Moneypenny: The Reviews Are In
By David Pegram
If you’re a fan of Dynamite Comics’ James Bond series, you are no doubt aware of the spinoff, Moneypenny, which was officially released last week. The one-shot comic, written by Jody Houser with art by Jacob Edgar, is actually the second spinoff from the James Bond “universe.” Earlier this year, Dynamite introduced Felix Leiter.
So, how has the comic book fared with critics? Let’s review the reviews.
Good
Marisa Carpico, writing for popbreak.com, was the most impressed, scoring Moneypenny a 9 out of 10. In her review, she states, “Perhaps the best thing about this one-shot is the way it simply and elegantly shows that Moneypenny is just as good a spy as anyone else—maybe even better.”
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Allen Rapp, at Razorfine, rated the comic a 4 out of 5 (razors, as opposed to stars). Says Rapp: “Despite the story jumping back-and-forth, the comic is a quick read and Egar has fun putting Moneypenny in danger and showcasing her considerable skill in getting out of it.”
Insha Fitzpatrick, at geek.com, liked the comic, but with some reservations. She noted, “Moneypenny makes you want to learn more about this secret agent. The two criticisms I have about the one-shot is that there needs to be more and it needs to be focused…Her story requires a little bit more attention if you’re going to make an origin story.”
Matt Lune, at Multiversity Comics, liked the depth of Moneypenny’s character and scored the comic a 7.8 out of 10. he stated, “Writer Jody Houser gives Moneypenny a stoic nature that focuses not on her but on the perception of her by others. Whether this is intentionally meta or not, it’s a fascinating choice, as it instills a level of confidence in the character of Moneypenny, and instead challenges the cast around her to meet the standard she’s setting.”
Tara Giovannini, with ign.com, rated the comic at 8.8/10. She viewed it as a boost for writer Jody Houser, stating, “it seems that Houser has found her companion in crime and it’s none other than Moneypenny.”
Fair
Ian Cullen, at scifipulse.net, noted that the story didn’t flow, due to its flashbacks. he said, “I have to give props to Jody Houser for trying to tell a solid story featuring Moneypenny, but narratively. I feel that she needed more than the one issue to spin this particular tale.”
Johnny Hughes, writing for comiccrusaders.com, scored the comic 3.5 out of 5 stars, noting, “For new readers, there is really nothing in here that would make you want transition over to the main series. This is a shame as there is an element of quality on show throughout the book.”
Doug Warren, commicsgathering.com, was entertained by the story but didn’t sense that this was the same character connected with James Bond. He also noted that the “art was clean.” But, still, he said, “The comic could’ve been called “James Bond’s Friend Gertrude,” and it absolutely wouldn’t have needed to change a single word.”
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Poor
Keith Callbeck, comicosity, gave Moneypenny a 5 out of 10 and noted that the story and artwork needed clarity. Said callbeck, “There is a critical error with the choice of shots and storytelling at the highest point of tension in the story, and it makes some muddy reading as to what actually occurs. In short, someone shoots a gun and I needed three reads before I understood the gunshot came from off-panel and not from the character in the panel, who is also holding a gun.”
Dustin Cabeal, with comicbastards.com, called the comic a “miss” and noted that story was “dull”–in fact, he used that word a lot in his review.
David Hildebrand, AIPT!, was also not impressed: “Unless you are a James Bond fanatic and feel the need to pick up everything Bond, I cannot recommend this book.”
And then there is Steven Morris, at cbr.com, whose review was titled: “James Bond: Moneypenny #1 is a Stilted Spy Slog.” That is usually not a good sign, and Morris’ review, like others. was critical of the storytelling. According to Morris, “Ultimately, Moneypenny is a struggle to read, which is a huge surprise. A compelling lead character and interesting set-up are immediately set aside in favor of a dull script which offers little in the way of coherency or style. Unengaging and stilted, this comic won’t interest even the staunchest of fans.”
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