MI6 looks back at the issues of comic book "James Bond, Agent 007" published in Sweden by Semic Press in 1981...

Semic James Bond Comic Books - 1981
17th March 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.

 

Högt Spel I Monte Carlo (High Game In Monte Carlo - Casino Royale)

Data Stream
Issue: #68 (1967+ series)
Released: January 1981
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 4.95 SEK

Featured Story
"Casino Royale" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Anthony Hearne, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 7th July 1958 (strip #1) to 13th December 1958 (strip #138).

Miscellaneous
Two page of photo special of Sean Connery as James Bond, two page collage of movie stills from "Casino Royale" (1967) and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969).


 

I Hennes Majestäts Hemliga Tjänst (On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Part 1)

Data Stream
Issue: #69 (1967+ series)
Released: 17th February 1981
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 4.95 SEK

Featured Story
"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Henry Gammidge, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 29th June 1964 (strip #1) to 17th May 1965 (strip #274)

Non-Bond Additional Stories
N/A

Miscellaneous
N/A


 

I Hennes Majestäts Hemliga Tjänst (On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Part 1) + Operation KGB (Shark Bait - Part 2)

Data Stream
Issue: #70 (1967+ series)
Released: 14th April 1981
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 4.95 SEK

Featured Story
"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Henry Gammidge, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 29th June 1964 (strip #1) to 17th May 1965 (strip #274)

Original story "Shark Bait" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips (#469-#636) of Series Four not originally published in the UK.

Miscellaneous
Six page photo special from "For Your Eyes Only" production.


 

Diamantfeber (Diamond Fever - Diamonds Are Forever)

Data Stream
Issue: #71 (1967+ series)
Released: 16th June 1981
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 5.25 SEK

Featured Story
"Diamonds Are Forever" by Ian Fleming adapted by Henry Gammidge, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 10th August 1959 (strip #340) to 30th January 1960 (strip #487).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
N/A

Miscellaneous
N/A


 

Kondorernas ö (Isle of Condors)

Data Stream
Issue: #72 (1967+ series)
Released: 18th August 1981
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 5.25 SEK

Featured Story
Original story "Isle of Condors" by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 12th June 1972 (strip #1952) to 21st October 1972 (strip #2065)

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Utpressning! (Eddie)

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


 

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

Data Stream
Issue: #73 (1967+ series)
Released: 20th October 1981
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 52
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 5.25 SEK

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
N/A

Miscellaneous
N/A

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