Writer: Andy Diggle

Artist: Luca Casalanguida

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Black tie party in Dubai? Check. Hot Bond girl? Check. Outrageously unlikely way to kill a bad guy? Check. Snappy one-line witticism? Check. Luxury accommodations the whole way throughout? Check. Wickedly advanced tech? Check. Ridiculously perilous threat to move us into the next part? Check. It seems it’s all here. Dynamite has made sure that their new James Bond title has all the supplies that it needs to keep us on the edge of our seat and excited with rapt attention.

Andy Diggle, once again, proves that he has a masterful command of what makes a Bond story a Bond story. You can’t just throw a spy, a woman, a crisis, and a dash of Britain into a shaker and pour out a Bond martini. It takes the right ingredients in the right measure for that perfect pour. And speaking of that pour, the martini that Bond orders in this issue, while not his movie-preferred beverage, sounds absolutely delicious. Darn you, Diggle, for making me thirsty! Well, you certainly know your Bond, and I am the happier reader for it.

Luca Casalnguida’s artwork is capable of telling the story in itself. He does a fantastic job of focusing in on what is important and drawing our eyes to that, while not leaving out enough detail for each panel to have a setting of its own as well as among the others on the page. In proper cinematographic vision, the main actors in each panel are all that are in full focus. We never lose sight of Bond, nor the action, and are propelled on to the next panel with anticipation.

I like this title, and where it is going. It makes you feel like you are watching the movie unfold before you. You will laugh, you will cheer, you might even send our friend James a knowing wink. One thing is for certain, you will want to be back in your seat for Issue #3.

Writing: 4/5

Artwork: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

Click here to read the review of James Bond: Hammerhead #1