Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: N/A
Written by: Tony Bedard
Penciled by: Mike Perkins
Inked by: Andrew Hennessy
Colored by: Laura Villari
Lettered by: Dave Lanphear
Editor: N/A
Publisher: CrossGen
â€He’s tall and he’s dark, and like a shark he looks for trouble…â€
I am a huge fan of James Bond, secret agent 007. Not just the film works, but the amazing novels written by the great Ian Fleming. Bond is one of the most brilliant characters created in the 20th Century, one that has endured for more than forty years, and certainly one that will endure for untold decades to come. The Bond-films are the most successful franchise in motion picture history and the character is often imitated. In fact, possibly the biggest comedy franchise in history, Austin Powers is of course a homage to 007.
I am actually quite surprised that CrossGen is able to use the title Kiss Kiss Bang Bang for this comic. Thunderball is one of the biggest and most revered of the Bond films. Starring Sean Connery, this is one of the gems that all the others are judged by. Thunderball was the forth in the series and saw release in 1965. Following the massive success of Goldfinger the producer’s attempted to one up what many consider the greatest Bond film. The popularity of the series was astounding at this point in time, and the film wasn’t complete until the very last minute.
While I’m sure most of you have heard the classic Tom Jones title track for Thunderball, aptly titled “Thunderball,†did you know that the original theme was sung by Dionne Warwick? Entitled “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang†the producer’s got worried a couple of weeks before release that the title track didn’t have the film’s name. They brought Tom Jones in very late in the game, and he recorded the monumentally popular theme. So the song “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang†was largely lost to those that aren’t Bond aficionados.
The name’s, Basildon. Charles Basildon.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is making a concerted effort to tap into the Bond-esque spy genre. Much like Austin Powers was inspired by the Bond movies, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang also takes the Bond movies as its onus, but is not a copy, or even a blatant homage. This is its own deal altogether. While at first glance it seems like a blatant rip-off of a Bond film, I can assure you it’s not. KKBB takes the 60s sensibilities of the early Bond movies and is creating its own little niche for comics, much like the Austin Powers films did for comedy.
The hook of the series further distances itself from the Bond series. Charles Basildon (the Bondian lead) is actually more of a rank or position than a real person. A new Basildon is recruited and trained to take the place of the one prior to him (or as things are now developing, her. It’s a playful direction to go, especially considering that five men have now played Bond in the twenty official films produced by MGM/UA. To add further distance, Basildon is a dashing leading man, but he’s also a completely unrepentant worm of a man. While Bond is self centered and sexist, at heart he’s a good man—Basildon isn’t.
After just two issues the book’s had some interesting moments. This month, Basildon is trying to crack a case involving the villainous Lazarus Bale. His trainee is in tow in the form of Stephanie Shelley. Like the rumors a year or so ago that Catherine Zeta-Jones would be taking over as 007 when Pierce Brosnan left the role, the new Basildon is to be a woman. Basildon and Shelley had an unfortunate sexual encounter just prior to their team-up, so writer Tony Bedard has crafted a very odd, but alluring relationship. You’re not quite sure if there will be sparks between the pair, or a knife to the back.
Character flaws…
Stephanie Shelley is the most interesting character we’ve seen thus far. Her relationship with Basildon is going to be what makes or breaks the book. Basildon is totally unlikable and someone you just can’t root for. If this guy was in the first Bond film adventure, I’d have found myself rooting for Dr. No. Shelley’s our hero and the one we have a connection with. It’s definitely an interesting setup, but I’m not quite sure how long this will remain compelling.
The biggest weakness for the two issues has been, Lazarus Bale, the big-time villain. I’ve found him fairly boring and pretty unconvincing. The fact that he’s got clones of Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and various other political villains as his henchman far more entertaining than Bale. Of course, in Bond films the henchmen (i.e. Odd Job or Jaws) is quite often far more interesting than the big megalomaniac within (i.e. Goldfinger or Stromberg). Hopefully next month we’ll see less of Lazarus and more of his underlings.
The artwork by Mike Perkins and Andrew Hennessy is one part of the book that is utterly perfect. They capture the super-cool world of a 60s spy farce. The action is fiercely portrayed, the explosions monumental, and the settings are amazing. The artwork is nothing short of brilliant!
Even with my love of the genre, I’m still not sold on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. I’m willing to give it some time to see just how the storyline develops month-to-month, but I was expecting to be blown away from the start. Of course the Bond movies didn’t peak at the beginning so there’s no reason to believe that this series won’t improve vastly as it goes on. After his successes with the likes of Negation and Route 666I have the utmost faith in writer Tony Bedard; so the book certainly bears watching.
Quick return from exile…
I would be remiss if I did not mention my joy that Tony Bedard, one of the industry’s finest writers, was recently handed the reigns on Marvel’s Exiles. I had grown disillusioned with the title in recent months, in fact I dropped it just a couple of weeks ago. The fact that Tony’s coming on in April made me quickly rescind that exile, and I’m back on board. Once again, I’m on board, and anxiously awaiting Tony’s arrival.
