007: FOR KING AND COUNTRY #1, from Dynamite Comics on 4/12/23, finds James Bond on the run from Myrmidon with the help of another 00 agent, long-thought dead.
The Details
- Written by: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
- Art by: Giorgio Spalletta
- Colors by: Francesco Segala, Agnese Pozza
- Letters by: Jeff Eckleberry
- Cover art by: Joseph Michael Linsner (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: April 12, 2023
Is It Good?
Picking up from the previous Phillip Kennedy Johnson arc, 007: FOR KING AND COUNTRY #1 is a fast-paced, action-packed setup for the biggest James Bond adventure yet. In nearly every aspect, this arc is an improvement over the first Myrmidon arc, and Johnson appears to be coming into his own as a solid Bond storyteller.
When last we left James Bond, he was wounded after he failed to stop the assassination of Mahmoud Nassar. Before Myrmidon’s mercenaries could finish James off, he was rescued by an unlikely savior – the reportedly-deceased Gwen Gann, aka 003. Now, James and Gwen are considered traitors by both MI6 and Myrmidon, and the world’s troubles are only just beginning.
We mentioned earlier that this arc’s beginning is significantly improved over the previous arc. That improvement comes in two areas.
First, Myrmidon’s plan, under the leadership of Sebastian Fromm, is more obvious. Johnson adequately expressed Fromm’s potential as a villain, but Fromm’s plan and how it was to be executed was more suggested than clear. You knew Fromm was a villain, but you were never sure what Fromm was doing, why he was doing it, or how. Now, the plan is abundantly clear, and Johnson escalates Fromm’s threat level with a unique twist.
Second, the art is noticeably better in this issue. Giorgio Spalleta takes over art duties from Marco Finnegan, and with no disrespect intended toward Finnegan, Spalletta is a much better fit. The lines are cleaner, the figure work is less abstract, and the finished panels have more detail. Overall, this comic just looks better.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin where the previous arc left off. James Bond barely manages to keep conscious in the back of a car as Gwendolyn Gann, the 003 agent everyone thought was dead, frantically drives away to escape a group of Mymrmidon mercenaries. The spies get away in spectacular fashion.
Later, Bond regains consciousness. Gann relates how she faked her death because there was no way to expose Myrmidon through official channels. Myrmidon has moles everywhere, and Gann and Bond are hunted by Myrmidon and MI6 as traitors to both organizations. They have no choice but to go off-grid and accept defeat.
Months later, Gann and Bond live a quiet life in a quiet village when the past comes calling. They soon learn their defeat is not as total as it seemed, but things about to get much worse for the world if they don’t act. We conclude the issue with a friendly drink and an unfriendly visitor.
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Final Thoughts
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007: FOR KING AND COUNTRY #1 starts a new arc as a continuation of the previous arc where James Bond was all but beaten by the nefarious Myrmidon organization. Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s writing is tighter and clearer, and a switch-up in the art team results in a visually-improved comic.
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