The comic book James Bond: 007 by Garth Ennis and Rapha Lobosco makes Bond brutal again.
This article contains light spoilers for James Bond: 007 #1.
But just when the mafioso hits the climax of his speech, an interuption forces him to turn around.
After killing the mafioso, the gunman turns to the elderly mother and says, Better safe than sorry.
The sequence ends with a splash page showing the gunman firing at the camera.
If you guessed that this comic comes fromGarth Ennis, you are correct.
Rather, it comes fromJames Bond: 007#1 from Dynamite Entertainment.
And its absolutely perfect.
Save for some notable exceptions, he ends his exploits unscarred and in the arms of a beautiful woman.
To be sure, these takes do find Bond committing horrible acts of brutality.
InDiamonds Are Forever, Bond strangles a woman with her bikini top.
But as shocking as these moments are, the Bond films find ways of dulling or justifying the actions.
Carver, Killifer, and others are bad guys getting their just rewards.
The fights look cool, occurring on amazing Ken Adam sets and accompanied by a rollicking score.
Despite some initial reservations about the Scottish Connery playing 007, Bond creatorIan Fleminglargely liked the adaptations he saw.
However, the movie Bonds lacked the cold-blooded cruelty of the book character.
He was a tool of Her Majestys secret service in the guise of a human being.
A Cold Comic-Book Bond
Ennis and Loboscos Bond has no such softness about him.
Jorge Sutils muted color palette furthers this morose take.
Likewise, letterer Rob Steen subtly distinguishes Bond from other characters in the way they speak.
As gratuitous as his 007 gets, Enniss collaborators allow Bond to remain an uncaring killer.
He kills those who would diminish England or its business interests, an inherently stomach-churning quality.
