The weekend paper which has so many sections that it takes this reader days to read, so not a regular purchase at the weekend for £2. At the end of May to mark "100 years since the birth of the series creator, Cubby Broccoli, Eon Production .. has opened up its legendary picture archive." The supplement called Spectrum has 30 pages of "images, most unpublished, [to] tell the gripping story of the world's most famous secret agent."
A breakdown to an interesting insight as follows ...

• The opening cover ( seen right ) and next two pages cover the 3 girls from the movie posing for the famous TB poster - missing is Connery in scuba gear.
• The next 2 pages cover photo from off-set relaxing while making the first movie DN with column about Connery. Followed by another 2 pages showing crew filming the jungle scenes.
• Two photo pages devoted to the painting of golden girl Shirley Eaton and a column about her.
• Move on to Piz Gloria set and smiling/chatting Lazenby to young Joanna Lumley who has a small section recolling how she got her role by sharing a lift with producer Harry Saltzman.
• A double page photo of opening titles expert Maurice Binder placing a white cat on the back of a nude model for DAF.
• Another page about Binder with another Diamonds model and chatting to Sheena Easton for FYEO. The other page devoted to photo of Cubby & daughter Barbara in snow gear for TLD. She has a column and recalls filming of the series and Cubby ruining one Roger's best suits.
• The next 2 about Ken Adam's volcano set and Derek Meddings' minature work for GE. There is a section about Adam's work and shorter one about special effects.
• Double photo of Connery and back of topless Lana Wood ( who has a section ) filming Diamonds ...
• Left column about Roger Moore next to photo off-set seated posing loading a gun for LALD and another one of Ekland & bikini Adams in Phuket watched by tourists for the next movie.
• Left page has two photos of Roger & Cubby, one serving spaghetti and sauce to the crew and bottom one of the two playing backgammon between takes for FYEO. The other page has Lee & Adams relaxing between takes and another of Roger in clown gear chatting to seated Cubby.
• A page & half about Craig with left column, a photo from Pinewood set of him & Olga escaping the burning hotel and another upside down hanging in front of blue screen. A small photo of Murino having make-up applied. Half of next page looks at each movie with a brief fact helped by a few photos.
• A b&w photo of Gemma Arterton having crude oil applied over her nude body - actually black non-toxic paint.
• Finally left page shows the original bedroom scene with Connery & Bianchi and below rare photos of Dalton & Brosnan recreating the FRWL scene for the screen test. The right page is an advert for the QOS DVD & Blu-ray Disc - suggesting for Father's Day !

Purchased at the end of February this special edition of the monthly film magazine Total Film gives you a choice of 21 different 007 movie covers each priced at £3.80. Alas my supermarket gave me a choice of three, so I went for the GE cover, each has the bottom heading of WHY 2008 IS THE YEAR OF BOND and small top red FLEMING CENTENARY 1908-2008 stamp. On closer inspection of the 21 covers shown over 2 pages they are re-workings of the latest Ultimate Edition DVD covers. I checked out the offer of getting the 21 covers - which actually means buying all 21 magazines ( with same content ) which is a bit expensive - no sign of a front cover collection pack.
Inside related content has ...

