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MI6 looks back at the illustrator and writer Mike
Grell's Bond comic mini series "Permission To
Die" #2 released by Eclipse Comics in 1989.
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"Permission To Die #2" Review
4th July 2004
The Story
The story picks up a day later
with Bond meeting a further contact in a crowded downtown market
in Budapest and gaining information on the location of Edaine.
Bond is ordered off the mission and to return home. However, he
disobeys his orders. After a light conversation at MI6 HQ, M and
Tanner agree to let Bond continue with the mission.
Returning to the gypsy camp, plans are made to intercept the
heavily armed prisoner transport that is moving Edaine to Budapest.
With the plan set Luludi beds Bond, after realising they may not
see each other again.
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After the carefully planed ambush of the prisoner convey has been carried out,
Bond rescues Edaine and intends to fly her in a Q-Branch
mini helicopter to the Austrian border.
While escaping they are pursued by a military attack helicopter,
which was guarding a train carrying reinforcement for the
ambushed prisoner convoy. After some creative flying, Bond
leads the military helicopter into the train, destroying
them both. However, during the fight between the helicopters
Bond's mini chopper takes damage resulting in a fuel leak,
forcing them to land before the boarder.
This forces them to complete the rest of the journey on
foot whilst being tracked by the silver bullet using assassin
"The Wolf" hired by the KGB to recapture Edaine.
That night Bond leaves Edaine to rest while looking for
a place to cross the guarded boarder. "The Wolf"
find's Edaine in Bond's absence and lays a trap. Returning
with horses before dawn to make the final dash over the
border they leave, with some quick thinking thanks to Q-Branch
they make it through the border, eliminating "The Wolf"
and border guards.
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Above: Front cover
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Once across, Edaine and Bond head for the US and the reclusive
Uncle Dr Erik Wiziadio The ending for issue two could be considered
a conclusion to the series and a further issue not required.
Cover Art
Featured in an off-centred circle, Dr Wiziadio's niece Edaine
and Bond are running across the cover, which is completed in reds
and black. The white is primarily used to depict and enhance the
characters appearance, apposed to the surrounding cover.
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| Above:
Mike Grell Original Bond Artwork |
Above: Hoagy Carmichael
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The Art
Detail in this issue fluctuates further. The convoy battle suffers
with sketchiness and night time setting. Layouts are equal to
the earlier issue and are more functional to the story with less
visual homage's to Bond. Grell's story comes through stronger,
even though the quality is not as high as the earlier issue. Issue
two feels that it was rushed to be completed compared to issue
one. Grell's Bond was closely modeled on the famous jazz pianist
Hoagy Carmichael - 1899-1981.
Dialogue
Sharper and limited use of language in book two is evident, this
helps move the story forward at a fair pace even with the sketch
cells. Dialogue is used to create the cliff hanger at the end
of this issue, thus not effective in creating reader curiosity
for issue three.
Best Line
The daughter of Kerim Bey is not likely to pass from the memory
of any man!
| MI6 Briefing
Title: Ian Fleming's 007 James Bond - Permission
to Die
Publisher: Eclipse Comics & Acme Press
Released: Issue #2 1989
Writer: Mike Grell
Illustrator: Mike Grell
Art Assistant: Dameon Willich & Mike Jones
Colorist: Julia Lacquement
Letters: Waybe Truman
Editor: Catherine Yronwode & Richard Hansom
Data Stream (Issue #1)
| Villain: |
"The Wolf", Doctor Erik Wiziadio |
| Plot: |
Bond has to attack a convoy and rescue the niece of
a reclusive scientist in order to win exclusive technology
for the UK. |
| Bond Girls: |
Luludi Bey, Edaine Gayla |
| Allies: |
Vavra, M, Major Boothroyd |
| Locations: |
Budapest, Hungry, Austrian Boarder, London |
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Above: Back cover
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MI6 Rating
Images courtesy Eclipse Comics, MikeGrell.com
and Rimis London.
Related Articles
"Permission To Die #1" Review
"Permission To Die #3" Review
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