Comic Books

Breaking down ‘007: For King and Country’ with writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson

The latest comics series features heaps of globe-trotting and character development galore.

April 11, 2023

This year marks the 70th anniversary of James Bond. The creation of Ian Fleming first debuted in 1953’s Casino Royale, which subsequently launched a decades-long, medium-spanning career for the quintessential super spy. Now, after penning last year’s compelling 007 series, writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson has teamed up with artist Giorgio Spalletta for a brand-new Bond-starring series.

007: For King and Country sees Bond marked as both a turncoat and traitor by the British government following a murder he may not have actually committed. In order to clear his name, and find the real murderer, Bond teams up with Gwendolyn Gann (the supposedly-deceased 003) to delve deep into a “clandestine mission that could have globe-shattering ramifications.” It’s very much a story seeped in Bond-ian tradition — a compelling case of whodunnit that emphasizes sex appeal, high adventure, and some gritty undertones.

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With issue #1 out this week (April 12), Kennedy Johnson took some time out of a jam-packed schedule to answer a few of our questions. That includes how his Bond has developed across these two books, how this world/story compares to penning superhero comics (like Superman), and the challenges of espionage stories in 2023.

Main cover from Joseph Michael Linsner. Courtesy of Dynamite.

AIPT: James Bond turns 70 this year. Why is that character still so dang compelling?

Phillip Kennedy Johnson: Simply put, James Bond is one of the most iconic characters ever. He’s not recognized because of Aston Martin cars, Walther PPK firearms, martinis, or well-tailored tuxedos… those things are recognized because of him. The character of Bond and his stories are the perfect blend of unflappable coolness, sexiness, and iconic imagery that makes him impossible to forget.

AIPT: You previously wrote Mr. Bond with 2022’s excellent 007. How are these two books connected (directly, spiritually, tangentially, etc.)

PKJ: Our 2022 series 007 introduced the character of 003, Gwendolyn Gann, an old flame and former mentor to Bond. That series shows Bond trying to unravel the mystery of her murder, and his intensely personal mission to punish those responsible. Up ‘til now we’ve seen Bond’s and Gann’s relationship mostly through flashback, but following the shocking twist at the end of 007’s finale, now we get to see Bond and Gann reunited and back in action, trying to outrun and outwit the global threat introduced in the first series, the mysterious defense contractor known as Myrmidon. It’s technically a follow-up to the first series, but doesn’t rely on those events for this story. It’s still a great jumping-on point for those who are new to the 007 comics.

AIPT: Similar to that last question, how has your appreciation and/or perception of Bond changed between these two projects?

PKJ: Bond broke a lot of rules in the first series. He’s no stranger to that, of course, but he thought he was doing it to honor the memory of Gwen Gann, and to find her killer. Now, after losing everything due to his actions, he finds her alive, and she’s obviously kept things from him. As happy and relieved as he is to see her again, part of him feels confused and betrayed too, and unsure if he can fully trust Gann or her supposed motives. In this series, Bond’s on a very different kind of mission… he’s trying to get his bearings a bit, trying to figure out for himself what the right thing is and who to trust.

Variant cover from Leirix Li. Courtesy of Dynamite.

AIPT: What are the challenges of writing a Bond book in 2023 given the proliferation of spy stories and more “savvy” readers? Or does Bond’s innate sense of timelessness sort of negate any of that?

PKJ: There are three challenges, as I see it. The first is to make sure all boxes are checked that makes the story feel inherently like a Bond story, a story that wouldn’t be the same with any other character at its center: Bond’s ego, the way he talks to people, the Bond girl, the cars and gadgets, the fun visual elements to the villains. The second challenge, then, is to give the reader some kind of new take, something that makes it feel fresh and exciting without sacrificing that familiarity.

And the last is to keep the character true to Fleming’s original vision, despite the fundamentally different time period in which the story takes place. This is probably the trickiest part. The Bond of 2023 must be different from the Bond of 1953 in some ways, but he still needs to be the same Bond at his core: the “blunt instrument” who kills people for a living, drinks too much, likes expensive food and booze and suits and sports cars, and apologizes for nothing. That can be a tricky balance, but man is it fun to bring to life.

AIPT: What was it like working with Giorgio Spalletta? What did he bring to the table that helped tell this specific story?

PKJ: The first pages Giorgio turned in were from this epic car chase and shootout, and I knew at a glance how great this series is going to be. Giorgio’s work has tremendous dynamism, beautiful flow, great composition… every page is torn right from the film that’s playing in his head. I love his takes on Bond and Gann, and I already can’t wait to see the upcoming issues come together.

Variant cover from Giorgio Spalletta. Courtesy of Dynamite.

AIPT: How does writing Bond compare and/or contrast to your work with superheroes (I’m thinking along the lines of Superman)?

PKJ: It’s not as different as you might think. Writing espionage is very different than writing superhero action, of course, but in terms of character, Bond is so iconic that he’s practically a superhero in his own right. He just represents a different kind of power fantasy than Superman, Hulk, or Batman do, and 80% of the difference can be summed up that tidily. Superman is the belief that we were sent here to do great things, that we can have absolute power and wield it with absolute compassion and humility. Hulk is the strongest one there is, the one for whom feelings of smallness, weakness, helplessness are impossible.

Batman is the notion that through single-minded doggedness, relentless hard work and study, we can craft ourselves into something more than should be possible. Simply put (and this is admittedly oversimplifying the character), James Bond is the living fantasy of being the coolest guy alive. Always cool under pressure, always looks great, has the cool car and the cool gear, always knows what to do, always knows what to say, women love him, men envy him. There’s more to his mythology, of course, and we try to explore more complex sides to him in 007: For King and Country. But on the surface, that’s how I think of him in relation to more traditional costumed superheroes.

AIPT: Do you have a favorite Bond actor? Does any of that person’s portrayal get funneled/channeled into the comics take on Bond?

PKJ: I’ll always love Connery in the role, but I have to go with Daniel Craig. The Craig era was the one that made me finally get James Bond, and the one that most helped me capture the 21st century take on the mid-20th century character. I love the physicality of his take, the clever, concise but world-weary way in which he speaks, his detachment from the rest of the world, that “I-Dare-You” look he gives any would-be threat. Craig’s Bond is the one that feels most like the one I read in the books: the “blunt instrument” with no tolerance for bureaucracy or bullshit, who’s grown almost bored of killing.

Variant cover from Rebeca Puebla. Courtesy of Dynamite.

AIPT: Feel free to spoil as much or as little, but what are some of the big beats of this story?

PKJ: There will be a lot of globetrotting in this series, and a surprising amount of Bond lore. We’ll meet more of Bond’s old allies besides just Gwen Gann… including the other active Double Os, who I’ve been waiting to see for a long, long time. My hope is that readers won’t know who to trust, and that they’ll be on the edge of their seat right through to the end.

AIPT: Would you want to continue writing Bond after this? Do you have any dream 007 stories you’d like to eventually tell?

PKJ: I’ve had a great time writing Bond, and will never be in a hurry to leave. But I confess that my dream Bond story is the one we’re kicking off now: James Bond and Gwendolyn Gann versus the entire Double O section, with an unusually clever villain pulling the strings. It asks questions about patriotism and the changing face of warfare and espionage. As ever, I can’t believe I get to tell stories with these iconic characters, but I’m not going to waste a second.