Review: Sherlock Holmes #3

--by Stephen Schleicher

The problem with many comic book story arcs is once you hit issues three and four in a six issue arc, the story starts to stall as the writer attempts to fill the time before the turn and final denouement that wraps everything up. Fortunately, this is not the case with Leah Moore and John Reppion as the title character remains on the run.

This issue features Sherlock Holmes on the run after breaking out of prison, and he switches disguises a couple of times which makes it difficult to remember who is who. Fortunately, artist Aaron Campbell takes the time to have Holmes turn and look over his shoulder, and frames him in a way that everyone is in on the trick. Holmes’ journey around London gives some additional reveals – in particular a pair of hoodlums whose appearance in the story had me scratching my head as to why they appeared.

The plot to kill the visiting Baron Lothair continues to unfold as an assassination attempt on his life is carried out in grad fashion at the Royal Botanical Gardens. The Baron survives the attempt, but the reader is not made privy to who the shooter may be.

The change in place and location also finds Doctor Watson hoping to get help from Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock Holmes’ smarter brother. It’s got to be frustrating being Watson. Here’s a man that has the smarts to be a doctor, but deduction and reasoning force him to rely in Sherlock and Mycroft to spell it out for him. Mycroft, being the smarter one, is even more of a blocker than Sherlock when it comes to to helping the companion, by stating he’s late for lunch. Of course it’s not until the final panel that we find out who Mycroft it meeting for lunch.

The puzzle pieces are starting to fall into place in this third issue, but these glimpse of exposition seem a bit confusing at times. That’s one of the problems with many of the Sherlock Holmes stories in that readers see everything unfold through Watson’s recollections. I’m still confident that the final issue of this arc will spell everything out in a way that makes sense in hindsight, and thus show how well thought out the story is.

Don’t confuse the plot points highlighted above as an indication that this is a slow issue. A shoot out, a chance meeting with the Queen, Sherlock Holmes eluding police, a prying journalist from a paper who’s trying to get a scoop, and a lot more move this issue along nicely, and there’s never a dull moment. Moore and Reppion continue to keep the action entertaining and the story interesting.

While Campbell does use traditional television techniques to give the reader a chance to figure out who is who, and his attention to detail is really great, at time the panels seem so detailed that characters can get lost or confused with one another. I blame the fashion and facial hair style of the time, but it is a slight problem.

Personally, I really enjoy the detective genre, and the Sherlock Holmes series from Dynamite Entertainment is well done. I’m not sure I have it all figured out, but that’s part of the fun. Sherlock Holmes #3 holds together well and earns 4 out of 5 Stars.

Review: The Trial of Sherlock Holmes #2 (of 5

June 30th, 2009
Author Henry Chamberlain

Buzz up

The Trial of Sherlock Holmes #2 (of 5)

Written by Leah Moore and John Reppion

Art by Aaron Campbell

Cover Art by John Cassady

Dynamite Entertainment $3.50 US

The Trial of Sherlock Holmes is a new Holmes tale and a “locked room” mystery that finds Holmes appearing to be the only possible murder suspect in this five issue series published by Dynamite Entertainment. Poe’s The Murders in the Rue Morgue is considered the first locked room mystery and first detective story. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, among other writers, would build on the idea of a shrewd detective with an assistant/narrator as well as the idea of an impossible crime.

It’s a puzzle within a puzzle and lots of fun. Considering it’s been done by some of the best writers around, the bar is set pretty high for the writing team of Leah Moore and John Reppion but they are no strangers to telling a good yarn, particularly a good Victorian one. This is Alan Moore’s daughter and son-in-law and they’ve learned from the legendary storyteller. They’ve been around for awhile now and have gotten some credits under their belts. I suspect this could be their best work yet.

The art of Aaron Campbell picks up nicely from the impressive cover art of John Cassady. It looks like Campbell did his homework and studied the original Holmes illustrations by Sidney Paget and built on that. Campbell’s style also makes me think of the gritty noirish art of Sean Phillips, Ed Brubaker’s partner in crime for a  number of books including, Incognito. Interestingly enough, among the many comments of praise on the back of the first issue is a quote from Brubaker: “A fantastic opening shot, literally, to a great new Holmes mystery that I can’t wait to read the next chapter of.”

That opening shot is quite impressive with its steady pacing leading up to a dramatic explosion that sets the plot off and running. It is 1895 and a quarter of London’s East End is in flames after a bomb is detonated. A threatening letter is sent to Sir Samuel Henry, a retired police official, demanding that, unless he remains at his home at precisely seven the next evening, more explosions will follow. Sir Henry requests that Holmes be at his side at that hour. Holmes obliges and subsequently is found in Sir Henry’s room with gun in hand and a dead Sir Henry. Not only that, but it appears that Sir Henry had evidence proving Sherlock Holmes to be the infamous criminal mastermind, Professor Moriarty.

So, here we are into Issue Two and into a devilish mystery. Hats off to colorist Tony Aviña for his deft handling of moody colors and lighting. There is quite a lot of play with light to see as in an engaging scene with Watson struggling over what little clues he has before him bathed in lamp light. Campbell’s bold use of marks across a face or surface in place of more delicate lines adds to the suspense. All well in good for an issue that continues to set the tone for this story.

By the end of this issue, Holmes has escaped from prison and Watson has snuck into the crime scene and found another clue. This last one appears to be a scrap of paper. This could lead back to the threatening letter sent to Sir Henry. Perhaps Sir Henry sent it to himself. Or maybe it was from Mrs. Gammage, the overbearing housekeeper. For now, Holmes is on the loose disguised as an English bobby with only his wits to rely upon. Like Ed Brubaker, I can’t wait to see what happens next.