Titan Comics has revealed 2000AD artist Chris Weston‘s cover for its first Ian Fleming’s James Bond Signature Comic Strip Collection, due for release next February.
If you missed out on the publisher’s previous collections of the stunning James Bon strip, and even if you didn’t, then this looks like a great new series. The first volume features the first seven full-length James Bond newspaper comic strip adventures, drawn by acclaimed artist John McLusky, that helped inspire the James Bond cinematic universe.
Cover artist Chris Weston should need no introduction to regular downthetubes readers, whose art has graced the covers of many titles, including, recently, Flash Gordon and The Trigan Empire. His recent work for 2000AD publisher Rebellion includes “Megatropolis II” for Judge Dredd Megazine, in addition to a wide range of strips for 2000AD, drawing characters such as Judge Dredd and others. Currently considering a Ministry of Space Artist’s Edition, beyond 2000AD his work includes Paranoid Gardens, for Dark Horse, Fantastic Four: First Family, Enemy Ace: War in Heaven, The Filth, The Twelve, and more.
Ian Fleming’s James Bond Signature Comic Strip Collection Volume One, in book and comic shops from on 27th February 2027, includes the first three years of “James Bond” newspaper strips first published in the Daily Express, betweenJuly 1958 until May 1961: full-length stories of “Casino Royale”, “Live and Let Die”, “Moonraker”, “Diamonds Are Forever”, “From Russia, with Love”, “Dr. No” and “Goldfinger”.
The first strip, Casino Royale, was published in 1958, adapted by Anthony Hern, who previously had serialised Diamonds Are Forever and From Russia with Love for the Daily Express. The majority of the early comic strips were adapted by Henry Gammidge, other than the “Dr. No” adaptation, published in 1960, written by Modesty Blaise creator, Peter O’Donnell. John McLusky later would illustrate twelve more James Bond comic strips with partner Gammidge, until 1966.
“James Bond is a cultural phenomenon, that spawned a world-wide love affair with the whole spy genre which still resonates to this day,” say Titan Comics. “This book is a must have for fans of James Bond”Mixing incredible gadgets, thrilling car chases, beautiful women, hard-hitting action and the occasional Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred.”
This edition book also includes a unique and extensive gallery of scanned original artwork selected from the John McLusky archive by his family.
Hector John Dewhirst McLusky (20th January 1923 – 5th September 2006) was born in Glasgow, Scotland, eventually moving to Leamington Spa in 1936, via Leeds. He attended Warwick School from 1936 to 1940, and, after a period back in Leeds, proceeded to the Slade School of Art, holding the position of Art Teacher.
Between 1958 to 1966, he adapted 13 of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels or short stories, moving to draw on to work on Fleetway’s weekly girls comic, June, drawing “Secret Agent 13”, and illustrations for the groundbreaking Look & Learn. He then worked extensively on Polystyle’s TV Comic for fifteen years, drawing strips such as “Orlando”, based on the children’s TV series starring Sam Kydd, “Laurel and Hardy”, which, James Bond archivist Graham Rye notes was a personal favourite of the artist, and “The Pink Panther”. He also worked for Thames TV, on stop-motion animated series, Hattytown.
In August 1981, Gerald Lip, the Express strip editor, asked John to return to draw new James Bond strips for the Daily Star, in which the last original James Bond newspaper strips appear, which he did for three years, working with writer Jim Lawrence.
His long career also included working as Art History Lecturer and substitute teacher in Art & Art History for several years, and enjoyed an unusual passion working as a Punch & Judy puppeteer on Bournemouth Pier and Filey, in Yorkshire. He became a Professor of Punch & Judy, in recognition of his knowledge and services to this time honoured tradition.
“John McLusky’s strip cartoon work on the Daily Express James Bond stories developed over the years into a masterful technique of storytelling,” enthuses 007 Magazine editor Graham Rye. “From Ian Fleming’s adapted dialogue and a scant description of events in the most meagre of scripts imaginable, John conjured up detail and atmosphere that can only come from the mind of a truly creative individual – an artist.”
Often imitated but never bettered, be ready to be shaken, not stirred, by this new collection…
• Ian Fleming’s James Bond Signature Comic Strip Collection Volume 1 | Authors: Henry Gammidge, Anthony Hern, and Peter O’Donnell | Artist: John McClusky | Publisher: Titan Comics | Hardcover | 296 Pages | ISBN: 9781806180578 | Out: 23rd February 2027
• Pre-order it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link), or Forbidden Planet (Affiliate Link); and, in the United States, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million
Head downthetubes for…
• John McLusky’s James Bond Comic Art Strip Cartoon Site
A site all about John McLusky, run by his family, focused on the artist who started it all with the Face of Bond back in 1958. It’s also about his James Bond Comic Art. Upon the invitation of Ian Fleming and the Daily Express Newspaper, a drawing of 007 sparked an empire in print with James Bond comic art and eventually the films…
• Wikipedia: James Bond Comic Strips
• 007 Magazine: John McLusky Obituary by Graham Rye (Wayback Archive Link)
• 007 Magazine: A Tribute to John McLusky (Wayback Archive Link)
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Collections, British Comics - Current British Publishers, British Comics - Newspaper Strips, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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