Over at CBR, Dynamite Entertainment has revealed 9 variant covers for their new James Bond series.

Being advertised as the first James Bond comic in 20 years, this all-new series holds the particular distinction of being written by Warren Ellis. Ellis, among other titles, is responsible for such comic classics as Transmetropolitan, Planetary, The Authority, and Marvel’s Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.

Fun fact: Several of his comic stories have been turned into less than stellar film adaptations. Particularly, Iron Man: Extremis (which became Iron Man 3), Red (which would become the Bruce Willis film of the same name), and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (Ultimate Extinction). Also, actor Anthony Mackie owes Ellis a great deal of credit for giving “Falcon,” his Marvel Cinematic Universe character, a much simpler/cooler starting point in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Am I fanboying? I’m fanboying. Let’s just get to the covers (press release follows).

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The retailer exclusive cover by artist Jason Masters (for stores who order 500 copies or more).

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1:60 cover by Jock.

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1:50 cover by Glenn Fabry.

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1:40 cover by Gabriel Hardman.

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1:30 cover by Dan Panosian.

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1:20 cover by Stephen Mooney.

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1:10 cover by Francesco Francavilla.

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The blank cover.

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The regular cover by Dom Reardon.

 

For those of you curious about the ratio accompanying some of these covers, those are incentives. Basically, that’s comic book geek speak for the number of copies each retailer receives of a particular cover depending on how many issues of James Bond #1 they order. So, for example, for every 40 copies of the James Bond #1 your comic shop orders, they will receive 1 of the Gabriel Hardman covers. Or, as we filthy non-casuals call it, “1:40.”

On to the press release!

Press release:

Dynamite proudly announces that fan-favorite author Warren Ellis will be writing the James Bond 007 ongoing comic book series, the first to appear in over two decades. James Bond 007 is scheduled for release in November 2015, featuring interior artwork by Jason Masters (Batman Incorporated,Guardians of the Galaxy).

The news of the high-profile author’s involvement with the James Bond 007series follows Dynamite’s announcement of their partnership with Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. (IFPL), the Fleming-family company that owns and administers the literary copyright of Ian Fleming’s published works, including his fourteen James Bond books. Under their agreement, Dynamite has been granted worldwide rights to publish comic books, digital comics, and graphic novels starring 007. Launching their James Bond 007 line with a writer of exemplary skill and reputation has been a priority for Dynamite, and Warren Ellis’ stewardship will guarantee a debut story with all the hallmarks of high-octane action and international intrigue that exemplify the franchise.

“Ian Fleming’s James Bond is an icon, and it’s a delight to tell visual narratives with the original, brutal, damaged Bond of the books,” says Warren Ellis.

The first six-issue story arc in the James Bond 007 comic book series will be entitled “VARGR.” James Bond returns to London after a mission of vengeance in Helsinki, to take up the workload of a fallen 00 agent… but something evil is moving through the back streets of the city, and sinister plans are being laid for Bond in Berlin.

Great-nephew of Ian Fleming, Diggory Laycock says, “We were thrilled when Warren agreed to write the first story in this exciting new chapter of literary James Bond.  Warren’s style is gritty, dark and unique and we can’t wait to see James Bond embroiled in an adventure of his creation.”

“Warren Ellis is one of the most brilliant writers of the 21st century, not just in comics but across all media,” says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. “When we approached him for the launch, we hoped he could make time in his very busy schedule, and we are ever fortunate and thankful that he was able to. We met with Warren and the everyone at IFPL, and Warren’s passion for the novels showed. He really is the perfect writer for Bond, and I can’t express how excited we are that Warren is tackling the ongoing series. This will be James Bond unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, true to Ian Fleming’s source material yet bursting all preconceptions of what a Bond story should be.”

Senior Editor Joseph Rybandt says, “I’ve long been a fan of Warren, going back to his earliest works including Lazarus Churchyard when it was first published, and pairing his creative mind with the iconic James Bond will make it the most talked about and exciting comic of 2015.”

“We have the extraordinary opportunity to create the very best James Bondstories that you’ve never read, and we have one of the most extraordinary contemporary adventure writers in the world to launch with,” says Editor Mike Lake. “After more than 40 years in the business, this is the best project I’ve ever had a hand in, and am very proud to have helped bring it about.”

“I’ve wanted to draw something Warren Ellis wrote since I first read his work onThe Authority,” says artist Jason Masters. “Each of his carefully composed pages is filled with wonderful ideas that make you wish you were smarter. More ingenious than Warren’s writing might be Dynamite’s decision to have him write James Bond. James Bond by Warren Ellis! I’d buy that sight unseen if I wasn’t lucky enough to be the guy drawing it.”

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Troy-Jeffrey Allen writes about action/adventure for Action A Go Go. He is a comic book writer whose works include BamnComics.com, The Magic Bullet, Dr. Dremo’s Taphouse of Tall Tales, and the Harvey Award nominated District Comics. In addition, Allen has been a contributing writer for ComicBookBin.com, OfNote Magazine, and ForcesOfGeek.com. His work has been featured in the City Paper, The Baltimore Sun, Bethesda Magazine, The Examiner, and The Washington Post. Yes, he wrote this bio.