MI6 looks back at the issues of comic book "James Bond, Agent 007" published in Sweden by Semic Press in 1985...

Semic James Bond Comic Books - 1985
6th June 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.

 

Kodnamn: Romeo (Codename: Romeo)

Data Stream
Issue: #1 (1985 series)
Released: 2nd January 1985
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7:25 SEK

Featured Story
"Codename: Romero" was the thirteenth original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 26 pages, it was drawn by Josep Gual and written by Sverre Årnes. Characters included President Gawun, Gerhard, Bernadette, Mary Moneypenny, Byrnes, M, Walter Junghans, Smetz, CIA-chief John Coleman, Martin Kleineman and Eberhardt.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Dödstoppen (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Roger Moore as James Bond in "A View To A Kill" (1985).


 

Operation Ragnarök (Operation Doomsday- Snake Goddess)

Data Stream
Issue: #2 (1985 series)
Released: 12th February 1985
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.25 SEK

Featured Story
Original story "Snake Goddess" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips in Series 5 from strip #822 to strip #893. This adventure was not syndicated in a UK newspaper.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Maktspel (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Nine-page special feature on the recent Bond films "A View To A Kill", "Octopussy" and "Never Say Never Again" by Bill Larsten, Tovio Lepp and Mattias Björklund. One page pin-up photo of Roger Moore as James Bond in "A View To A Kill" (1985).


 

Den Gröna Döden (The Green Death)

Data Stream
Issue: #3 (1985 series)
Released: 2nd April 1985
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.25 SEK

Featured Story
"The Green Death" was the fourteenth original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Sarompas and written by Jack Sutter. Characters included M, Mary Moneypenny, Q, Felix Leiter, Agent Peabody and Dominique.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Döden Går Till Sjöss (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Roger Moore as James Bond and Mary Stavin as Kimberly Jones in "A View To A Kill" (1985).


 

Döden På Tahiti (Death In Tahiti)

Data Stream
Issue: #4 (1985 series)
Released: 21st May 1985
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.30 SEK

Featured Story
"Death In Tahiti" was the fifteenth original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Sarompas and written by Sverre Årnes. Characters included M, Eileen, Mary Moneypenny, Francois Duchesne, Jean, Madamoiselle Montague, Le Couteau, Jim Camden and Sir Peter Brillstone

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Fel Offer (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Roger Moore as James Bond, Grace Jones as May Day and Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton in "A View To A Kill" (1985).


 

Spionen Från Öst (The Living Daylights)

Data Stream
Issue: #5 (1985 series)
Released: 9th July 1985
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.30 SEK

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
Rufflaren (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Roger Moore as James Bond.


 

Bruden Från Balkan (The Bride From Balkan)

Data Stream
Issue: #6 (1985 series)
Released: 27th August 1985
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.30 SEK

Featured Story
"Death In Tahiti" was the sixteenth original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Josep Gual and written by Bill Harrington. Characters included M, Mary Moneypenny, Felix Artaud, Tania Cherkasski, Honey Bunch and Ambassadör Thomas.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Den Givmilde Miljonären (Jeff Cobb)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Roger Moore as James Bond.


 

Kinesiskt Pussel (Chinese Puzzle)

Data Stream
Issue: #7 (1985 series)
Released: 15th October 1985
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.30 SEK

Featured Story
"Death In Tahiti" was the seventeenth original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Sarompas and written by Bill Harrington. Characters included M, Tsu-Chai, Yasmin Faed, Dr Irun Saviz and Kayo.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Dubbelagenten (Fixarna)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Grace Jones as May Day, one page pin-up photo of Roger Moore [James Bond] and Christopher Walken [Max Zorin] in "A View To A Kill" (1985).


 

Operation Dubbelörnen (Operation Double Eagle - Double Eagle)

Data Stream
Issue: #8 (1985 series)
Released: 3rd December 1985
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.30 SEK

Featured Story
Original story "Double Eagle" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips in Series 5 from strip #894 to strip #965. This adventure was not syndicated in a UK newspaper.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Operation Kidnapping (Fixarna)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page photo of the car stunt from "The Man With The Golden Gun" (1974), one page pin-up photo of Grace Jones [May Day] and Christopher Walken [Max Zorin] in "A View To A Kill" (1985).

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