Pages
• 4-5: Layout of 21 special covers headed THE YEAR OF BOND- must say Roger seems to stay younger by the cover.
• 10: Forum has a reader's letter with small photo of Maryam TLD D'Abo over header of Bond bombshell asking "last time we had a blonde Bond babe?" and describing her as "rubbish".
• 28: Buzz page has a preview of Craig's Flashback Of A Fool with photo of Craig in jeans & white shite with sub-heading of Nudity, coming of age and being 007 Jnr ....
• 42: A bottom page section called WHAT IF BOND TITLES WERE RECYCLED? using DAD, DN, MNRK, GF, GE, OCTO, TWINE, TB, & QOS. Funniest and shortest - TWINE .. The Tom Cruise Story with a re-worked poster.
• 73: 2008 THE YEAR OF BOND start of mag's "36-page salute to all things 007 in 2008".
• 74/5: BOND IS BACK! - On set at QOS Press Day with photos & chats.
• 76/7: BOND IS BACK! - The Girls Olga gets most while Gemma gets a column.
• 78/9: BEST OF BOND - Intros CR's stunt coordinator Gary Powell selects.
• 80/1: BONDS ON BOND - Daniel Craig answering column of questions about 007.
• 82: BECOMING BOND with 7 of each tips Money no object or Bond on a budget.
• 84/5: BONDS ON BOND - Pierce Brosnan & Timothy Dalton as per Craig.
• 86/7: BEST OF BOND - Vehicles look at cars & boats.
• 88/9: BOND ON TOUR - World of Bond dotted world map with locations used.
• 90/1: BONDS ON BOND - Roger Moore & George Lazenby as per Craig.
• 93/6: 20 Greatest Bond Girls starting with Halle at 20 and topping with Famke at 1 - X connected ?
• 98: BONDS ON BOND - Sean Connery as per Craig.
• 100/1: BEST OF BOND - Gadgets look at "007's best toys".
• 102/4: FLASHBACK - The man with the golden pen looks at Fleming, Friend or Foes looks at 5 of his characters based on real-life persons with movie cast photos - alas Geoffrey Keen never played M - he was Freddie, Minister of Defence in Moore's outings. Final section titled From Fleming to Faulks looks at different authors who "snatched up the Bond baton".
• 105: BATTLE OF THE BONDS has all Fleming book covers with brief THE BOOK and THE FILM descriptions.
• 106/7: BEST OF BOND - Themes looks at artists who sing the songs.
• 108: BOND BADDIES a chance to see Which Bond villain are you?.
• 109: Vote! on the mag's website "Bumper Bond Poll!" and half page advert for Bond DVDs.
• 178: TF ♥... THE BOND TITLE SEQUENCES inside back page looks at Binder's efforts and after.

Another new 007 mag on the block, this time from the mi6.co.uk website and a smaller publication of 24 pages - half the size of long time 007 Magazine and slightly over priced at £5. Using a familiar top page slogan like the aforementioned, this time from GE: Straight up with a twist. The front page has photo of Craig on the crane on location for CR.
Inside content has ...

• P2: half page of Craig & Green photo from Bahamas press day with large quote from Dan about CR followed by a three block timeline from Feb 2005 - EON announcement to Nov 2006 - World Premiere
• P3: contents page describing as "an unauthorised part-works magazine celebrating the world of James Bond and beyond" editor David Smith launches this new publication printed in Germany.
• P4-6: looks at CR's second unit who specialise with stunts e.g crane, car roll & airport tanker destruction.
• P8-9: premiere bond features YOLT with reflections and memories.
• P10-11: looks at sideshow studios' models based on the Bond characters.
• P12-13: a tribute to comic strip artist John McLusky.
• P14-17: author Charlie Higson talks about Young Bond.
• P18-19: how Natasha Bedingfield & Maria Menounos became Bond Girls for video game FRWL.
• P20-21: Bond screenwriters Purvis & Wade discuss the workings of movie Johnny English.
• P22: actor Michael Madsen's role in DAD and filming at Pinewood.
• P23: listing of models by sideshow studios.
• P24: advert for Higson's books featuring latest Hurraine Gold.

A follow-on late, late review, brought this as a reduced purchase in London before last Xmas this replacement magazine for the JBIFC called Kiss Kiss Bang Bang has a cover titled BOND BEFORE with photo of Young Bond author Charlie Higson.
So 5 years on, this Winter issue with a price of £8 and 48 pages of content has a running advertisement theme of Bond websites alas not mine. With an editorial opening by Ajay Chowshury recalling his fanship. Another 2 pages devoted to its 8 Contributors. The News section opens with two pages of In Memorium, the first for the passing of TSWLM actor Michael Billington and the second for a list other support actors who have left us and appeared in the Bond movies including Geoffrey Keen best remembered as Sir Freddie Gray in Moore's outings. The News continues looking at Craig's press announcement as the new Bond. Photos taken at the Press Day are included over the eight page item. The Events pages cover London, Birmingham, Italy and France fan happenings. The second part of the Event's section looks at the 40th Anniversary of TB with a 3 page coverage of a special November showing in London. The Product section includes book reviews with half devoted to books based on the Daily Express comic artwork by Yaroslav Horak.
Five pages are for an interview with author Higson ending with a half page review ( smaller text ) of his first book SilverFin. One page follows the author to a book shop in Surrey to promote the book and the upcoming three pages show photo coverage of his second one Blood Fever with another half page book review ending "James Bond at his very best!". More pages look at earlier Young Bonds.
The final end 8 page feature is about author Geoffrey Jenkins, a South African friend of Fleming who wrote a continuation Bond novel called Per Fine Once never to be published. The inside end page is a photo mock-up cover of the book and the back cover is another Press Day photo by the Thames with the CR team. Still lacking access to Eon's photo vaults, this now set and sectioned magazine does provide wider information about the world of 007 but alas this reader is less excited about future issues.

