62 years after "James Bond" writer Ian Fleming wrote the first novel featuring the world's most famous agent, 007, the Bond brand is still as iconic and popular as ever.
Writer Warren Ellis and illustrator Jason Masters have announced that they are working on a new "James Bond" comic book series. This comes 20 years after Topps Comics published a short-lived comic book miniseries adaptation of the "GoldenEye" film.
Ellis is known for writing similarly spy-themed comic books such as "Red" and "Global Frequency," both of which were published by the now defunct WildStorm. He has promised readers an "original, brutal and damaged" version of the spy, more similar to Ian Fleming's original novel series than their subsequent movie adaptations.
Masters is known for illustrating DC Comics' "Batgirl" and "Human Target" series.
The Independent says that the story arc revolves around a Helsinki "vengeance mission," with him pursuing an evil force somewhere in the city.
Ellis, in a blog post from 2002, said about writing a Bond story: "If someone asked me to write a James Bond film, you wouldn't see my a*** for dust." The self-confessed Bond fanatic claims to have read most of Ian Fleming's original novels and prefers their low-key, tense tone to the grandeur spectacle of the film adaptations.
He comments that the books make it more clear that Bond has clear psychological damage and constantly explores his mental state. "He is England's blunt instrument of international assault - the spiteful, vicious bastard of a faded empire that still wants the world to do as it's bloody well told."
Given his fascination with that aspect of Bond's character, it is likely that the comic book adaptation will see more of Bond's personal issues.
The release of "Skyfall" in 2012, the 23rd film in the "James Bond" movie series and the third featuring Daniel Craig as the titular character, was a resounding success in all aspects: critically, commercially and culturally.
According to Box Office Mojo, "Skyfall" grossed $1.108 billion and is currently the 12th highest grossing film of all time, the highest grossing James Bond film of all time by a wide margin, and is the highest grossing film in the UK.
The comic book series is currently slated for release by November. With the next film in the series, "Spectre," to have its premiere on November 6, it is clear that the "James Bond" fever is still at an all time high.