PopCultHQ received an advance review copy of SHERLOCK: ‘A Scandal in Belgravia’ – Pt. 2 from Titan Comics‘ Manga division, adapting the episodes of the smash-hit TV series starring worldwide superstars Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange) & Martin Freeman (The Hobbit)! Available Tuesday, March 14th, the creative team for this collection features writer Steven Moffat, co-creator Mark Gatiss, and art from Jay.
Here’s PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of…
SHERLOCK: ‘A Scandal in Belgravia’ – Pt. 2
Writer: Steven Moffat
Co-Creator: Mark Gatiss
Art: Jay.
Cover Art by Jay.
ISBN: 9781785865497
Softcover, Black & White, 176 pgs.
SRP: $12.99 (US)/£9.99 (UK)
In Shops: March 14th, 2023 (US)
Adapts the hugely popular BBC series which is one of the most watched shows
on British television – the 2017 episode rated higher than the Queen’s speech!
The second part of the Manga adaptation of the fourth Sherlock BBC episode – printed in English in the US for the first time!
Fresh from confronting Moriarty in the end of The Great Game, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are called to save the royal family from blackmail at the hands of Irene Adler, a dominatrix known as “The Woman”. Adler pulls Sherlock into a complex web of mysteries involving the CIA and the MoD, with secrets that could threaten international security and topple the monarchy.
PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
SHERLOCK: ‘A Scandal in Belgravia’ – Pt. 2
The game is afoot! Take a trip back into the world of of the hit BBC show that pushed the World’s Greatest Detective into the 21st century. A fun little standout for me was that this isn’t just some random writer taking up keyboard to adapt the second half of ‘Scandal in Belgravia’. None other than Sherlock creative team of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss teamed up to take what was a superlative Sherlock Holmes tale and adapt it into another medium.
Writing: Moffat and Gatiss are a true dynamic writing duo. Moffat is, of course, well-known for his work as a script-writer on Doctor Who and a handful of episodes of Sherlock (Scandal in Belgravia is included in that credits list), but what was fun for this reviewer was the fact that Gatiss takes a hand in the writing as well. While it isn’t exactly possible to discern each person’s respective writing style, Sherlock fans can feel the energy that flows throughout the book from these two. One of the things that helps make Vol. 2 enjoyable from a story perspective is that this is, more or less, a word-for-word copying of the dialogue from the show, making it easy to hear Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman inside one’s own mind palace as one reads. Top marks, chaps, jolly good stuff!
Art: While there is nothing but praise that can be heaped on the script, the artwork does leave a little to be desired. Jay, is a fine artist, and there’s no mistaking that a lot of love was put into this second volume, but it’s the fact that this is taking an already existing episode of Sherlock and translating it into manga art. So much is lost because if someone has already watched the show and this particular episode, the little things such as facial cues, physicality from the actors and even scenery, is reduced in order to make it flow on the printed page. Another issue is the shading; at times it seems as though things like hair color, shadows around faces, or even the darker color of objects like the phone, receive too much or too little attention, which is very off-putting and soured any enthusiasm that was had after seeing the very lovely, in-color cover.
Overall Assessment:
There is so much that could go right with taking Sherlock and turning it into another visual medium like manga or comics. But only if the artist and writer(s) are on the same page when it comes to meshing story and artwork together in a flowing symphony. Manga fans will no doubt find this to be an enjoyable addition to their shelves and collections, but fans of Sherlock Holmes will probably not. As previously stated, so much is lost when taking the episode and turning it into artwork. Tread with caution lest you be a devotee of Holmes and Watson, this sadly may not be the book for you.
PopCultHQ’s Rating:
3 out of 5 Stars
Publisher Titan Comics
Titan Comics offers astounding creator-owned comics and graphic novels from new and world-renowned talent, alongside the world’s greatest licensed properties and classic graphic novels remastered for brand-new audiences. Titan is one of the most successful independent publishing operations in the US, with a recent six-week run at #1 in the New York Times bestseller list.
