JAMES BOND: MONEYPENNY
Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: Jacob Edgar
Colors: Dearbhla Kelly
Publisher: DYNAMITE Comics
It was fun to see James Bond style action with a focus on a different ensemble of characters. And Miss Moneypenny was compelling protagonist. Wait, I take that back. Was she? The protagonist in the story was great, but I can’t for the life of me figure out how it is Moneypenny—besides the name.
And, I really mean that. The comic could’ve been called “James Bond’s Friend Gertrude,” and it absolutely wouldn’t have needed to change a single word. So, I don’t think I can accept Houser’s claim that in this book “ we'll get a look at exactly how [Moneypenny] operates and some of the events that made her the woman she is” simply because you haven’t convinced me it’s Moneypenny.
That being said, I do believe the number on job of a comic book is to keep the reader entertained, and this one did a great job of that. I do think the flashbacks were useful in telling “Moneypenny” (I still feel I can’t in good conscience call the protagonist of this story Moneypenny)’s back story, but they were a hurdle on their own. Labeling parts of the story simply “Then” and “Now” left a lot of questions. For one, “Then” spanned a period of at least 20 years, and we never knew exactly where on the timeline we were. Of course, I do understand the problems that would come when trying to do something of this nature with characters who aren’t supposed to have aged a day since 1953. Do you label her childhood 1923 or 1987? However, it could’ve simply said “Thirty years ago” and then followed up with “Twenty years ago” or “Two years ago” just to let the readers know where (when?) we are.
The art was clean, and I am sure the readers will be thrilled with the variety of classic James Bond poses and stills.
Also, the man himself, James Bond, makes a brief cameo. But, what he says to Moneypenny, knowing who Moneypenny is supposed to be, makes absolutely no sense. Biggest head scratcher of the issue.
Artist: Jacob Edgar
Colors: Dearbhla Kelly
Publisher: DYNAMITE Comics
It was fun to see James Bond style action with a focus on a different ensemble of characters. And Miss Moneypenny was compelling protagonist. Wait, I take that back. Was she? The protagonist in the story was great, but I can’t for the life of me figure out how it is Moneypenny—besides the name.
And, I really mean that. The comic could’ve been called “James Bond’s Friend Gertrude,” and it absolutely wouldn’t have needed to change a single word. So, I don’t think I can accept Houser’s claim that in this book “ we'll get a look at exactly how [Moneypenny] operates and some of the events that made her the woman she is” simply because you haven’t convinced me it’s Moneypenny.
That being said, I do believe the number on job of a comic book is to keep the reader entertained, and this one did a great job of that. I do think the flashbacks were useful in telling “Moneypenny” (I still feel I can’t in good conscience call the protagonist of this story Moneypenny)’s back story, but they were a hurdle on their own. Labeling parts of the story simply “Then” and “Now” left a lot of questions. For one, “Then” spanned a period of at least 20 years, and we never knew exactly where on the timeline we were. Of course, I do understand the problems that would come when trying to do something of this nature with characters who aren’t supposed to have aged a day since 1953. Do you label her childhood 1923 or 1987? However, it could’ve simply said “Thirty years ago” and then followed up with “Twenty years ago” or “Two years ago” just to let the readers know where (when?) we are.
The art was clean, and I am sure the readers will be thrilled with the variety of classic James Bond poses and stills.
Also, the man himself, James Bond, makes a brief cameo. But, what he says to Moneypenny, knowing who Moneypenny is supposed to be, makes absolutely no sense. Biggest head scratcher of the issue.
A Look Inside