A final chance to look at the printed 007 Magazine edited by Graham Rye ...

• PAST: Back in Winter 1990 this magazine ( no.23 ) was part of the Fan Club, still 48 pages, mainly b&w publication with centre page colour poster for the film celebrating 25 Years Silver Anniversary. Items appear in the 40th issue with same text [R=reproduced] but different layout but mainly same photos and colour ones added. Missing item is Dave Worrall's recollection of the film's gadgets. Also the fan club involvement was seen with the Anniversary screening of the film at London's National Film Theatre with star guests ( alas Sean rang Graham to apologise for his absence ). The fact they managed to get a showable print was an achievement by the team. Time moves on ...
• PRESENT: Inside this TB special celebrating the 40th Anniversary, the glossy content has ...
  Pages
  • 002: TB - boat tie-in advert.
  • 003: Contents menu of TB items.
  • 004: Editorial/Contributors - Rye's memories of Odeon Hammersmith - my dad took me to the one in Lewisham to see the movie.
  • 005: Magazine details shared with photo of London Pavilion cinema's TB opening along with 1st seven days break-down takings of £96,303 !
  • 006/009: TB - the beginning  [R].
  • 010/011: TB - a diver's tale.
  • 012/022: on the trail of TB.
  • 023: TB - a speciality act's tales as Graham meets the naked swimmer for Binder's titles.
  • 024/025: TB - sour martinis and animosity.
  • 024/031: TB - the production  [R].
  • 032/035: TB - the shooting script  [R].
  • 036/039: TB - the villain  [R].
  • 040/045: TB - the girls  [R].
  • 046: TB - the premieres photo montage.
  • 047: TB - Aston tie-in advert.
  • 048: Back page colour photo of Luciana Paluzzi who played voluptuous Volpe.
  
  Another trip down memory lane, not realising that most of the above was a re-print it was still heavy going, perhaps my eye-sight isn't as good with the small print. If you want the nitty-gritty of legal and film-making this is for you alas for this reader it was the end of the line, hoping that the contributors will put some 'fun' into future work.
• FUTURE: Magazines now available online, same format but you'll need broadband to see the large photos/graphics otherwise ages to load. On entry to the website, it's great access to the photo vaults but have you the time to read/browse unless you plan to print out which may prove expensive apart from the subscription ?

A late, late review, brought as a reduced purchase in London before Xmas this was the JBIFC's new magazine called Kiss Kiss Bang Bang under the editorial of Ajay Chowdhury Esq or ACE ! I did try to get a copy from him when released but he wanted a banner placement ?
So nearly 5 years on, this Autumn first issue takes over the mantle of Graham Rye's 007 Magazine which continues as a separate publication. With a price of £8 what can you expect ? With Craig's first press photo on the cover and titled BOND BEGINS, you open to see a page of website adverts and a contents page. Further in the publication with same 48 pages but larger type to its predecessor there are items covering Craig's London Press Day, Bonding in Scotland & ... Pinewood with Kiel & Lazenby respectively, more events, books & games reviews, background and reassessment of Casino Royale, an eleven ( yes 11 ! ) page final interview with Desmond Llewelyn followed by 3 pages for his memorial service followed by a final page obituary ( repeating many of the previous interview facts ? ) and an adjacent centre photo page of the much loved Q actor with Bond Producer Michael G. Wilson. The back cover is given to Higson's Blood Fever - more a repeat of his book cover than an advert ! For a higher priced independent magazine I can never understand why you need 2 pages devoted to its Contributors ?
The magazine does not appear to have access to Eon's library vaults like Mr Rye, so don't expect many movie stills instead it seems to follow in Dave Worrall's Collecting 007 foot-steps with a fan's view of the world of 007. Well it is a fan club publication but sadly due to the lack of variety in content, it left this reader neither shaken or stirred.

