March Super-Sleuthing Madness = March 07, 2011

By pghhead -

SHERLOCK HOLMES YEAR ONE #1 OF 6  (Dynamite Entertainment)  Written by Scott Beatty.  Illustrated by Daniel Indro.  Colored by Tony Avina.  Lettered by Simon Bowland.

I was excited when I previewed my PREVIEWS and saw the announcement that Marvel would be reviving RUSE - - the late, lamented Crossgen series.   My excitement doubled when I learned that original RUSE scripter Mark Waid would be writing new adventures of his creation, obviously designed as an homage to Sherlock Holmes with a few new twists and spins.  When I later came across SHERLOCK HOLMES YEAR ONE while checking out the new issues stand at Captain Blue Hen, I snatched it up immediately.  This will do very, very nicely while I wait for the first issue of RUSE.

sherlockholmesyearone1

SHERLOCK HOLMES YEAR ONE has that same Victorian period feel to it.  The art work and details seem very authentic and researched.  The intricate plot allows for Sherlock to show off his deductive skills and out-guess the reader.   I had it partially right, but only canny Holmes figured out the full extent of the criminals’ intentions. It didn’t matter that I knew some of this - - it was just so much fun getting there.

This book reLayout 1minds me so much of RUSE that it’s like having two versions of Sherlock suspense at once.  Two is definitely better than one!  If both books maintain this quality they should compliment each other very well.  Someone who likes SHERLOCK HOLMES YEAR ONE would be drawn to check out RUSE, and vice versa.   Beatty’s story made me smile.  Indro’s fantastic art brought multiple grins of delight.

 

In the cleverly titled opening chapter (“The Butlers Did It”)  college student Sherlock obtains part-time work on the kitchen staff at a masquerade ball attended by the very wealthy of London.  He meets Watson for first time and they seem to bond.  Watson is a medical consultant to the police force and is brought in to help treat the injured, which include Holmes who narrowly escapes several scuffles with the scoundrels.

If you like this type of story, what are you waiting for?  You don’t need me to tell you anymore than I already have.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Robert Kirkman: Invincible, Walking Dead, Wolf-Man

By -
Image
I wasn't actually a huge fan of Robert Kirkman when I first started reading his books.  He was competent, sure, but I didn't see the appeal-- The Irredeemable Ant-Man was a boring side story in the middle of  Civil War and  The Initiative (although I've since changed my mind about this), and his  Ultimate X-Men run was, in many places, a mixed bag (although I did very much enjoy his "Phoenix?" storyline).  And  Marvel Zombies  just seemed like a ridiculous idea--not that I bothered to try it at the time. Now, though?  I've completely reevaluated my opinion on his work, and when his name is attached to a project, I'm far more likely to give it a look.  I don't know if I'd classify him as a master storyteller or a comics icon--but he's very skilled, he has an incredible knack for dialog, and he writes stories that, no matter how ridiculous, seem real .  In a medium where characters frequently violate the rules of physics, that's not alway...
Read more

INDIE COMICS: Huffin’ & puffin’ B.B. Wolf’s got the blues

By pghhead -
Image
BB WOLF AND THE THREE LPs  (Top Shelf, May 2010 hardcover, black & white, 86 pages,   $12.95)  As told by JD Arnold with illustrations by Richard Koslowski What got my attention immediately was the pairing up of a classic fairy tale with musical motifs.  That’s a combination that pushes two of my “hot buttons” - -  so I made it a must-read.  I was not disappointed.  This is a very entertaining and cleverly designed work that rivals Bill Willingham’s  creativity on the long-running FABLES series from Vertigo. As if taking the classic tale of the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs and turning it upside down wasn’t enough to interest, BB WOLF AND THE THREE LPS  serves as an allegory for the oppression of  the black population in the deep South (Mississippi) in the 1920’s.  While they may be free (wolves),  the governing bodies (pigs) have the power to deny them their land, homes and possessions and even own the...
Read more

more random readings from May 2009

By pghhead -
Image
What else did I finish reading last month?  Here’s a cross-section of various titles . . . . . . . . . WITCHBLADE #126 “War Of The Witchblade Part 2” by Ron Marz and Stejepan Sejic  (Top Cow/Image) Preface:  Now here’s an interesting concept! = In order to attract new readers to its’ titles Top Cow is giving out free books each month as part of it’s Let Us Win You Over project.  ( www.topcow.com/freecomics )  Every month it’s a different title. And they work through different comics shops each month as well.  In April the title was Witchblade #126 and one of the participating dealers was Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, DE (my preferred supplier) so voila! - - - I find a copy in my hands. Since the last time I explored the Witchblade series the mythology has expanded to a battle between the forces of light and dark with each side choosing its agents on Earth, hence the Darkness vs. the Witchblade.  I’m still not overly interested in this typ...
Read more