James Bond leads the interrogation of a scientist who allowed a lethal virus to be stolen. But when the investigation takes a surprising turn, Bond begins to question whether he is enough.

Writer Aleš Kot is bringing his highly cerebral writing to the world of James Bond and in some ways redefining the types of stories we’ve seen of the character. James Bond: The Body #2 is similar to the first issue in that it deviates from the usual story of espionage, gadgets, and action that we’ve seen over and over. Instead, this issue is a battle of psychology and wits in a way.

Taking place almost entirely in one room, Bond is racing against the clock after a virus was handed to a terrorist organization. Can he break the detainee before the virus is released? What tactics will he resort to? What’s her motive? That’s the gist of the entire comic as we count the minutes until the end.

But, what Kot does that’s even more impressive is question Bond himself. Is he really a patriot to his country? Or, does the policy he present go against the people? There’s a lot to digest in this issue that’s very much a “sins of the past” type story. And, until those last few pages and panels, I wasn’t sure where it all was going.

Artist Antonio Fuso delivers a visual treat and is able to make a claustrophobic setting even more interesting. This is basically two individuals sitting down and talking but Fuso’s art is fantastic picking up small details of each character and delivering some panel layouts that are unique and interesting.

The comic is a fascinating one in that it not only questions what a real patriot is but also shows how far Bond will go to complete his mission no matter who the opponent is. This is a comic whose story and art combine to create an intense and entertaining read that’ll leave you engrossed to the final panel.

Story: Aleš Kot Art: Antonio Fuso
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Dynamite Entertainment provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review