MI6 looks back at the issues of comic book "James Bond, Agent 007" published in Sweden by Semic Press in 1976...

Semic James Bond Comic Books - 1976
15th March 2008

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.

 

Man Lever Bara Två Gånger - Djävulens Trädgård (You Only Live Twice - "Devil Garden")

Data Stream
Issue: #38 (1967+ series)
Released: January 1976
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 3.25 SEK
Cover Artwork: Jordi Penalva

Featured Story
"You Only Live Twice" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Henry Gammidge, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 18th May 1965 (strip #275) to 8th January 1966 (strip #475)

Miscellaneous
One page photo of Sean Connery as James Bond in "Goldfinger", one page photo speread featuring George Lazenby (007) and Telly Savalas (Blofeld) in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and Bruce Glover (Mr Wint) in "Diamonds Are Forever". One page photo 'pin-up' of Roger Moore.


 

Kodnamn: Svart Storm ("Codename: Black Storm" - The Black Ruby Caper)

Data Stream
Issue: #40 (1967+ series)
Released: May 1976
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 3.50 SEK
Cover Artwork: Jordi Penalva

Featured Story
Original story "The Black Ruby Caper" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 19th February 1975 (strip #2781) to 15th July 1975 (strip #2897)

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Kontiki - Sex Män På En Flotte (Thor Heyerdahl)
Lärdom För Livet! (Gang Busters)
Bondfångaren (Herman Hunkle)
Hemligheten ( Tim Malone)

Miscellaneous
One page 'pinup' photo of Karin Dor as Helga Brandt in "You Only Live Twice", one page photo of Sean Connery as 007 in "You Only Live Twice"


 

Tävling Med Topp-Vinster! Bond På Jättebild! ("Competition With The Top Prize - Bond At Giant Picture!" - Octopussy)

Data Stream
Issue: #41 (1967+ series)
Released: 29th June 1976
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 3.50 SEK
Cover Artwork: Jordi Penalva

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


 

Bond Blir Indragen I Projekt Fenix! ("Bond Gets In To Line On..." The Phoenix Project)

Data Stream
Issue: #42 (1967+ series)
Released: September 1976
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 3.50 SEK

Featured Story
Original story "The Phoenix Project" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 23rd September 1974 (strip #2656) to 18th February 1975 (strip #2780)

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Fåraktigt (Roger Brent)
Miljonbytet (Gang Buster)
Draculas öga (Jim)

Miscellaneous
Two single page photos of Sean Connery as 007 in "You Only Live Twice".


 

Dödligt Uppdrag ("Fatal Commission" - From A View To A Kill)

Data Stream
Issue: #43 (1967+ series)
Released: 9th November 1976
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 3.50 SEK
Cover 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
Motorcykelrånaren ( Polisman Tom Powers)
Ta Dej I Akt, Virgil Mohr! ( Virgil Mohr)
Dockdråparen (Dockmästaren Zorasto)

Miscellaneous
One page photo of Sean Connery as 007 in "You Only Live Twice", one page photo montage of Roger Moore (007) and Jane Seymour (Solitaire) in "Live And Let Die" with Akiko Wakabayashi (Aki) in "You Only Live Twice".

Missing In Action
#39 ("The Man With The Golden Gun" & "The Living Daylights")

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