The name’s Darcy… Darcy Low. hehe.
Turn on any Cable or Satellite system on any given weekend and you are likely to see him, he may be British; but he become an American icon as well. If not a world icon. He is coolness personified, surrounds himself with beautiful women with really dumb names, gets to drive the newest and coolest cars, and has gadgets more cooler that a sonic screwdriver. His name of course is James Bond.
If you’re anything like me, you have caught a movie or two; maybe even read one of the books. Ever wonder about his beginnings? I mean, after all he wasn’t born a spy, he had to start some where right? Well this new comic books series decides to answer that question. So strap on your PPK whatever gun, have Moneypenny take your calls and make sure the Austin Martin is gassed up, because I am going to take you back to Mr Bond’s humble beginnings as a young boy. In his first ever adventure. This time around I present to you….
Silverfin: A James Bond Adventure by Charlie Higson and Kev Walker.
From the back of the graphic novel: “There’s something slithering in the dark waters around a Scottish castle. Something that must be kept secret, something very deadly. One man with a thirst for power will use it. Whatever the cost. One young boy stands in his way. His name is James. James Bond.”
Cue the music!! hehe.
I loved this book, it reads just like a Bond film. Full of action, plot twists and a insight into why he became a spy in the first place. This is of course his very first adventure.
When the book first opens, we see a barbed wired fence with a large sign on it which reads, “Keep out.” Then we see where a young man has crawled under and has waded into a foggy loche in order to take up some fishing. He gets a little was from the shore and starts to bait his hook. He pricks his finger by mistake and we watch as a tiny drop of blood hits the water. Suddenly the water around the the young man comes alive with blood crazed eels that attack the man and slowly drags him under. the scene closes as the water returns to calm smooth surface once again. A passerby would never think that such a calm lake would hold such a deadly threat.
Dum Dum DUUUUUUUM!
Next we see a young, (twelve or thirteen year old.) James on his very first day at Eton boarding school for boys. He is walking with a group of older men in suits and top hats, trying to find his way around and feeling very much out of his elements. he bumps into another boy who turns out to be the school’s bully. George Hellebore, the son of a rich American arms dealer. Both take a instant dislike to young James, and consider him a weakling. Not at all Eton material.
At first this proves to be true, James is not the model student; failing some classes. He is starting to wonder himself why his aunt ever sent him there, but he knows it is what his dead parents would have wanted. Where he does excel at is gym and anything physical. Much to the annoyance of the young Hellebore boy. Who is used to winning everything, and whose father pushes him harder and harder.
When break time finally comes, James goes back to Scotland by train to see his Aunt who has raised him and his sickly uncle. Before he gets on the train he is approached by a red headed boy his same age who does not have a ticket. James helps him sneak on and we learn the boy is cousin of the young man that went fishing. He explains that the last anyone heard from him was that he was going fishing out on a loche on property that is owned by Mr Hellebore himself. Next to a old castle and some ruins, where strange things have been heard to happen.
Now James Bond Finds himself caught in a web of intrigue, where things are all that they seem on the surface. People are dying, the water is full of eels, and the young Hellebore boy is taking drugs, drugs provided by his over bearing father. In helping the young red headed boy find his father, James learns that spying might take him in over his head. He could be taken prisoner by people who are dying to hide a very dangerous secret, or worst he could get them both killed.
This was a exciting book, perfect for teen boys to get started on the whole James Bond thing. Or for older teens that love a good mystery. Even though it is short, it still kept me guessing as to what was going on.
This also filled in a lot of stuff on a possible history of the James Bond story. Including stuff about his parents, the fact that there was a spy in the family and also that the number 007 has been with him for a long time. Long before he ever became the spy we know today, could be he remembers that and uses that to keep pushing on when things look the darkest.
This is the first in a series of graphic novels, and although I am a girl; I will be keeping my eyes out for new ones coming out. It is put out by Disney and Hyperion Books, so is okay for everyone I would think. I only saw two images that might frighten younger readers, so I recommend teens. As always though, parents who are unsure should look through it first and make up there own minds. 🙂
SilverFin: The Graphic Novel (A James Bond Adventure) by Charlie Higson
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; 1 edition (May 18, 2010)
Hardcover: 160 pages
Reading level: Ages 9-12
ISBN-10: 1423130227
ISBN-13: 978-1423130222
