Dynamite Entertainment has announced a partnership with Ian Fleming Publications, Ltd. (IFPL), the company that owns and administers the literary copyright of the late Ian Fleming’s published works, including his 14 James Bond books. Dynamite has secured worldwide rights to publish comic books, digital comics, and graphic novels starring Fleming’s iconic secret agent, and they are planning a series of brand new adventures set in the early years of Bond’s career.

These new stories will draw inspiration from the Fleming canon to explore Bond’s origins, his raw early years before he gambled with his life in the first novel, Casino Royale (1953). Some other familiar faces from the expansive 007 mythos will also make appearances in this series including criminal masterminds, hired henchmen, glamorous Bond Girls, and secret service allies alongside all new characters.

“It’s over sixty years since the publication of Casino Royale, and now more than ever it’s an exciting time to be a Bond fan. We’re thrilled that 007 will be revisiting the world of comics, as Fleming’s novels have a long and successful history in this medium, ever since they began to be published as newspaper comic strips in the late ‘50s. Dynamite are the perfect partners to take on the challenge of continuing this legacy, and we are very much looking forward to working with them,” said Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications.

“James Bond is one of the greatest cultural icons in the world. His author and creator, Ian Fleming, was not only in touch with popular culture in his time, but also so ahead of his time, and his written work will outlive us all,” said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. 

“The character, the structure, and the source material is so strong. The original prose storytelling serves as the basis for one of the most successful film franchises ever, a franchise that reinvents itself to be in tune with each generation. By doing so, it allows the character to be an ever-progressive pop culture phenomenon, one that energizes existing fans and engages new fans, thus helping to ensure that Bond’s relevance and importance will live on forever. The high-octane action, the charm, the unquestionable allure of this man of action—it all stems from Ian Fleming. We’re excited to build upon the author’s source material with new canonical stories, and honored at Dynamite to be a small part of his legacy, to be able to bring new stories to fans around the world,” he said.

World War II service as assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence in London granted him a wealth of experience in the world of espionage, on which he drew when writing his novels. Fleming published 14 James Bond titles and lived to witness their enormous success in print and on film. His cultural legacy has thrived for over 50 years, as millions of readers worldwide continue to discover and enjoy his work.

Dynamite plans to launch its first James Bond comic books in 2015.