James Bond gets first new comic book series in 20 years based on the 'brutal, damaged original'

Warren Ellis is writing the latest story based on Ian Fleming's iconic spy

James Bond is making his comic book comeback later this year (Kev Walker/Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. 2014)

Everybody's favourite secret agent is set to return in the first James Bond comic for more than twenty years.

Newly-announced writer Warren Ellis, known for Gun Machine and Red, has hinted that fans can expect the "original, brutal, damaged" 007 from Ian Fleming's iconic novels when he publishes a gritty next series in November.

Jason Masters is in charge of the artwork, with the six-issue story arc seeing Bond in London following a "mission of vengeance" in Helsinki.

"Something evil is moving through the back streets of the city and sinister plans are being laid for Bond in Berlin," published Dynamite revealed.

Ellis is a long-term Fleming fan and described Bond as "England's blunt instrument of international assault - the spiteful, vicious b*****d of a faded empire that still wants the world to do as it's b****y well told" in comments made in 2012.

"Bond is not a superman," Ellis wrote. "He prevails because he is quite simply nastier and more determined to wreak utter bloody havoc than the next guy. He is what Allen Ginsberg called 'bleak male energy', causing and taking immense damage in single-minded pursuit of what he wants."

Fleming's novels present a Bond who is "scarred with clear psychological damage, often on the edge of being removed from service by M on mental health grounds", Ellis said, with the books "notably less spectacular and more low-key" than the blockbusters.

Fleming's Bond first appeared in comic strips in the late Fifties and fans will no doubt be greatly excited to have him back.

The 24th film in the Bond franchise, Spectre, is due in cinemas on 6 November with a star-studded cast including Daniel Craig and Christoph Waltz. It follows the hugely successful Skyfall, which grossed $1.1 billion at the global box office in 2012.

Daniel Craig as James Bond in Skyfall (AP)

Plans for a Bond musical are also underway with Merry Saltzman, daughter of Bond film producer Harry Saltzman securing the rights for a stage show.

"Production schedules and trial runs are still being worked out in anticipation of a late 2017-early 2018 opening," she told Playbill.com, adding that the production would feature several classic Bond villains and "our own Bond girl".