MI6 looks back at the issues of comic book "James Bond, Agent 007" published in Sweden by Semic Press in 1972...

Semic James Bond Comic Books - 1972
31st December 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.

 

Högt Spel I Monte Carlo (High Game In Monte Carlo - Casino Royale)

Data Stream
Issue: #18 (1967+ series)
Released: 11th January 1972
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 2.00 SEK

Featured Story
"Casino Royale" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Anthony Hearne, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 7th July 1958 (strip #1) to 13th December 1958 (strip #138).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Den Dödliga Makten
Skriet Från Träsket (Charli Fox)

Miscellaneous
One page photo movie montage of Bond and Blofeld from "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and Bond and Domino from "Thunderball", double page photo of Sean Connery in "You Only Live Twice".


 

Dödens Dubbelgångare (Dead Doppelganger- Double Jeopardy)

Data Stream
Issue: #19 (1967+ series)
Released: 11th April 1972
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 2.00 SEK

Featured Story
Original story "Goldfinger" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 21st April 1971 (strip #1597) to 28th August 1971 (strip #1708).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Havsmonstret
Gott Om Tid ( Tidsresenär)
Moomboos Magi (Moomboo)

Miscellaneous
Two single page 'pinup' photos of Sean Connery as James Bond in "Diamonds Are Forever".


 

Diamantfeber (Diamond Fever - Diamonds Are Forever)

Data Stream
Issue: #20 (1967+ series)
Released: 27th June 1972
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 2.00 SEK

Featured Story
"Diamonds Are Forever" by Ian Fleming adapted by Henry Gammidge, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 10th August 1959 (strip #340) to 30th January 1960 (strip #487).

Miscellaneous
One page 'pinup' photo of Sean Connery as 007 in Dr No, one page photo montage of Connery in "Goldfinger" and "You Only Live Twice", one page 'pinup' photo of Martine Beswick as Paula in "Thunderball".


 

Stålspionen (Steel Spy - Fear Face)

Data Stream
Issue: #21 (1967+ series)
Released: 3rd October 1972
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 2.00 SEK

Featured Story
Original story "Fear Face" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 18th January 1971 (strip #1520) to 20th April 1971 (strip #1596).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Det Gåtfulla Manuskriptet
Månödlornas Byte (Månkolonisatörer)
Rebellen (Johnny Boy)

Miscellaneous
One page photo spread of Bond, Goldfinger and Oddjob from "Goldfinger", one page photo of Sean Connery as 007 in "Diamonds Are Forever", one page 'pinup' photo of Akiko Wakabayashi as Aki in "You Only Live Twice".

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