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MI6 looks back at the comic "Serpent's Tooth"
#1 released by Dark Horse Comics in July 1992...
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James Bond 007: Serpent's Tooth #1 Review
7th January 2005
The Story
Opening with a three-step retrospective, "Serpent's Tooth"
starts by looking at kidnappings of unconnected scientists, destruction
of a British Arctic outpost and the theft of six nuclear missiles
from a submarine - all by mysterious force. We meet Bond in Switzerland
with a beautiful woman, who quickly turns the tables on an unsuspecting
Bond. Wrestling her to unconsciousness on the snow, Bond leaves
for London and to be reassigned by M.
The reminder of the story in issue #1 takes place in Peru, while
Bond tries to locate a missing 009 and look into the case of the
missing British submarine from five years earlier. Met by a beautiful
contact agent 'Sunny' they are both persuaded in a high speed
escape through Lima.
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After eluding there pursuers Sunny takes
Bond to meet his main contact 'Cruzado' at his personal
commando training camp. A discussion about 009's case leads
Bond to meet the villain Indigo at a local casino. After
a few hands at the tables, using his cover story, Bond manages
to arrange a meeting with genetically altered Indigo. Following
an evening of passion with Sunny, Bond heads to his meeting
with Indigo the following morning.
Upon arrival, Bond is greeted by two 'Matrix: Reloaded'
looking twins dressed in white. After a security check,
and witnessing the kidnapped scientist, Bond is subjected
to a intensive brain washing which fails to take effect.
Left: Cell from Serpent's Tooth #1.
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Escaping the complex via the company vault courtesy of Q Branch,
Bond discovers the scope and further mystery of Indigo's plans.
Exiting the building Bond is met by 'Sunny' who speeds them both
away to safety.
Up until the closing cells, this comic works fantastically with
it's original Bond cliches and humour. At the climax of issue
#1 we see a crazed Indigo move up his timetable for 'New Eden'
and a look at one of his genetically created beasts.
Cover Design
This movie poster style cover mixes all the elements of a Bond
experience. Gulacy's interpretation of Bond is the focal character
in a classic arm folded pose with a nondescript handgun. Surrounding
Bond are girls sporting a variety of deadly weaponry, and below,
the main villain through the mini-series Indigo.
Lower left and right corners sport stylised action sequences
from the first issue. On the right a Thunderball-esque underwater
sequence is depicted. The right shows two henchmen and Bond's
escaping sports car.
Above: Cell from Serpent's Tooth #1 |
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Artwork
Paul Gulacy has created a very strong and unique series
of comics. Issue one sets a very high precedence with strong
well defined imagery. Even the smallest objects are easily
recognisable and add a layer of realism to Bond's world.
A double spread is used in a movie style opening credits
with girls and Bond, and it works magnificently. Oliff has
given Gulacy's lines even more life, with a rich atmospheric
palette.
The escape from Indigo's company headquarters carries well
with great visual pace. Indigo and his twin henchmen are
believably illustrated with a nightmarish persona, which
helps create a unique villainous quality. The last full
page spread is very cartoon-ish a lowers the believability
of the comic. |
Dialogue
Dialogue in comics is short and carefully constructed to fit such
a small canvas, and effectively tell a story. The dialogue here
keeps the story moving and has been well crafted. Fell and Jowert
have kept it tight and sharply delivered by the characters.
Best Line
"Another? Don't tell me you failed to conquer your peaks
in Switz..."
| MI6 Briefing
Title: Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 Serpent's Tooth
Publisher: Acme Comics LTD, Dark Horse Comics Inc,
Glidrose Publications LTD
Released: Issue #1 - July 1992
Writer: Doug Moench
Illustrator: Paul Gulacy
Cover Artist: Egon Selby and Paul Gulacy
Colorist: Steve Oliff
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Editor: Jerry Prosser
Data Stream (Issue #1)
| Villain: |
Martika Pavna, Indigo |
| Plot: |
Bond is sent to investigate a missing 00 agent and
discovers more then he has bargained for, when he comes
up against a genetically modified villain. |
| Bond Girls: |
Sunny Vasquez |
| Allies: |
M, Miss Moneypenny, Senor Cruzado |
| Locations: |
London; Lima Peru; The Arctic; Switzerland |
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Above: Front cover of issue #1
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MI6 Rating
Images courtesy Dark Horse Comics.
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