Update 05/03/11: Graham Rye wrote "I would like to make clear that the images appearing in all issues of 007 MAGAZINE come from the 007 MAGAZINE ARCHIVE - and that nothing is supplied from the EON Productions archive as you incorrectly suggest in your reviews in your 007 Bond Supplement website."

A look back to the 25th Anniversary edition of the popular fan magazine when part of The JBIFC. Having lost touch since issue 42 I thought that I would purchase this one ( £5 ) as a double celebration of Goldfinger - 40th Anniversary as well as the magazine's one. What comes across is Graham Rye's effort at the time to keep the magazine & club going through personal loss and hardship. On the plus side Graham has had some nice Bondian memories along the way as seen in the many featured photos. He has mixed with EON staff, cast & crew to go where many Bond fans would break a leg for !
Anyway back to the usual 48 page content, his editorial was written at the time of uncertainty about Bond 21 ( which was to become CR ) and he was suggesting Brosnan again in remakes of OHMSS & YOLT made back to back and in the right Fleming order. Inside the magazine front mixed GF/Brosnan cover is a Technicolor's advert for GF and the back cover has an exclusive montage one which is surrounded by the song lyrics. The first item looks at the film's villains Auric Goldfinger and Oddjob comparing book to film. The next item looks at the man who created the titles explaining the projection of movie images onto the lovely Margaret Nolan. Followed by a music item on "the must-own EMI Bond remastered CDs" which I haven't seen due to a sheltered life, this second part concludes with OHMSS, DAF & LALD with some nice selection of small photos in a rectangle frame to help the detailed track text. More music with an interview with Michael Sandoval from MGM explaining the choice of artist & music from GE to TWINE, a page with Tina Turner's GE pop video photo has all the songs' lyrics including TND's Surrender ( a favourite of mine ). Plenty of photos to keep Garbage fans happy. The pictorial has six pages of making of TSWLM trailer with Maurice Binder, some showing the models nude or topless which came as a shock to this writer ( especially if you've read my other site - yes joking ) perhaps old Graham let slip with these boob shots but a nice surprise.
He devotes the next 16 pages to Adventures in the fan trade, part 2 from 1995 to 2004 looking at meetings, conventions and parties etc. e.g. meetings with Pierce and bumping into Sean & wife ( lucky sod ! ). Each page has top page selection of photos from events starting back in 1989, I was interested to see the Pinewood Studios 1994 set where I was pushed to jump the queue and get George Lazenby's autograph. Yes I met a Bond ! Don't remember Lois Maxwell being there ? I was the one who asked about funny filming moments and George told the sausage story which he tells a lot now when asked about 007. Mixed in with this look back is an edited archive interview with S/FX wizard John Stears (1934-1999) recalling Bond special effect moments ( like OHMSS's end helicopter raid on Piz Gloria ) filmed on limited budgets.
The best quote of the mag comes from Graham when asked by a tv reporter about the new Bond, Pierce Brosnan, hidden among the photos - caption no.5 (p.43) he says "I reckon he'll do four then they'll get rid of him!" How very true, now what about Mr Craig ? Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Catching up with an old issue is like catching up with an old friend, brought online many months ago and finally got round to finishing this 25th Anniversary ( see issue 44 for part 2 ). With a cover photo of Brosnan & Berry taken while filming in Spain for DAD, the 48 page magazine despite its age holds plenty of interest.
Both inside front & back covers have photos of Brosnan as 007 with his gun, after opening page of contents Rye's editorial looks back fondly at GF ( see main item ), the collecting item is about Penguin's redesign of Bond book covers, the interview is with Cubby's wife Dana Broccoli who died earlier that year, a report called NO DEAL, MR. BROSNAN looks at Brosnan tenure as 007 including screen test photos. The item ends with a photo column for a 1986 screen test for Lambert Wilson headed FROM PARIS, WITH LOVE who later crosses paths with Berry in Catwoman. For those who collect the soundtracks, Lukas Kendall goes into great detail how some of the albums were remastered with love and attention by him & friends. Each page has a centre montage of photos from the selected movie soundtracks.
To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of GF the main 10 page item is by Hollywood screenwriter John Cox who looks at the legendary movie in a different way by examining the sub-text like electrocution being featured at beginning and near the end. A topless golden girl is featured throughout the item along the usual movie stills. Next is Part 1 of ADVENTURES IN THE FAN TRADE ( '79 to '94 ) as Rye recollects how the fan club got off the ground accompanied by covers of past magazines, photos of events and a right two column item of an interview with Bond writer John Gardner which continues through this 10 page item. The yearly review includes the 1994 Christmas Club party which I attended at Pinewood Studios with former Bond George Lazenby as the star guest and interviewer Rye asking him my question.
So another one for my archives and proves like vintage champagne the magazine holds some enjoyable memories. Cheers Graham !

