A slice of 007 history is set to return in print this autumn.
When Ian Fleming’s James Bond first appeared in the Daily Express in 1958, it marked a significant moment in the character’s evolution, carrying 007 from the pages of novels such as Casino Royale into the daily lives of British readers. Now, more than six decades later, those early adventures are to be collected in a single volume.
Titan Comics has announced that Ian Fleming’s James Bond Signature Comic Strip Collection will be published on 8th September 2026, bringing together the first seven full-length newspaper strip stories based directly on Fleming’s original works. For Bond fans, it offers a rare opportunity to revisit the earliest visual interpretations of the character that would later help shape the cinematic series.
The collection spans the formative years of the strip, from July 1958 to May 1961, and includes adaptations of Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia with Love, Dr No and Goldfinger. These stories, originally condensed for newspaper publication, retain Fleming’s core plots while introducing a visual language that predates even Sean Connery’s debut in Dr No.
Central to the appeal is the artwork of John McLusky, whose stark, confident line work defined Bond’s appearance for a generation. His interpretation—dark-haired, scarred, and unmistakably dangerous—was reportedly influential in shaping how producers first visualised the character for the screen. The new edition includes an extensive gallery of McLusky’s original illustrations, curated by his family, offering insight into both his process and his legacy.
At a time when Fleming’s novels were still gaining traction, the comic strips helped broaden Bond’s audience considerably. They distilled the essentials: fast cars, exotic locations, physical danger and the cool efficiency of a man who rarely hesitates. If the novels provided the detail, the strips supplied immediacy.
Published in hardback and already available for pre-order, the volume is positioned as both a collector’s piece and a historical document. It captures Bond at a point before the global fame of the films, when the character was still being defined in ink and newsprint rather than on the cinema screen.
For those familiar only with the later iterations of 007, this collection offers something slightly different: a leaner, harder-edged Bond, closer in spirit to the man Fleming first imagined during his wartime service—efficient, unsentimental, and always moving forward.
Pre-order your copy now on Amazon ahead of its 8th September 2026 release.
