How far gone is Bond?
Creative Staff:
Story: Greg Pak
Art: Eric Gapstur, Robert Carey
Colors: Roshan Kurichiyanil
Letterer: Ariana Maher
What They Say:
“THE HEIST” Plan is set. Clock gets tight. Goldfinger bets big. The modern 007 epic continues from GREG PAK (Batman/Superman, Hulkverines) and ERIC GAPSTUR (The Flash: Season Zero).
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
While this series at times feels a little convoluted with what it’s trying to do and the pieces that it’s drawing from when it comes to the films and books, Greg Pak has definitely made it pretty entertaining and very in-character. There’s a lot to like in how it’s unfolding if you can separate yourself enough from trying to make it fit and if you get a good voice from the Bond that Pak has designed here. Eric Gapstur has been doing some good stuff here as well with the visual design as there’s a good sense of presence about Bond and other key characters and I’m liking the world design in general, though part of me wishes it was just a bit richer at times and less of this minimally defined background style.
The big curiosity after the way the story has unfolded is just how far gone Bond is now that Goldfinger has definitely sunk his claws into him like he has Aria and John Lee. We saw the layers of training and just how tightly controlled Bond is with the carrot and the stick. With the goal of sending them deep into the mine in South Africa to get the materials from the cache that Goldfinger wants from there, we get a pretty good friendly way of getting in that leave you with some hope that there is something of him still in control there. But it is fascinating to watch as Goldfinger pushes and prods Bond and the others as the mission goes forward, reminding them of who is really in control. We do see Bond trying to keep the killing to a minimum but not avoiding it when necessary which leaves the conflicted view alive and that does make it a lot of fun to watch.
What I do like is that as everything goes forward and the trick is revealed we’re reminded that as easy as it is to think of Bond as just a calculated killer, he’s one that really is quite intelligent and knows how to achieve his goals. It’s not just brute force killing. So when he sets up a situation that allows for him to rip out the control that’s been implanted in him, just as Moneypenny and the special forces she’s here with to clean up the miss get into final position, it’s a luck at the last minute moment that always delights. It doesn’t leave me trusting John or Aria at all even though they’re broken free as well but there are some good moments for them here even as the bigger picture of what Goldfinger is about to get away with comes into view. Hell, we even get the most uncomfortable of hugs between Bond and Moneypenny that really hits a sweet spot.
In Summary:
While this isn’t the end of this storyline it is the end of this particular arc within it and it’s one that worked well. I liked seeing Bond struggle with fully submitting to Goldfinger in order to try and find some way to achieve his larger goal and that M was willing to trust him as far as he could, all while knowing what would have to be done. The action in this installment is pretty strong and Gapsture and Carey handle it very well, giving it a good flow as it moves back and forth and as the more physical side comes into play. I’m definitely curious to see what’s next in this larger storyline while also hoping that we’re closing in on wrapping it all up and moving to something new.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: July 17th, 2019
MSRP: $3.99
