JAMES BOND: 007 #5, by Dynamite Comics on 5/22/24, takes 007 to the heart of Syria to infiltrate the Russian encampment harboring a deadly WMD.
Credits:
- Writer: Garth Ennis
- Artist: Rapha Lobosco
- Colorist: Jorge Sutil
- Letterer: Rob Steen
- Cover Artist: Dave Johnson
- Publisher: Dynamite Comics
- Release Date: May 22, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 22
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of JAMES BOND: 007 #5:
Plot Analysis:
Things are heating up in the desert in Garth Ennis’s latest entry in the James Bond series when 007 follows the trail of the stolen Project Stalvoda to the Russians who allowed it to be stolen in the first place. Confused? We’ve got you covered.
In issue #4, James Bond outsmarted the masterminds behind Project Stalvoda’s theft by not falling for the red herrings that led to M as the mole. Instead, Bond tricked the spies following him into a torture trap, leading to the biggest surprise of all. It was the Russians all along.
JAMES BOND: 007 #5 sends James on a recon mission based on the information he extracted from the enemy spies in the previous issue. Combining his recent intel with American reconnaissance videos, 007 heads to Syria, where the Russian encampment holding the Stalvoda materials is supposedly kept for field testing. Once Bond confirms the materials are where they’re supposed to be, M will send in air support for extraction.
Bond picks up a submarine transport to get him to shore, where he’s met by an old contact, Mahmoud. The two travel by jeep through the desert to get as close to the Russian encampment as possible without being noticed. The two catch up through idle chit-chat, but their talk is interrupted by the approach of two attack choppers. Mahmoud pulls a gun with apologies to his old friend because he must turn over Bond in exchange for the safe return of his children.
Bond turns the tables on Mahmoud and kills him. He then sets off an explosive device near the choppers to blow them off course and low enough to the ground for Bond to jump on board. Bond commandeers his chopper and destroys the second before they know what’s happening. Bond forces the pilot to take him to the encampment.
A short while later, Bond orders the chopper down to jump off just after releasing a grenade in the cab. The explosion creates enough of a diversion to sneak into the camp and confirm the Stalvoda materials are present. He calls in air support, but it will take time to arrive, and that’s more than enough time for Bond to be discovered by a very large Russian.
Character Development:
Ennis takes James Bond on a quintessential Bond adventure. As such, he’s as smooth, confident, and unflappable as ever. That said, the unique bit of character growth we see in this issue is a private conversation between M and Moneypenny about the recent suspicions raised over M’s involvement in Project Stalvoda. The outcome of the chat is uncertain, which could lead to a bigger rift between the colleagues in the future.
Artwork and Presentation:
Rapha Lobosco’s artwork is super solid in this issue. As noted in the reviews of the previous issues, this series is atypically blood/gory for a 007 adventure. Here, you get impalements, headshots, and death aplenty through gruesome means, but it never comes off as gratuitous or out of place.
Art Samples:
Pacing and Structure:
Garth Ennis’s pace is smooth, brisk, and full of energy. Even during the quiet moments when characters are engaging in simple conversation, there’s a pervasive sense of movement that makes you feel like unseen things are happening.
The structure is likewise super solid and full of energy. Bond’s path is clear, the stakes are obvious, and the threat level regarding his mission keeps the drama high.
Thematic Exploration:
This issue personifies the simplest of themes – good versus evil. Bond knows the Russians will do terrible things with Stalvoda once it’s in full use, and he’s fairly certain the same applies to any government that gets it. Therefore, Bond straddles the line between following orders and making sure the risk to innocent life is mitigated at all costs.
Final Thoughts:
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JAMES BOND: 007 #5 continues James Bond’s mission to retake a deadly WMD from the Russians before all hell breaks loose. Garth Ennis’s script is action-packed and full of deadly situations for the world’s greatest spy. Plus, Rapha Lobosco’s art is super-solid.
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