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James Bond drawn
by John McLusky for the 1959 Daily Express comic strip
adaptation of DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. |
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007 as drawn by HORAK for the 1972
Daily Express comic strip Isle of Condors. |
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Illustrator Mike
Grell's take on James Bond for the 1989 graphic novel
Permission to Die. |
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Dynamite
Entertainment, a leading publisher of English language comic books and
graphic novels, is proud to announce their partnership with Ian
Fleming Publications Ltd. (IFPL), the company that owns and
administers the literary copyright of Ian Fleming's published works,
including his fourteen James Bond books.
Under their agreement, negotiated by Jonny Geller of Curtis Brown,
Dynamite has been granted worldwide rights to publish comic books,
digital comics, and graphic novels starring 007, Fleming's iconic
secret agent will re-live the exploits that have thrilled and
captivated fans for over half a century in fresh visual adaptations of
the classic Bond stories.
Moreover, Dynamite plans to create a series of brand new adventures
unveiling the defining - and largely undocumented - early years of
Bond's career. These new stories will draw inspiration from the
Fleming canon to explore Bond's ‘origins': his raw early years before
he gambled with his life in the first novel, CASINO ROYALE (1953).
Some other familiar faces from the expansive 007 mythos will also make
appearances in this series - criminal masterminds, hired henchmen,
glamorous Bond Girls, and secret service allies - alongside all-new
characters.
Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications, says,
“It's over sixty years since the publication of CASINO ROYALE, and now
more than ever it's an exciting time to be a Bond fan. We're thrilled
that 007 will be revisiting the world of comics, as Fleming's novels
have a long and successful history in this medium, ever since they
began to be published as newspaper comic strips in the late fifties.
Dynamite are the perfect partners to take on the challenge of
continuing this legacy, and we are very much looking forward to
working with them.”
“In the journey of discovering new readers for Ian Fleming's classic
Bond stories, we are delighted to be partnering with Dynamite in
exploring different ways to broaden the audience. Visually and
literally, James Bond will have a new face,” says Jonny Geller, Joint
CEO of Curtis Brown.
“Ian Fleming's James Bond is one the best-known characters in the
world, yet we know very little of his background and beginnings," says
Editor Mike Lake. "The Bond villains are some of the most memorable
figures in popular culture. Where did they come from... and in some
cases, where did they go?”
“James Bond is one of the greatest cultural icons in the world. His
author and creator, Ian Fleming, was not only in touch with popular
culture in his time, but also saw ahead of his time, and his written
work will outlive us all,” says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of
Dynamite Entertainment. “The character, the structure, and the source
material is so strong. 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're
excited to build upon the author's source material with new canonical
stories, and honoured at Dynamite to be a small part of his legacy, to
be able to bring new stories to fans around the world.”
Ian Fleming's World War II service as assistant to the Director of
Naval Intelligence in London granted him a wealth of experience in the
world of espionage, on which he drew when writing his novels. Fleming
published fourteen James Bond titles and lived to witness their
enormous success in print and on film. His cultural legacy has thrived
for over fifty years, as millions of readers worldwide continue to
discover and enjoy his work.
Dynamite plans to launch its first James Bond comic books in 2015,
soliciting periodical issues in Diamond Comic Distributors' Previews
catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book
specialty market. Digital editions will be available simultaneously
through such platforms as Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and
Dark Horse Digital. Original graphic novels and collections will be
released through the comic book specialty market, digital platforms,
and numerous book market channels including Amazon, Barnes and Noble,
and more. |
