James Bond Jr.
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James Bond Jr. is a fictional character described as the nephew of Ian Fleming's masterspy James Bond. The name "James Bond Junior" was first used in 1967 for an unsuccessful spinoff novel entitled 003½: The Adventures of James Bond Junior written under the pseudonym R. D. Mascott. The idea of Bond having a nephew was used again in 1991 as an American animated series for television in which the title character defeats threats to the safety of the free world. The series was mildly successful and spawned six episode novelisations by John Peel writing as John Vincent, a 12 issue comic book series by Marvel Comics published in 1992, as well as a video game developed by Eurocom for the NES and the SNES in 1991.
Although these works are based on a character being the nephew of James Bond, Bond is described in Fleming's books an only child. Unbeknownst to agent 007, however, he does have a son as told in Ian Fleming's novel You Only Live Twice. The son makes an appearance in a later short story by Raymond Benson titled "Blast from the Past."
The use of "Jr." in the character's name is unusual in that this naming convention is generally reserved for sons as opposed to nephews and other indirect offspring. Alternatively, it has been proposed that Fleming's James Bond had a brother, also named James Bond, who is the father of James Bond Jr.
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[edit] The animated series
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The animated series, produced by Murakami-Wolf-Swenson and United Artists Corporation, debuted on September 16, 1991 and a total of 65 half-hour episodes were produced. James Bond Jr. was voiced by Corey Burton.
While attending prep school at Warfield Academy, James Bond Jr. with the help of his friends I.Q. (supposedly the grandson of Q) and Gordo Leiter (supposedly the son of Felix Leiter), fights against the evil terrorist organization SCUM (Saboteurs and Criminals United in Mayhem). Expanding on his uncle's famous line, James Bond Jr.'s catch phrase was "Bond, James Bond. Junior."
Like many animated series, it regularly surpasses the Bond movies in terms of implausible gadgets and mad scientists, and the violence of the adult Bond series is nowhere in evidence. Despite this, the show was fully sanctioned by (and produced in association with) Danjaq and United Artists (the rights holders to the James Bond property).
Jaws, a recurring villain from the Roger Moore film era, also made regular appearances, usually partnered with Nick Nack to form a bickering comical duo. Auric Goldfinger also appears (alongside his assistant from the Goldfinger movie, Oddjob), revealing he has a teenage daughter named Goldie Finger with equally expensive tastes. Many episode titles wittily parodied the titles of Bond films, e.g. 'Live and Let's Dance'.
[edit] Main characters
The various inhabitants of Warfield Academy, comprising James Bond Jr., his friends, Trevor Noseworthy and the two featured members of teaching staff, act as the series regulars, and all appear in almost every episode of the series. Sometimes only two or three of James's friends will accompany him on an adventure, leaving the others behind at Warfield to create a B-plot which normally revolves around Trevor's misguided attempts to get James into trouble.
- James Bond Jr. - the series hero and possibly James Bond's nephew. He attends Warfield Academy and has lots of friends there who aid him in his missions. Romance is occasionally hinted at between Bond and Tracy Milbanks.
- Horace 'I.Q.' Boothroyd III - a scientific genius and one of James' best friends. Very intelligent, quick-witted and highly logical, he is responsible for developing and building the many artifacts and gadgets that help James defeat agents of S.C.U.M. and save the day. The series depicts him as the grandson of Q (James Bond's gadget inventor played by Desmond Llewelyn in most of the James Bond movies). He's mistakenly called Ike in the Italian edition.
- Tracy Milbanks - daughter of the Academy headmaster Bradford Milbanks and one of James Bond Jr's closest friends. She regularly accompanies James on his missions and, despite being bossy and quick-tempered, sometimes betrays her feelings for him.
- Gordon "Gordo" Leiter - tanned, blonde, athletic and the 'strong fist' of the group, Californian Gordo is also kindly and amiable. The son of 007's CIA associate Felix Leiter, he never backs down when his comrades need a little muscle to solve their problems.
- Phoebe Farragut - Tracy's best friend and the daughter of a rich businessman, Phoebe makes no secret of her crush on James, although the feelings are never reciprocated. Having a nerdish appearance complete with thick glasses and odd hairstyle, she is portrayed as less confident and popular than others in the group.
- Trevor Noseworthy IV - the antagonist of Warfield Academy. He comes from a wealthy family and has an inflated sense of self-importance. Cowardly and spiteful, he regularly concocts outlandish plans to "unmask" Bond Jr. in order to get him into trouble and expelled form Warfield, which inevitably backfire with unpleasant consequences for Trevor.
- Bradford Milbanks - an ex-Royal Air Force officer who now presides over Warfield Academy and is Tracy's father. Although serious and rigid at times, at heart he is a fair and accommodating headteacher and father. He seems to turn a conveniently blind eye to the activities of his daughter, Bond and their friends.
