Review: Mycroft Holmes #1
“Ah, nice touch, with a mysterious villian. Dickens would approve” – Sherlock Holmes
Finally got another title for Sherlock Holmes fans. Unlike the Manga isues which are set in the present day, this one’s set in the 1800’s and conicides with the original period that the novels and short stories were set in. The first issue tells us The story is set in the British museum of London in 1874. A teacher is explaining the Rosetta stone to a group of students on a field trip. When one of the boys finds a toy and begins playing with it, the teacher scolds them and tells them they’ll never learn at Oxford or Cambridge. Then something happens with the toy and the museum is destroyed. Then we head to Cambridge University philosophy class where our hero is studying.
The Creative Team:
Basketball great Kareem Abdul Jabar brings us a new take on an old classic, instead of Sherlock Holmes we’re reading about Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s smart ass brother who is not just a great deducer of crimes but also a sharp wit as he turns his philosophy class on it’s head by answering a question with a question and disrupting the whole proceeding. He’s sent, for the third time, for disciplanary action and the school threatens to expell him. He retaliates commiting fornication with someones wife, an adulterer. Which truly makes this a comic for sinners. His more straightlaced brother shows up and Jabar pulls out all the stops and shows just how much animosity these two have for each other. Clever story telling and a nice break from all the action oriented comics out there. For those who like clever writing with your comic book experience this ones for you.
Raymond Obstfeld successfully brings us into Victorian era England and has a great feel for these characters. Since he has to make Sherlock more of a stuffed shirt he has a lot more fun with Mycroft who throws away all the rules and hang-ups of society and is please to just be himself. And he’s not a nice guy, Kind of a Victorain anti-hero, the Hyde to Sherlock’s Jeckyll.
The Cover:
A very busy cover indeed. Mycroft is in a running pose with his head tilted to the right. He’s carrying what appears to be a fire extinguisher. Behind him is Sherlock giving him an evil glare. On his other side is a woman with a gun. Throughout the multi-colored background there appear to be scub-divers all around and our anti-hero is standing in a river of water. The comic store surfer will probably be enraptured with all that’s going on with this cover.
In Conclusion:
After Mycroft has his fun with brother Sherlock by having him interrupt a session of love making, several thugs break in and attack Mycroft. Sherlock, thinking that this is another pracrticle joke just sits there, not lifting a finger to help. However this may not be a practicle joke as Mycroft is found hanging upsie down and the dogs are unleashed upon him. Is this just another one of Mycroft’s practicle jokes? Will Professor Hirsch by Mycroft’s Moriarity? Will Mycroft deduce the real reason for his capture? It’s elementary that the games afoot! (sorry.)
Mycroft Holmes #1
Writer: Kareem Abdul Jamar
Art: Raymond Obstfeld
Colors: Simon Bowland
Letters: Louise Guerrr
Publisher: Titan Comics
Publication date: 08/03/2016
    |
About the Author
Kevin Given Kevin Given has studied with "Longridge Writers Group" and "Writer's Boot Camp" a speech/communications major from the University of Maine Presque-Isle/Orono sites. He has created the "Karl Vincent Vampire Hunter" franchise which includes 2 novels and 8 comic books. They can be found on amazon, Indyplanet and Kindle. For a limited time you can get digital copies of "Karl Vincent: Vampire hunter" #1 and "Files of Karl Vincent" #1 for free on Indyplanet. Kevin is producing the third novel in the series "Dracula Rising" (working title) and developing "Foul Blood" into comic book form.
