Connect with us
Sherlock: The Great Game #1 Review

Comic Books

Sherlock: The Great Game #1 Review

A well drawn volume that accurately captures the tone of the BBC hit.

[amazon_link asins=’B072BXQWR7′ template=’AiPTProductAd’ store=’aiptcomics-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’9d919ff4-7d0e-11e7-8f7b-e9c7591aa718′]

Sherlock Holmes moves to manga. Based on the BBC television series, Titan Comics’ six part mini-series stays true to the source, with an adaptation of the final episode of the first season. All is quiet and Holmes is bored. It isn’t long before he and John Watson are called to investigate an explosion that has rocked London. However, this is just the start of an even more dangerous game, where the duo must solve puzzles or watch innocent people die.

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

For those that don’t follow the rebooted series, Stephen Moffat, longtime showrunner for Doctor Who, cast Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman in the respective roles of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Closer in length to a movie rather than a traditional episode, there was plenty of room for the story to breathe. Taking these self-contained episodes and breaking them down into a comic mini-series was a rather interesting idea. So too, was the fact it was written in black and white manga style, read right to left, for no real reason I can see, even after finishing the volume.

The good news is that the material translates well. Cumberbatch’s modern day, anti-social take on Holmes comes through without any bumps. Good news for the book since whether or not you enjoy this version of Holmes will have everything to do with whether or not you will enjoy the book, as Watson has little to do in this first issue other than play sounding board.

Sherlock: The Great Game #1 Review

The Holmes/Watson dynamic is established early as it opens with a bored Holmes firing a pistol at a smiley face he’s drawn on the wall, simply because no one has been murdered lately, so he has nothing to do. Like any average person, Watson is dumbfounded and agitated by his partner’s behavior. Watson’s role as a record keeper of he and Holmes’s adventures is modernized as he now writes of the cases in a blog. Holmes takes exception to some of the descriptions of himself in the blog, in particular how he is both a genius and unaware of basic facts like how the Earth revolves around the Sun, simply because he doesn’t find it interesting. There’s also a glimpse into Sherlock and his brother Mycroft’s testy relationship.

The art is all black and white, as I mentioned before, but is drawn well. The characters are recognizable and extra care is taken to ensure Sherlock looks like his TV counterpart Cumberbatch. That’s the kind of detail that escapes notice when done well, but would have been jarring had it been a less accurate portrayal. There’s a lot of nice detail in the panels, such as the pattern of the wallpaper or books haphazardly arranged on a shelf, that make the world seem more concrete. It should be mentioned that manga staples such as wide-eyed surprise, body posture and written sound effects, are all present and will be familiar to those that are fans of that type of comic.

Sherlock: The Great Game #1 Review

Is it good?

This first issue hits the right notes for fans of Holmes’ adventures and viewers of the TV show will be happy that it’s a faithful adaptation. However, since this isn’t an original story, only diehard Sherlock fans will want it for collecting purposes, as there isn’t much in the way of revelations or expansions. I don’t know why the manga format was chosen as it neither adds to or takes away from the story, but would perhaps have been better used on an original tale to further differentiate the show and comic versions. It’s a good read with an interesting main character, but ultimately only tells a small part of a larger story that’s already available.

Sherlock: The Great Game #1 Review
Sherlock: The Great Game #1
Is it good?
The final season one episode of the Sherlock TV series is given the manga treatment in a well drawn volume that accurately captures the tone of the BBC hit.
Cumberbatch’s Holmes is recreated respectably in form and function
The black and white art is skillfully done, with attention to detail and characters
Fans of the series will quickly realize they’ve already seen the plot before, as it’s an adaptation rather than an original story
Manga format doesn’t lend much to the storytelling other than having you read in a different direction
7.5
Good

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

X-Men Monday #241 - Steve Foxe Talks 'X-Men '97,' 'Dead X-Men,' and 'X-Men: Blood Hunt - Psylocke' X-Men Monday #241 - Steve Foxe Talks 'X-Men '97,' 'Dead X-Men,' and 'X-Men: Blood Hunt - Psylocke'

X-Men Monday #241 – Steve Foxe Talks ‘X-Men ’97,’ ‘Dead X-Men,’ and ‘X-Men: Blood Hunt – Psylocke’

Comic Books

Films to check out at SXSW Films to check out at SXSW

Films to check out at SXSW

Movies

'X-Men' #35 (LGY #700) is the final farewell to the Krakoan Age 'X-Men' #35 (LGY #700) is the final farewell to the Krakoan Age

‘X-Men’ #35 (LGY #700) is the final farewell to the Krakoan Age

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup