James Bond Omnibus Volumes

DutchfingerDutchfinger Holland With LovePosts: 1,240MI6 Agent
I only recently discovered these actually excisted: The James Bond Omnibus volumes.
They are a collection of the James Bond comic series that used to be printed daily in the Daily Express from the 50'ies somewhere up to the late 70'ies.

The first volume contains the comic versions of Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia with Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, Risico, From a View to a Kill, For Your Eyes Only and Thunderball!

They are all supposedly faithful adaptions to some extent) of the Ian Fleming novels. They sound quite intresting, and I am thinking of getting the first volume.

My question is, is there anyone here that also owns these or has any knowledge on the subject? Are they any good?


jamesbondomnibus.jpg
Better known as DutchBondFan on YouTube. My 007 movie reviews: Recapping 007
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Comments

  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I've wanted to get hold of these for a while now, I'm paid Friday so I shall have a look on Amazon -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 26,418Chief of Staff
    I've not got the omnibus editions - well, I may have one lurking about somewhere - but I have several of the individual story/comic books...they are very good -{
    YNWA 97
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,058Chief of Staff
    Seconded. I have most of them, highly recommended.
  • DutchfingerDutchfinger Holland With LovePosts: 1,240MI6 Agent
    That's very good to hear!
    Do any of you care to share some photos from the omnibus comics?
    Better known as DutchBondFan on YouTube. My 007 movie reviews: Recapping 007
    YouTube channel Support my channel on Patreon Twitter Facebook fanpage
  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    I have the first two. They are a fun read and something a bit different from the novels. I am curious how the latter, not based on Fleming's work, comics are.
    1. Ohmss 2. Frwl 3. Op 4. Tswlm 5. Tld 6. Ge 7. Yolt 8. Lald 9. Cr 10. Ltk 11. Dn 12. Gf 13. Qos 14. Mr 15. Tmwtgg 16. Fyeo 17. Twine 18. Sf 19. Tb 20 Tnd 21. Spectre 22 Daf 23. Avtak 24. Dad
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,646MI6 Agent
    I'd recommend them too. I have an omnibus edition with the Colonel Sun strip in it.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Walter P PeekayWalter P Peekay Posts: 30MI6 Agent
    The book with Colonel Sun in it is "Volume 003". I hadn't read any of these, and I deliberately bought one that wasn't adaptations of the Fleming novels. I was happily surprised - the stories are really good and well-written, and the art (printed in tiny size in the Daily Express newspaper at the time), while restricted to three panels is very dramatic, clear and impactful. There's little humour in these "comic strips" - they're very much like the novels, though occasionally a little more far-fetched. And James Bond certainly looks like James Bond should. Those stories about Fleming wanting David Niven to do it show that he really didn't know what he had in 007!
  • RevelatorRevelator Posts: 558MI6 Agent
    I only recently discovered these actually excisted: The James Bond Omnibus volumes.
    They are a collection of the James Bond comic series that used to be printed daily in the Daily Express from the 50'ies somewhere up to the late 70'ies.
    [...] They are all supposedly faithful adaptions to some extent) of the Ian Fleming novels. They sound quite interesting, and I am thinking of getting the first volume.
    My question is, is there anyone here that also owns these or has any knowledge on the subject? Are they any good?

    I own all the Fleming-derived comics, and they are definitely worth getting. They're a must-buy for anyone who's finished the original novels and is hungry for more Fleming. And they are indeed faithful to the books, which means that the comic versions of LALD, MR, DAF, "From a View to A Kill," YOLT, and TMWTGG are truer adaptations than the films. And since the comics started earlier than the movies, they're period pieces from the same era as their sources. If you've ever wanted illustrated versions of the Bond books, buy the comics. You'll have a lot of fun comparing them to how you pictured the books.

    That said, the first set of adaptations--CR, LALD, MR, DAF, FRWL, DN, and GF--have their limitations. First, they are slightly bowdlerized, with less violence and sex than the books or movies. Second, they often read like digests rather than thorough adaptations, because the stories aren't given enough room to breathe. Also, while John McLusky's art is proficient, his characters tend to look the same.

    Putting aside the aborted adaptation of TB (cancelled due to a snit by Lord Beaverbrook), the comic strip really hits its stride with OHMSS and YOLT. These are truly excellent adaptations. Instead of rushing through the book in a couple months, Henry Gammidge was able to spend over half a year with each. His version of OHMSS is even more faithful than the film (and makes for a fascinating counterpart) and his version of YOLT is priceless, because it's unlikely that we'll ever see a closer adaptation of this strange and incredible novel. Gammidge makes a few changes, but they're justified. For instance, Blofeld is given more a more ingenious death...

    After YOLT, a new creative team took over. Yaroslav Horak's artwork might be too busy and stylized for some, but I find it more stylish, exciting, and skilled than McLusky's. Jim Lawrence, the new scriptwriter, displayed great powers of imagination. His version of TLD is extremely faithful but adds a brilliant twist in the final panel. His version of TMWTGG is arguably better than Fleming's. Most impressively, Lawrence was given the task of turning several of the "problem" stories--TSWLM, "The Hildebrand Rarity," and "Octopussy"--into action strips, and he succeeded in expanding the stories while retaining their original appeal. His version of Colonel Sun is faithful, effective, and would have delighted Kingsley Amis. I've only read two of Lawrence's original Bond stories--The River of the Death and The Harpies--but they struck me as fine, if outlandish, pastiches, and more Bondian than anything Gardner wrote.

    Indeed, considering Lawrence and Horal's legacy, their work deserves film adaptation more than any continuation novel, especially since comics are already a visual medium. The makers of the Bond films should have taken a look at Lawrence's success in adapting TMWTGG, TSWLM, OP, and "Hildebrand."
    And James Bond certainly looks like James Bond should. Those stories about Fleming wanting David Niven to do it show that he really didn't know what he had in 007!

    The Niven story isn't quite true. Fleming's first choice seems to have been Richard Burton, though later down the line he mentioned Niven as a possible Bond.
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,646MI6 Agent
    Thank you for that very interesting commentary on the Bond comic strips, Revelator. :) -{ -{
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Polar Bear 0007Polar Bear 0007 CanadaPosts: 129MI6 Agent
    I have them all and enjoyed them!

    I can add little to Revelator's excellent comments. Some of the stories are quite far fetched and border being silly. Remember, the original stories (post Fleming) are comics, and as such, are very different from the Fleming novels....
    This is where we leave you Mr. Bond. (Pilot, Apollo Airlines)
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Just brought the first three from Waterstones. Each Panel is a good Size and they come in those flexible Hardback Covers -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I've just ordered these from Waterstones, will collect them later today. {[]
    As I've just read Colonel Sun, it will be interesting to read the graphic novel
    Version. :)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    What do you think of them so far ?
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Sadly I got a call from my local branch to tell me they had one copy
    Left, but the bottom was badly battered ! :# Had to tell them I wouldn't
    Take that copy and would wait for a new one to be delivered, as I wasn't
    In a rush. So it will probably be next week before I get it now. :#
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    If I had a spare Copy, I would send you it -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    It will only be a couple more sleeps and it will be here. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Better then Christmas -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • InternationalExportsInternationalExports Posts: 269MI6 Agent
    Hi guys, I was a huge fan of the films for years but only started reading the original novels afte rmy brother bought me all of the Felming novels last christmas. I read OHMSS and loved it and YOLT I loved all the material with regards to Tanaka teaching a petulant Bond Japanese culture, but found in the end that was all a waste of time because other than scale the wall to Shatterhands garden he didn't use what he was taught, the ending seemed rushed by Fleming. I just started TMWTGG which confussed me because one minute a brainwashed bonds in M's office ready to do away with the old man before then being carted off for psych treatment and the next he's in an airport on the other side of the world.... My question is this has anyone written a novel detailing what Bond went through during his amnesia period after leaving Japan to enter Russia at the end of YOLT all we know from TMWTGG is that the Russians asked him questions and treated him well.. I also in my opinion believe the novels trounce the films so much amazing details and stroyline never made it to screen OHMSS should have made for the best Bond film had they stuck to the book.
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,058Chief of Staff
    My question is this has anyone written a novel detailing what Bond went through during his amnesia period after leaving Japan to enter Russia at the end of YOLT.

    Not officially. John Pearson gives it a few lines, referring to the Russians using certain drugs and playing on his subconscious resentment of M, but that's about it. There may be some fan fiction, though.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    In the TMWTGG Strip that's in the second Omnibus , there are a few Panels showing the Russians interrogating Bond after the Events of YOLT -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • InternationalExportsInternationalExports Posts: 269MI6 Agent
    Thank you gentlemen -{
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Picked up the 003 edition this afternoon, looks great, hopefully
    I'll get a flick through it this week, and look out for the others. -{
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    There's another Volume out next Month -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    -{ I'll keep an eye out for it.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    http://mobile.philly.com/entertainment/?wss=/philly/entertainment&id=278321611

    Dynamite Entertainment, of Mount Laurel, N.J., has announced perhaps the biggest deal in its history, landing the worldwide rights to publish comic books, digital comics and graphic novels starring Ian Fleming's Secret Agent 007.

    As part of the deal, Dynamite plans to create a series of brand-new adventures about the little-known early years of Bond's career, in addition to bringing back famous villains and a bevy of Bond babes.

    "James Bond is one of the greatest cultural icons in the world," Dynamite CEO and publisher Nick Barrucci said in a statement. "The original prose storytelling serves as the basis for one of the most successful film franchises ever, a franchise that reinvents itself to be in tune with each generation. By doing so, it allows the character to be an ever-progressive pop-culture phenomenon, one that energizes existing fans and engages new fans, thus helping to ensure that Bond's relevance and importance will live on forever. The high-octane action, the charm, the unquestionable allure of this man of action - it all stems from Ian Fleming. We are excited to build upon Fleming's source material with new canonical stories, and are honored at Dynamite to be a small part of his legacy, to be able to bring new stories to fans around the world.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Brilliant News {[]
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
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