MI6 looks back at the issues of comic book "James Bond, Agent 007" published in Sweden by Semic Press in 1973...

Semic James Bond Comic Books - 1973
18th January 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.

 

Döden På Jamaica (Death At Jamaica- Dr No)

Data Stream
Issue: #22 (1967+ series)
Released: 2nd January 1973
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 2.00 SEK
Cover Artist: Alf Thorsjö

Featured Story
"Dr No" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Peter O'Donnell, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 23rd May 1959 (strip #584) to 1st October 1960 (strip #697).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
De Gröna Barnen
I Lejonets Håla (Johnnie Boy)

Miscellaneous
One page photo from "From Russia With Love", single page photo montage of Sean Connery as James Bond in "Thunderball and "Diamonds Are Forever", single page 'pinup' photo of Luciana Paluzzi as Fiona Volpe in "Thunderball".


 

Bond Avslöjar Stjärnornas Herre (Bond Reveals Star Man - Star Fire)

Data Stream
Issue: #23 (1967+ series)
Released: 27th May 1973
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 2.25 SEK
Cover Artist: Alf Thorsjö

Featured Story
Original story "Star Fire" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 30th August 1971 (strip #1709) to 24th December 1971 (strip #1809).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Stenansiktet (Johnnie Boy)

Miscellaneous
Single page 'pinup' photo of George Lazenby as James Bond in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", single page 'pinup' photo of Martine Beswick as Paula Caplan in "Thunderball".


 

Dödligt Budskap (Fatal Message -Trouble Spot)

Data Stream
Issue: #25 (1967+ series)
Released: 1973
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 2.50 SEK
Cover Artist: Alf Thorsjö

Featured Story
Original story "Trouble Spot" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 28th December 1971 (strip #1810) to 10th June 1972 (strip #1951).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Fasans Makt!
Vilddjurens Konung (Johnnie Boy)

Miscellaneous
One page photo of Sean Connery, Bruce Glover and Putter Smith in "Diamonds Are Forever", one page 'pinup' photo of Ingrit Back (German Girl) from "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".

Missing In Action
Issue #24 - From Russia With Love

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