Above: Front cover.

Returning to an undercover CIA office, Bond meets his soon to be female conquest Miss Shadow Breight. While discussing his findings with a CIA section chief, Bond is charged with delivering the sensitive information by hand to London, via Military transport that is scheduled to leave the following morning.

After spending the night with Miss Breight, we are shown a inquisitive Breight looking through Bonds clothing. The morning sees Bond leaving with his CIA escort Mr Robert Nagell, after saying fair well to Miss Breight and Part Two begins.

After a smooth takeoff, Robert Nagell reveals his true colours activating a gas canister to knockout Bond and the flight crew. With a little acting and some fast hands, Bond disables Mr Nagell only to have him open the emergency door and exit the plane with the only parachute. In a very similar scene to Moonraker's skydive, we see Bond wrestle the parachute from the ill-fated Mr Nagell and return to the airplane. Once aboard he takes control of the aircraft and radios ahead reporting that he still on time.

Each of the three chapters could have been expanded with more character and plot development. The villains aren't threatening nor appear insane, or enough to be formidable foes. The villain's plot seams borrowed from Gardner's Licence Renewed, whereas part two seems like a poor rip off of Thunderball's aircraft crew gassing and Moonraker's mid-air fight.

The subplots aren't explored but are planted throughout all three parts. Lexis' daughter is built up and then never address as a valued character, and the group working within the respective agencies is not named or even a motive established. With M not making an appearance, or being addressed in the comic as a serious player in Bond's universe, the dynamic of the final discussion is hollow.

Above: Cell from "Minute of Midnight" Part 2.

Above: James Bond deals with the dirty task of murder - cells from Minute of Midnight Part 3

Cover Design
This flip book features on one side James Bond and the opposite side Aliens vs Predator. Dark Horse Comics produced this final issue before losing their Bond licence; the Bond cover features Moonraker-esque imagery. Bond is in freefall resulting another character for the single parachute. In the background a large military cargo plane is bearing down on Bond and foe. The image sets the mood, but does not feel dynamic enough. With simple detailing the cover works, but could have been improved with time.

Overall this cover is by no means the best offered over the course of Dark Horse's run of Bond comics.

Artwork
Russ Heath has created a believable visual world, which is lacking the final background details. The layout of the cells is standardised and there are no detailed backgrounds which link a page or double page spread. A rushed story has blended into rushed art, however, the imagery does keep the story moving.

Dialogue
As with the story, the dialogue suffers - fractured and poorly delivered. Moving the story along and planting many unneeded subplots, the dialogue really shows the mini arc which was meant for a larger format.

Best Line
"Kinky with your drinks to!"