Re: Superman and Batman
Both these characters have remained roughly the same age since 1938 and 1939, respectively, with stories being told about their pasts and futures wherein they have, by necessity, regressed or increased, in age.
However, by the establishment of several parallel universes, DC Comics has allowed for this. While this does not necessarily account for the fact that the characters still age at a very slow pace given the fact that, as far as I can tell, Batman and Superman have remained at a more or less constant continuity since the late 80s without aging all that much (although Batman now has an actual son, born in 1988, and is now about 11 or 12). Still, the fact is that a single story, which in real life, would only encompass a few weeks at best, can last a year or more, given the more or less monthly publishing schedule.
I have mentioned before, that, given the simple presence of Superman, DC Comics exist in a world of science fiction. Thus, parallel Earths and everything else can exist without batting an eye.
Bond does not enjoy such a luxury. Despite the fact that technology exists in the films which may not in real life, which may then indeed set them "one minute in the future" which is often quoted to Michael Wilson (out of curiosity, when did he actually utter that phrase?) the Bond films are rooted in reality. The books even more so.
Thus, although I would want nothing more then an all emcompassing official line on the films (but that may exist if one takes the line from the DK Guide, officially endorsed by EON to the films which acknowledge Bond as a real person, with different actors taking on the exploits of one single "real" man) outside of that DK book, and for that matter, an official line regarding the books, which would reconcile the different takes on Bond's world. For the books, that was not much of a problem, given that every author, aside from John Pearson, Samantha Weinberg and now Jeffrey Deaver, have written or are writing, Bond adventures which all fit into one large continuity. The fact that the Bond of those books would probably be in his 90s is simply and correctly ignored. (For the record, I do acknowledge that Bond's nephew, from the 1960s book and 1990s TV series would have a problem existing, given Fleming's and especially Higson's establishment that Bond had no siblings--but as far as I know, there is no record of Andrew Bond not fathering an illegitmate offspring.)
Now, as I mentioned before, Bond actually existing in "real life" as put forth by Pearson and Weinberg would exist in a separate continuity.
Now Project X is giving us a third continuity. Do I think this necessary? Absolutely not. I argued earlier that continuing Bond, chronogically, from where Raymond Benson left him is indeed possible. I am sure that Mr. Deaver is capable of doing so without even thinking about it. However, and I acknowledge that this may be premature, a decision has been made from the IFP to give Bond a new continuity. For all we know, that may indeed change. The fact is that all of us on this forum are pretty much guaranteed to at least read the first book in Project X, and the majority will be purchasing the book. In terms of book sales, that will have very little effect.
The fact is that the general public, who probably have never heard of May, and for that mater, have no idea who Bill Tanner is, have to buy the book, and have enough interest to buy the next book, and so on. Thus, the real challenge for Mr. Deaver is to make the general public believe they are reading about James Bond.
Going back to the DC discussion, the fact is that despite the parallel universes, very, very little has changed with regard to the core characters and situations of the lives of Batman and Superman. Other characters in DC Comics may enjoy more widespread changes, but as they are not as well known by the general public, that is either here nor there. The core characters of the supporting cast have changed very little. I would argue that Commissioner Gordon is Batman's M, and despite being retired for a couple of years, he is back in full force. The other characters remain--Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Alfred, Barbara Gordon, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, Lana Lang--and although there has been some tinkering with their histories (especially with regard to Ma and Pa Kent, dead until 1986, and then fully alive, with Pa Kent now dead again) the fact is that they are essentially the same characters. Maybe a bit more mature given the maturation of the average comic book reader, but essentially the same characters.
Bond does not enjoy such a rich supporting cast. Here's hoping that Mr. Deaver will be as successful as the average DC Comics writer in making us believe that we are still reading the adventures of our favorite hero. Anything less would be criminal!
Bill
Good post man. I was thinking solely in terms of Earth 1. Yes, DC expands over many universes and continuity. Now I'm thinking the same thing could work here with Bond, treat it like a DC separate but similar universes.
