JOHN MCLUSKY
ORIGINAL IAN FLEMING COMMISSIONED PUBLISHED STORY BOARD ART FOR “JAMES BOND’S, LIVE AND LET DIE”, Ca. 1958 UK Daily Express Newspaper
“Somehow I Managed To Get a Foothold On The Coral Reef and Keep Solitaire’s Head Above Water”
Features James Bond in a superb 4 panel strip which takes place at the end of the novel. Bond and Solitaire, having been caught by Mr. Big were tied and dragged behind Mr. Big’s yacht as bait for sharks and Baracudas, with the intent to have them die. However Bond had placed earlier an explosive onto the yacht which goes off destroying the boat and killing Mr. Big. Bond and Solitaire are both saved and the gold is recovered. In this strip, Bond has saved Solitaire from the shark infested waters, but had to watch while the sharks ravaged the others who were in the deadly waters. The end of the novel sees Bond and Solitaire finally start a romantic relationship. The ending of the movie differs from that of the original novel
Ian Fleming commissioned John McLusky to illustrate a daily comic strip for his James Bond character and stories. In 1959 the original face of James Bond was born and graced the UK Daily Express newspaper as an on-going series while Ian Fleming continued to write his novels. The James Bond daily comic strips, each illustrated by by John McLusky originated in 1958 commencing with Casino Royale. McLusky worked from a story script, provided to him on a sheet of typed paper, outlining each frame. The pieces are rendered in graphite, pen, ink and tone “Zippatone”, which came in sheets in various shades and textures. Lettering on all the panels of comic art was done entirely by hand, with some being hand lettered paste ups. This is an original published piece.
Condition: The art is in excellent condition with the expected age toning, slight stains to outer margins. Unframed. The artwork by sight is 18″ x 5.25″. Large high-resolution images available upon request.
PROVENANCE: Ex. The McLusky estate by descent. The art will be accompanied by a Letter of Provenance from the estate.
