JAMES BOND: HIMEROS #3, available from Dynamite Comics on December 8th, 2021, pits super spy against unstoppable assassin as 007 must protect the one woman who could bring the world’s elites tumbling down.
The Details
- Written By: Rodney Barnes
- Art By: Pierluigi Minotti
- Colors By: Adriano Augusto
- Letters By: Social Myth Studios
- Cover Art By: Francesco Francavilla (cover A)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: December 8, 2021
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Was It Good?
JAMES BOND: HIMEROS #3 is a strong entry in the series. The story clears up a lingering mystery (and possibly introduces a new one), establishes the threat level for the story’s main villain (hint: it’s pretty darn high), and changes the course of the story with much higher stakes.
As far as this being a proper James Bond series so far, yes, this issue keeps the bar high. Existing Bond fans should be pleased with Barnes’s authentic take on the character, and the “ripped from the headlines” plot feels current without changing the core elements you would expect from a Bond adventure.
There are, however, two minor down points that bring down the rating on this issue.
First, the plot focuses on an escape chase from the seemingly unstoppable assassin coming for Sarah Richmond. It’s always a good idea to have a villain that’s as powerful or more than the hero, but the villain here is a little too unkillable to believe. Bond has more than one opportunity to go on the offensive and eliminate his adversary, and he fails to get the job done, making this Bond slightly uncharacteristic.
Second, we have a new artist on the book. While Minotti’s style is somewhat in line with the prior artist (Antonio Fuso), the blacks are overly done in several spots, making it look like dramatic shadows were rendered with a very thick Sharpie applied sloppily. It’s not terrible art, but it looks like a mild downgrade from the prior issues.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
James Bond starts off this issue all wet. Find out how that happened by first reading our JAMES BOND: HIMEROS #2 review.
James Bond and Sarah Richmond are hiding out on a fishing boat after their car took a seaside cliff dive while being chased by the assassin. The assassin makes an educated guess, after looking at the car wreckage, as to which way they went and heads off in pursuit.
While James and Sarah talk about their next move, James presses her on why anyone would hire an elite assassin if she isn’t holding damaging information about Wilhelm Island. Sarah admit she knows everything, but the only way to bring the conspirators down is to get proof. That means getting back to Wilhelm Island.
James agrees on the new course of action but he’s suspicious of Sarah’s motive. She may be using her explanation as a ruse to get back to the island so she can kill James with the island’s many security systems and get the evidence for a black market sale. As they head off in the fishing boat, the assassin arrives to make the first leg of 007’s journey a very difficult one.
Final Thoughts
JAMES BOND: HIMEROS #3 is a strong entry in the series with clarity about what Sarah Richmond knows, bigger examples of just how dangerous their pursuing assassin really is, and a new direction for the plot that could be the end of 007 or the end for many of the world’s rich and powerful. The action, the reveals, and the overall pacing are very good, but the shift to a new artist brings the art quality down a few notches.
Score: 8/10
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