI5, victim of Scaramanga); Chitra Mahal (nurse, KGB); Francisco "Pistols" "Paco" Scaramanga; Tiffy (hotel manager); Sam Binion (ex-Purple Gang); Leroy Gengerella (Miami show biz); Ruby Rotkopf (Vegas Casinos); Hal Garfinkel (Chicago union funds); Louie Paradise (Phoenix slot machines); Mr. Hendriks (Dutchman, European money); Felix Leiter (CIA); Nick (CIA); Ramon (thug)

Synopsis

Believed dead in Japan, Bond returns to England via Russia, and almost kills M while brainwashed. Following treatment, he's sent to Jamaica on a "suicide" mission to take out Francisco Scaramanga, a hitman-for-hire who specializes in "scientific maiming". A virtual "hoods convention" at an under-financed resort hotel leads to a deadly train ride through a crocodile-infested swamp.

Reprints

• from James Bond 007 (Titan, 1987 series) #[1] (June 1987)
which is reprinted
• from James Bond strip (The Daily Express) 1966.01.10 - 1966.09.10 (January 10, 1966-September 10, 1966)
• in The James Bond Omnibus (Titan, 2009 series) #002 (February 2011)
• from THE DAILY EXPRESS (January 10, 1966-September 10, 1966). Previously reprinted in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (Titan, June 1987).

Indexer Notes

Story #14. Faithful adaptation of Ian Fleming's 12th (and last) 007 novel (13th book) from 1965. In the tradition of THE SAINT tv series with Roger Moore, this adaptation adds substantial material to the original novel while remaining faithful to it, improving the story in the process. Apart from the characters of Scaramanga and Mary Goodnight, the subsequent 1974 film bears virtually no resemblance to the novel or comic.

The Living Daylights (Table of Contents: 6)

foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Yaroslav Horak

Inks

Yaroslav Horak

Letters

typeset

Indexer Notes

Includes cover of original hardbound edition of OCTOPUSSY AND THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (Jonathan Cape, 1965).

The Living Daylights (Table of Contents: 7)

James Bond 007 / comic story / 14 pages (report information)

Script

Ian Fleming (credited) (original story); Jim Lawrence (credited) (adaptation)

Pencils

Yaroslav Horak (credited)

Inks

Yaroslav Horak (credited)

Letters

Yaroslav Horak

Genre

spy

Characters

Agent 272 (double-agent); Comrade "Trigger" (KGB hitman); M; Bill Tanner; James Bond; Miss Moneypenny; Paul Sender (MI5, West Berlin)

Synopsis

A double-agent is targeted by the KGB to be killed while he crosses the Berlin Wall; Bond is assigned to kill the KBG assassin first. While waiting, he becomes slightly infatuated by a female cello player...

Reprints

• from James Bond 007 (Titan, 1987 series) #[1] (June 1987)
which is reprinted
• from James Bond strip (The Daily Express) 1966.09.12 - 1966.11.12 (September 12, 1966-November 12, 1966)
• in The James Bond Omnibus (Titan, 2009 series) #002 (February 2011)
• from THE DAILY EXPRESS (September 12, 1966-November 12, 1966). Previously reprinted in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (Titan, June 1987).

Indexer Notes

Story #15. Faithful adaptation of Ian Fleming's short story which originally appeared in THE SUNDAY TIMES, which inadvertently offended the publisher of THE DAILY EXPRESS, leading to the comic-strip's cancellation for a year. It's noted the continuity of having this story appear at this point is somewhat "off", as Bond appears bored with his job (as he would have been following THUNDERBALL) rather than having a renewed desire for vengeance against the KGB (as he would be following THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN). Presumably it was the problems connected with the short story that caused the delay in its being adapted into the comic-strip. Jim Lawrence changed only the ending of his adaptation. The story later appeared, somewhat faithfully, as the opening sequence (and springboard) of the 1987 film.

The Complete James Bond Syndicated Newspaper Checklist (Table of Contents: 8)

text article / 1 page (report information)

Indexer Notes

covers 1958-1983

James Bond Will Return in... Octopussy (Table of Contents: 9) (Expand) /

James Bond 007 / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)