Irma Bunt is a assistant and confidant of SPECTRE chief Ernst Stavro Blofeld. The character first appeared in Ian Fleming's 1963 novel, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and went on to appear in his 1964 book, You Only Live Twice. She was subsequently adapted for the 1969 EON Productions film of the same name, portrayed by the late German actress Ilse Steppat.
The literary character also appeared in the Daily Express comic strip adaptation of the stories, published between 29th June 1964 and 8th January 1966. Bunt was later prominently featured in Raymond Benson's 1997 short continuation story Blast from the Past.
Biography[]
On Her Majesty's Secret Service[]
Introduced in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Irma Bunt is described as a short, strong, very sunburned female wardress; with a square, brutal face with hard yellow eyes, and brownish grey hair, tied in a tight, neat bun.[1] Bunt acts as Matron to Blofeld's Angels of Death, brainwashed women through whom the villain intends to spread biological warfare against Britain's agriculture. A notable difference with the subsequent film adaptation, the literary version of Irma Bunt doesn't kill Bond's wife Tracy in the novel's closing scenes. Instead, she is shot by Blofeld.
You Only Live Twice[]
Subsequently, Blofeld and Irma Bunt fled to Japan, where he poses as horticulturist, Dr. Shatterhand and purchases an ancient Japanese castle; surrounding it with a "garden of death". At this stage, Bunt appears to have a relationship with Blofeld, referring to him as "lieber Ernst" (dear Ernst) and adopting the alias of his wife. Bond accidentally stumbles across their activities and is eventually captured. 007 knocks Fräulein Bunt unconscious with a staff and, after strangling Blofeld to death, escapes the exploding castle by clinging from a helium-filled weather balloon. Bunt is assumed to have died in the conflagration.
Alternate continuities[]
Blast from the Past[]
Irma Bunt also appears in Raymond Benson's "Blast from the Past" short story, only published in the January 1997 issue of Playboy. In this sequel to the book You Only Live Twice; after almost being killed by James Bond, she takes revenge upon the secret agent. Her last experience at the hands of Bond disfigured part of her head, which required her to wear a mask over a prosthetic skull. She seeks revenge on Bond for this, as well as for killing her mentor Blofeld. She begins her revenge plan by killing James Suzuki, whose parents were James Bond and Kissy Suzuki.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Fleming, Ian [1963] (2004). "Chapter 9: Irma la not so douce", On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Penguin Classics, pp.79-80.