- Burton "Buddy" Mitchell - this former FBI agent and associate of 007's is the sports coach of the Academy. Strong and intelligent, Coach Mitchell often knows more about James Bond Jr's activities than he lets on to his colleagues, and often risks his job by allowing James to get into danger.
[edit] Novelisations by John Peel
In 1992 Puffin Books published six novelisations of the James Bond Jr. animated television show. The books were written by John Peel under the pseudonym John Vincent, and were all based on episodes from the television run, albeit extended and modified to cater for a slightly older audience. The villains not featured in these novelisations were Odd Job and Walker D Plank.
- A View To A Thrill - adapted from the TV episode The Beginning. Features Scumlord and Jaws
- The Eiffel Target - adapted from the TV episode The Eiffel Missile. Features Dr. Derange
- Live And Let's Dance - adapted from the TV episode of the same name. Features Baron von Skarin
- Sandblast - adapted from the TV episode Shifting Sands.
- Sword Of Death - adapted from the TV episode Sword of Power. Features Dr. No
- High Stakes - adapted from the TV episode There But For Ms. Fortune.
[edit] Buzz Books Adaptations by Caryn Jenner
In the UK, four of the TV episodes were adapted by the young children's series Buzz Books. Although the plots remained basically the same, the books were much shorter and sometimes featured different characters from the TV show; for instance, Freeze Frame, an adaptation of the episode Weather or Not, featured Goldfinger and Odd Job rather than Doctor Derange and Skullcap, presumably since the latter pair featured in the first book, Tunnel of Doom. The only villains never to appear in the books were Dr. No and Walker D Plank.
- Tunnel of Doom - adapted from the TV episode Canine Caper.
- Barbella's Revenge - adapted from the TV episode Barbella's Big Attraction. Features Scumlord and presumably Jaws
- Freeze Frame - adapted from the TV episode Weather or Not.
- Dangerous Games - adapted from the TV episode Catching the Wave. Features Scumlord, Jaws and Baron von Skarin
[edit] Marvel Comic Books
James Bond Jr. was given a limited 12 issue run with Marvel Comics spanning from January 1992 to December 1992. The first five stories were lifted directly from the TV series, but the other seven were original stories.
- The Beginning - based on Episode 1 of the TV series
featuring Scumlord and Jaws - The Eiffel Missile - based on Episode 9 of the TV series
featuring Dr. Derange - Earthcracker - based on Episode 2 of the TV series
featuring Odd Job - Plunder Down Under - based on Episode 5 of the TV series
featuring Jaws and Walker D Plank - Dance of the Toreadors - based on Episode 26 of the TV series
featuring Baron von Skarin - The Gilt Complex
featuring Odd Job - Sure as Eggs is Eggs
featuring Scumlord and Jaws - Wave Goodbye to the USA
featuring Odd Job and Walker D Plank - Absolute Zero
featuring Dr. No - Friends Like These
featuring Dr. Derange - Indian Summer
featuring Baron von Skarin - Homeward Bound
featuring Scumlord, Jaws, Dr. Derange, Odd Job, Dr. No, Walker D Plank and Baron von Skarin
Writers: Cal Hamilton, Dan Abnett
Artists: Mario Capaldi, Colin Fawcett, Adolfo Buylla, Bambos Georgioli
[edit] The toy line
The James Bond Jr toy line was met with success. The line began in 1991, and actually lasted longer than the television series itself.
The Figures consist of:
- James Bond Jr.
- I.Q.
- Gordo Leiter
- Buddy Mitchell
- Jaws
- Dr. Derange
- Walker D. Plank
- Dr.No
- Oddjob
As well as numerous variations of James Bond Jr. himself including:
- James Bond in ninja gear
- James Bond with Parachuting action
- James Bond in scuba gear
There were also a few vehicles:
- James Bond Jr.'s Red Sports Car- with working ejector seat, rear firing missiles, movable gun shield
- The Scuba Cycle- with the ability to transform from a motorcycle to a submarine
- The Scum Cycle- a purple shark shaped motorcycle with pullstring action
[edit] The video games
James Bond Jr. was also a 1991 video game developed by Eurocom for the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
- "The world's greatest scientists have disappeared and now it's up to you as James Bond Jr. to rescue them! Intelligence reports indicates that your old enemy S.C.U.M Lord has imprisoned them on his island fortress in the Caribbean. You head out on four dangerous missions to save the scientists and thwart S.C.U.M. Lord's plans!" Developer's website
[edit] Films
The 1967 satire Casino Royale, includes a character described as James Bond's nephew, called Jimmy Bond and portrayed by Woody Allen.
[edit] External links
- James Bond Jr. at the Internet Movie Database
- James Bond Jr. at Eurocom
- James Bond Jr. at MobyGames
- James Bond Jr. at TV.com
- James Bond Jr.'s Gordo Leiter at FelixLeiter.com
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