MI6 looks back at the issues of comic book "James Bond, Agent 007" published in Sweden by Semic Press in 1986...

Semic James Bond Comic Books - 1986
7th July 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 1986, 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.

 

Data Terror (Data Terror)

Data Stream
Issue: #1 (1986 series)
Released: 14th January 1986
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7:90 SEK

Featured Story
"Data Terror" was the eighteenth original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Sarompas and written by Sverre Årnes. Characters included Miss Trent; Miss Smithers; Mary Moneypenny; M; Silvia Hall; Billy Braxton; Radlett; Loni Brown; Sandra Porter; Ben; Fulton.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
En Kniv I Ryggen (Detektivinspektör S)
Stuntmannen (The Saint)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Christopher Walken as Max Zorin and Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton in "A View To A Kill" (1985), one page pin-up of "The Spy Who Loved Me".


 

Leva Och Låta Dö (Live And Let Die)

Data Stream
Issue: #2 (1986 series)
Released: 11th February 1986
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.90 SEK

Featured Story
"Live And Let Die" by Ian Fleming adapted by Henry Gammidge, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 15th December 1958 (strip #139) to 28th March 1959 (strip #225).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Typfel (Detektivinspektör S)
Helgonet (The Saint)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Tina Hudson as Bianca in "Octopussy" (1983), one page pin-up of Roger Moore as James Bond and Barbara Bach as Anya Amasova in "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977).


 

Ur Dödlig Synvinkel (For Your Eyes Only)

Data Stream
Issue: #4 (1986 series)
Released: April 1986
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.90 SEK

Featured Story
"For Your Eyes Only" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Henry Gammidge, artwork by John McLusky . Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 11th September 1961 (strip #988) to 9th December 1961 (strip #1065).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Släkten Är Värst (The Saint)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Carole Bouquet as Melina Havelock in "For Your Eyes Only" (1981).


 

Döden ZI Florens (Death In Florence)

Data Stream
Issue: #5 (1986 series)
Released: 6th May 1986
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.90 SEK

Featured Story
"Death In Florence" was the twentieth original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Manuel Carmona and written by Bill Harrington. Characters included M; Lev Orkin; Mirella Duccio; Gina Carucci.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Syndikatet (The Saint)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, three page article titled 'who will be the new Bond?' with a picture of director John Glen, part two of article an on Ian Fleming's life (10 pages), one page pin-up photo from "Octopussy" (1983).


 

Risico-Ligan (Risico)

Data Stream
Issue: #6 (1986 series)
Released: 3rd June 1986
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.90 SEK

Featured Story
"Risico" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Henry Gammidge, artwork by John McLusky. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 3rd April 1961 (strip #850) to 24th June 1961 (strip #921)

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Fingervisning (Detektivinspektör S)
En Häst Försvinner (The Saint)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton in "A View To A Kill" (1985), one page pin-up photo of Roger Moore in 1964, one page pin-up photo of the cable car scene in "Moonraker" (1979).


 

Dödlig Dubbelgångare (Deadly Double)

Data Stream
Issue: #7 (1986 series)
Released: 8th July 1986
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.90 SEK

Featured Story
"Deadly Double" was the twenty-first original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Sarompas and written by Jack Sutter. Characters included Agent 009; Artemis; Dr Klaus; Faust; Pigdrift; Willi; Felix Leiter.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Hotellmanikyr (Detektivinspektör S)
Tempelmysteriet (Sherlock Holmes)
Terroristerna (The Saint)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up photo of the robot snooper in "A View To A Kill" (1985), one page pin-up photo of Harold Sakata as Oddjob in "Goldfinger" (1964).


 

Ubåt Saknad! (The Hildebrand Rarity - Part 1)

Data Stream
Issue: #8 (1986 series)
Released: 12th August 1986
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.90 SEK

Featured Story
"The Hildebrand Rarity" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 29th May 1967 (strip #429) to 16th December 1967 (strip #602).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Gangstermuseet (The Saint)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page pin-up of Roger Moore as James Bond and Barbara Bach as Anya Amasova in "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977), three-page article on Blofeld as depicted by Telly Savalas in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969), two-page photo spread of Maud Adams in "Octopussy" (1983), one page of tip for wannabe Bond's, two pages of small articles on 007, one page pin-up of "Octopussy" (1983).


 

Ubåt Saknad! (The Hildebrand Rarity - Part 2)

Data Stream
Issue: #9 (1986 series)
Released: 16th September 1986
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.90 SEK

Featured Story
"The Hildebrand Rarity" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 29th May 1967 (strip #429) to 16th December 1967 (strip #602).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Försäkringsbedrägeri (Detektivinspektör S)
Hederlige Harry (The Saint)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page photo of stunts from "A View To A Kill" (1983), one page pin-up photo of Richard Kiel as Jaws in "Moonraker".


 

Greek Fire (Greek Fire)

Data Stream
Issue: #10 (1986 series)
Released: 21st October 1986
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 7.90 SEK

Featured Story
"Greek Fire" was the twenty-second original James Bond story produced by Semic. Running over 24 pages, it was drawn by Manuel Carmona and written by Bill Harrington. Characters included Dimitri Kimopolous; Eldflugan; Nikos Elendis; M; Andrea Kimopolous; Ossian; Elendis dotter.

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Fotobevis (Detektivinspektör S)
Kublai Khans Skatt (The Saint)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page photo of Roger Moore as James Bond and Gloria Hendry as Rosie Carver in "Live And Let Die" (1973), one page photo of Roger Moore as Simon Templar in The Saint (1969), one page photo of Sean Connery as James Bond in "You Only Live Twice" (1967).


 

Undervattensdöden (Octopussy - Part 1)

Data Stream
Issue: #11 (1986 series)
Released: 25th November 1986
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 8.50 SEK

Featured Story
"Octopussy" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 14th November 1966 (strip #264) to 27th May 1967 (strip #428).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Ligisternas Lag (The Saint)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page photo from "Octopussy" (1983).


 

Undervattensdöden (Octopussy - Part 2)

Data Stream
Issue: #12 (1986 series)
Released: 23rd December 1986
Format: 17cm x 26 cm
Pages: 68
Publisher: Semic Press AB
Cover Price: 8.50 SEK

Featured Story
"Octopussy" by Ian Fleming, adaptation by Jim Lawrence, artwork by Yaroslav Horak. Reprinted from the comic strips published by the Daily Express from 14th November 1966 (strip #264) to 27th May 1967 (strip #428).

Non-Bond Additional Stories
Den Drunknade (Detektivinspektör S)
En Miljon För Sally (The Saint)

Miscellaneous
Readers letters on the subject of 007, one page photo of the Lotus Esprit submarine car in "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977), one page pin-up photo of Roger Moore as The Saint (1964), one page photo from "For Your Eyes Only" (1981).

Missing In Action
1986 #3 - Eksperiment Z (Experiment Z)

Related Articles
Newspaper Strips Index
Comics Coverage
All Comics Articles