The Boys Creator Is Taking Over James Bond
Our era increasingly feels ripe for experimentation—creators lending their unique sensibilities to storied projects and franchises. In that spirit, SlashFilm reports an exciting, upcoming reinvention of James Bond. Garth Ennis, the mastermind behind such comic book hits as The Boys and Preacher, will usher in a grittier, darker, and intriguing phase of 007’s legacy. Bond fans and comic aficionados can earnestly thank Dynamite Entertainment, Ennis’s publisher and an industry staple, for initiating this stellar fusion of artistic visions, slated to hit shelves early next year.
The creator of The Boys comic, Garth Ennis, is creating a dark James Bond comic series for Dynamite Entertainment.
Deriving inspiration directly from Ian Fleming’s novels, which depict a markedly darker and more nuanced Bond than his cinematic counterpart, Ennis is poised to inject intensity into the James Bond mythos that many readers may find surprising, even shocking.
This revamped Bond will align more closely with Fleming’s original vision of a complex hero operating in an equally intricate, morally ambiguous world. Indeed, 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the franchise’s novelistic debut, Casino Royale, and seems fitting for such a meaningful transformation.
Plot-wise, Bond will confront an enigmatic, eerie Cold War superweapon in Your Cold, Cold Heart, Enni’s forthcoming contribution to the 007 universes: Stalvoda, a perfect poison dispatching victims without leaving a trace. Aptly named after the Rusian term for “steel water”—a detail so deliciously James Bond-esque—this lethal compound has the world’s defense establishments buzzing. Especially when the weapon vanishes from a laboratory, prompting M16 to enlist its best spy—007.
Comic book lovers and streaming fans know Ennis Best for The Boys, a satirical superhero series co-created with Darick Robertson, later adapted into a highly successful TV series.
Regarding visual aesthetic, the series will employ veteran artist Rapha Lobosco (behind the previous James Bond: Black Box) and cover artist Dave Johnson (known for Detective Comics and Deadpool). The narrative will also feature 007 mainstays like M, Q, Moneypenny, and Felix Leiter.
Ennis is also slated to spice things up a bit with the introduction of Archie Tryon, an idiosyncratic war veteran who enjoys leisurely seaside strolls and just so happened to smuggle the initial forum for Stalvoda out of the USSR. As our hero pursues Tyron and his links to the storied, terrifying weapon, the heartbreaker agent with the license to kill happens upon a conspiracy implicating His Majesty’s agency itself, MI6.
This revamped Bond will align more closely with Fleming’s original vision of a complex hero operating in an equally intricate, morally ambiguous world.
James Bond is in good hands with Dynamite Entertainment. No stranger to the spy’s world, the publisher sports a decade’s experience churning out riveting Bond comics, from faithful adaptations of Fleming’s masterpieces to remarkable World War II narratives. Prior work, including the lauded Kill Chain, released in 2018, proves the franchise enjoys a worthy publisher. And with Ennis thankfully on board, the series would appear on the verge of hitting new heights and breathing some fresh air into this age-old saga.
Comic book lovers and streaming fans know Ennis Best for The Boys, a satirical superhero series co-created with Darick Robertson, later adapted into a highly successful TV series. Before penning The Boys (and any James Bond comic, for that matter), comic fans worldwide embraced his series Preacher and his contributions to Punisher and Hellblazer.
While just who will inherit Daniel Craig’s tuxedo following No Time to Die remains to be seen, the comic universe nonetheless offers some solace with Ennis’ upcoming bold vision.
