JAMES BOND: HIMEROS #4 – Review

JAMES BOND: HIMEROS #4, from Dynamite Comics on January 19th, 2022, takes 007 on a trip to Wilhelm Island to secure the evidence needed to bring the islands patrons to justice. Unfortunately, those patrons are determined to keep the island’s secrets hidden forever.

The Details

• Written By: Rodney Barnes
• Art By: Giorgio Pontrelli
• Colors By: Adriano Augusto
• Letters By: Social Myth Studios
• Cover Art By: Francesco Francavilla
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Release Date: January 19, 2022

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Was It Good?

JAMES BOND: HIMEROS #4 is a mixed bag in an otherwise intriguing series about the corrupt power protecting an island of sex slaves and depraved vices. The high points of the issue involve the writing and the very fine line Barnes walks depicting 007 doing what he does while resisting temptations that are not in his best interests. The low point, sadly, is the art.

Focusing first on the story, we finally get to visit the infamous Wilhelm Island. Barnes wisely stays away from gratuitous shock value and instead focuses on keeping the readers’ attention on what matters to Sarah Richmond (her personal space) and the goods kept in a secret safe. This easily could have devolved into voyeuristic leering at torture chambers and the like, but readers are kept firmly on point for the story, and that was the right call.

Readers also get what at first appears to be an unrelated prologue, but the prologue shows how Wilhelm’s downfall is having indirect consequences for all sorts of unsavory leaders and the criminal underworld. Exposing Wilhelm’s clientele will have massive implications on a global scale for the elite and powerful. Barnes does an excellent job of showing readers the gravity of that exposure instead of telling you.

The main down point of the issue is the art. The story is quite good, so if you can get past the visuals, you’ll have no issue picking up this issue (say that five times fast). The art duties up to now were handled by Antonio Fuso, but this issue was handed off to Giorgio Pontrelli. The handoff could be due to scheduling conflicts are any number of other reasons, but the net result is a noticeable downturn in quality for the pencils/inks. To be blunt, the inking looks likes it was completed with a Sharpie marker. Not clean. Not crisp. Not great.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]

To get caught up on how James Bond wound up with Wilhelm Island as his destination, first read our JAMES BOND: HIMEROS #3 review.

We begin with a prologue meeting between a very dangerous arms dealer and a Minister from Nigeria to discuss a possible deal to outfit a portion of Nigerian forces with a deadly new gun. The Nigerian Minister declines as the arms dealer has a known association with Richard Wilhelm. An association the Nigerian Government wants no part of. The negotiation ends abruptly and violently.

We catch up with Sarah Richmond and James bong boarding a private plane to get to Wilhelm Island. Sarah knows where the secret files are stored, and she’s determined to see the files recovered in case the ceaseless waves of assassins succeed. During the flight, Sarah feels safe enough with James for heavy flirting. James responds in kind but stops himself from going further when he reminds Sarah she’s far from innocent in the island’s infamy.

When the plane lands, they enter the main compound but stop briefly for Sarah to visit her room for the last time. The decor looks like something out of a child’s room and it serves as a stark reminder of the innocence Sarah desperately tried (and failed) to hold onto. Moving on, the duo enters the secret storeroom and retrieves the attendance files.

We conclude the issue with the realization that there are many armed mercenaries on the island looking for the same thing, 007 making a promise he may have to keep, and a mercenary boos making his introductions.

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