MI6 looks back at the issues of comic book "James Bond, Agent 007" published in Sweden by Semic Press in 1984...

Semic James Bond Comic Books - 1984
15th May 2009

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.

 

Vampyrernas Härskare (Flittermouse)

Data Stream
Issue: #1 (1984 series)
Released: 19th January 1984
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 6.85 SEK

Featured Story
Original story "Flittermouse" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Star from 9th February 1983 (strip #553) to 20th May 1983 (strip #624).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Självmord? (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Sean Connery as James Bond and Barbara Carrera as Fatima Blush in "Never Say Never Again" (1983).


 

Operation Little (Operation: Little)

Data Stream
Issue: #2 (1984 series)
Released: 1984
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 6.85 SEK

Featured Story
"Operation: Little" was the eighth original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Sarompas and written by Jack Sutter.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
TBC (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007.


 

Den Galne Kejsaren (The Mad Emperor)

Data Stream
Issue: #3 (1984 series)
Released: April 1984
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 6.85 SEK

Featured Story
"The Mad Emperor" was the ninth original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Josep Gual and written by Peter Sparring. Characters included Miriam de Solis, Henry Christophe den andre, M, José Gômez [Fidel Castro], Juan Diaz de Solis and Tony.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Detektiven (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Sean Connery as James Bond in "Never Say Never Again" (1983).


 

Operation Alaska Star (Polestar)

Data Stream
Issue: #4 (1984 series)
Released: 15th May 1984
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 6.85 SEK

Featured Story
Original story "Polestar" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Star from 23rd May 1983 (strip #625) to 15th July 1983 (strip #719).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Djävulsgrottan (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Article by Bill Larsten on the Bond films so far, readers letters on the subject of 007.


 

Operation Juggernaut (Operation: Juggernaut)

Data Stream
Issue: #5 (1984 series)
Released: 26th June 1984
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 6.85 SEK

Featured Story
"Operation: Juggernaut" was the tenth original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Sarompas and written by Jack Sutter. Characters included Felix Leiter, Agent Mary August, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, SPECTRE, Mr Lee and M.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Spelsyndikatet (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007.


 

Operation UFO (Operation: UFO)

Data Stream
Issue: #6 (1984 series)
Released: 7th August 1984
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 6.90 SEK

Featured Story
"Operation: UFO" was the eleventh original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Josep Gual and written by Jack Sutter. Characters included M, Doctor Kessler, Doctor Mendez, Perdita Lear and Jlia.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Dödligt Gift (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007.


 

En Doft Av Död (The Scent Of Danger)

Data Stream
Issue: #7 (1984 series)
Released: 18th September 1984
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 6.75 SEK

Featured Story
Original story "The Scent Of Danger" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips in Series 5 from strip #720 to strip #821. This adventure was not syndicated in a UK newspaper.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Oskyldigt Misstänkt (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Roger Moore [James Bond] in "Moonraker" (1979).


 

Operation Blücher (Operation: Blücher)

Data Stream
Issue: #8 (1984 series)
Released: 30th October 1984
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 6.90 SEK

Featured Story
"The White Death" was the twelfth original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Josep Gual and written by Sverre Årnes. Characters included M, Blegman, Karsten, Juliet Galant, Henrik, Sir Ernest Gotheringham, Christian and Jon.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Utpressaren(Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Roger Moore [James Bond] to promote the upcoming movie "A View To A Kill" (1985).

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