007 #2, from Dynamite Comics on September 7th, 2022, unravel the truth behind 003’s death, putting Bond in the cross-hairs of a new organization bent on recruiting agents or killing those who resist.
The Details
- Written by: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
- Art by: Marco Finnegan
- Colors by: Dearbhla Kelly
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Tommy Lee Edwards (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: September 7, 2022
Is It Good?
007 #2 is a perfectly serviceable in the next installment of the super spy franchise with plenty of character development, the blossoming mystery about a secret organization up to no good, and a few fisticuffs for good measure. Does that mean this is a great 007 comic? No, not really.
The bright spot in this issue is Johnson’s take on fleshing out 003 as an agent beloved, admired, and respected by her colleagues. Having never met agent Gwen Gann, except for her introduction in the first issue, you get a true sense of her legacy from the bonding moments shared by the people who survived her.
The positive aspect of this comic, the development of 003’s reputation, is also this comic’s downside. Nearly half of the issue is spent with 00 agents sharing memories of 003, and to be blunt, it doesn’t matter. This is a 007 comic. All James Bond needs to act is motivation, and it’s already been given with 003’s death, so the lengthy war stories seem like wasted time and filler that drag the pace of the story to a crawl.
In fairness, it’s possible 003’s backstory was fleshed out in anticipation of a surprise reveal in a later issue, but as it stands now, half of this issue could have been trimmed away without affecting the outcome. That’s not encouraging for the second issue in an arc.
The art in this issue is fine. Finnegan’s stylized pencils/inks are blocky and crude, making for characters with odd anatomy distortions, but the style is intentional, so you can either choose to like it or not. Thankfully, Kelly’s coloring adds a bit of visual interest with Ben-Day dots to emphasize which panels are flashbacks.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Read our 007 #1 review to learn how James Bond knew Gwen Gann and what happened to her.
We begin with a flashback between James Bond and Gwen Gann as they spar and discuss the previous agent holding the 007 moniker. The flashback occurs during Gwen Gann’s funeral. Later, James attends a private get-together in the secluded back room of a pub. The gathering is populated by other 00 agents who’ve all come to pay their respects and share stories about 003.
Afterward, Bond is approached by M to pick up the secret mission Gann was working on when she was killed. Gann identified an organization named Myrmidon, which was responsible for several assassinations and appeared to be recruiting top agents from intelligence organizations around the world.
We conclude the issue with a difference in priorities, a broken toothpick, and a trap.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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007 #2 is a serviceable second issue in Johnson’s latest take on 007. The story reveals a big threat worthy of Bond’s talents, and the character development is excellent. However, most of the character development centers on a deceased character who has no bearing on Bond’s actions moving forward.
Related Information
Who will play the next James Bond?
The name of the next actor to play James Bond has not been announced as of August 2022. We know it will not be Daniel Craig.
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