MI6 looks back at the issues of comic book "James Bond, Agent 007" published in Sweden by Semic Press in 1968...

Semic James Bond Comic Books - 1968
2nd November 2007

Whilst the James Bond comic strip series was first published in UK newspaper The Daily Express from 7th July 1958, fans in Sweden had to wait seven years until the first translated versions of the strips landed on their shores. Rather than finding a national newspaper to run the daily strips, Swedish publisher Semic collated the stories in to a comic book titled "James Bond, Agent 007", releasing issues periodically through the years. Due to the switch from long narrow strips of 3 or 4 cells to a portrait comic book, Semic reformatted the original artwork by John McLusky and Yaroslav Horak - sometimes crudely adding artwork where needed, and sometimes removing redundant cells due to the shift away from the daily serialization. Semic continued to use the original strip material up until 1981, when it started to introduce original adventures for the Swedish readership. As the newspaper strip came to an end in 1985, Semic increasingly relied on their new stories, and this spelled the beginning of the end due to their varying quality. After merging with fellow ailing comic "The Saint", the comic book ceased publication in Sweden in 1996.

 

Dödligt Uppdrag (Fatal Assignment - From A View to a Kill)

Data Stream
Issue: #5 (1967+ series)
Released: 1968
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 1.50 SEK
Covert Artwork: Jordi Penalva

Featured Story
"From A View to a Kill" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Henry Gammidge, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 25th June 1961 (strip #922) to 9th September 1961 (strip #987)

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Edgar Browns Brott (Edgar Browns)
Blondin Utan Förflutet (Roy Allen)

Miscellaneous
One page 'pinup' photo of Sean Connery as James Bond, one page photo special on Honor Blackman, Daniela Bianchi and Claudine Auger, one page photo of Bond and Kissy from the film "You Only Live Twice.


 

Spionen från öst (Spy From East - The Living Daylights)

Data Stream
Issue: #6 (1967+ series)
Released: 2nd April 1968
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 1.50 SEK
Covert Artwork: Jordi Penalva

Featured Story
"The Living Daylights" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 12th September 1966 (strip #210) to 12th November 1966 (strip #263)

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Joaos Händer (Joao)
Mardrömmen (Jimmy Seldon)

Miscellaneous
One page 'pinup' photo of Dr No, Emilio Largo and Oddjob from the film series, one page photo of Sean Connery in Japan filming "You Only Live Twice", one page photo of Sean Connery as 007.


 

Manden Med Den Gyllene Pistole (The Man With The Golden Gun)

Data Stream
Issue: #7 (1967+ series)
Released: 25th June 1968
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 1.90 SEK

Featured Story
"The Man With The Golden Gun" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 10th January 1966 (strip #1) to 10th September 1966 (strip #209)


 

Octopussy - Undervattensdöden (Octopussy - Underwater Death)

Data Stream
Issue: #8 (1967+ series)
Released: 1968
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: TBC
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 1.50 SEK

Featured Story
"Octopussy" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 14th November 1966 (strip #264) to 27th May 1967 (strip #428)


 

Ubåt Saknad! (Submarine Miss! - The Hildebrand Rarity)

Data Stream
Issue: #9 (1967+ series)
Released: 1968
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 1.50 SEK

Featured Story
"The Hildebrand Rarity" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 29th May 1967 (strip #429) to 16th December 1967 (strip #602)

Miscellaneous
One page special in Milton Crest as depicted in the comic strip, one page 'pinup' photo of Sean Connery as 007.

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