This new colour magazine is clearly aimed at a younger audience with claims on the opening page "You are about to access the secret files of MI6".
Inside this starter edition you will find:

• Vehicles: a blue print of the Q Boat with a large drawing with cut-outs to reveal it's secrets followed by The Q Boat Chase with stills from TWINE.
• Spy Secrets: showing a young boy's bedroom and ways to make the room secure with 007 tips e.g. DN's spitting hairs.
• Q Branch: reveals TND's Ericsson mobile phone and playback of brief dialogue between Bond & Q.
• Locations: looks at TSWLM's Atlantis with interesting computer graphics.
• Allies: looks at Bond's personal file with photos of Brosnan but no mention of the actors who played him.
• 007's Reports: part 1 is a 3 page look at Mission: Moonraker with the agent recalling his adventure.
• Field Skills: looks at shark attacks and shows James with Melina in Corfu escaping the sea beasts.
• Codes And Puzzles: 2 pages of games to try out and some video game clues. Also a back page Bondmobiles test.
• Villains: looks at GF's Oddjob.

With a GE cover created by an artist using movie stills to create a montage. This informative 44 page b&w magazine with colour cover contains plenty of good reading about 007 collectables including the latest Corgi model car collections.
Elsewhere in this Summer edition you will find:

• Report from the Swiss Fan Club and their visit to Piz Gloria.
• 007 Bond Cars at Beaulieu.
• A look at Bert Luxford's gimmicks for Bond.
• An American collector who put on his own exhibition for fans to enjoy on the West Coast.
• Behind the scenes look at the photo shoot for Vanity Fair's Bond Women.
• Collecting Japanese flyers.
• Other fan reports from Japan ( fans who waited hours to meet our Rog), Germany & USA.
• Tim Greaves' Bond book that never was .. published yet !
• Bond in vision: NSNA & Casino Royale - the latter described by editor Worrall as 'bad' on 2 counts !
• Club members visiting locations: Piz Gloria ( the Holy Shrine ), YOLT's fishing village, AVTAK's mine entrance & TB's French chateau.
• IFF's Doug Redenius visiting Pinewood ( like we all do ! ) and picks up some Bond bargains - TWINE's parahawks & Q's boat.
• plus Italian 'Spaghetti' Bond music, book reviews & fans' letters including a surprised fan who met Dalton on location.

The short-lived series of Bond Collectors' mags followed on the success of TND. This 4th issue ( seen right ), part of an intended eight part series, was devoted to the subject of the Bond Girls.
I wonder if Bond Girls' author Graham Rye was aware as this issue covered the A-Z of Bond Ladies with some different and familiar photos. When I saw The Official Collectors' Series on the cover, I expected a mag about 007 souvenirs etc. especially with Dave Worrall ( James Bond Collectors Club ) as the consultant and friend of Mr. Rye. The lovely ladies are now looked at better in Rye's 007 magazine under the Bond Babe section.
Despite the series' failure, I'm sure that the mag will become a bit of a Bond collector's item.