Calum Petrie reviews Sherlock: A Study in Pink #1…
The Japanese SHERLOCK Manga comes to the USA and UK for the first time ever! Adapting the episodes of the smash-hit BBC America/Hartswood Films TV show that sees Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Watson (Martin Freeman) tackling brain-teasing crimes in modern-day London, this stunning manga is presented in its original right-to-left reading order, and in the full chapters as originally serialised. Each oversized issue comes with a selection of BRAND-NEW covers by some of the best Sherlock artists around! #1 kicks things off with a 52pp special. Meet Sherlock and Watson for the first time… all over again!
SEE ALSO: Check out a preview of Sherlock: A Study in Pink #1
This comic is a straight adaptation of the BBC TV Sherlock series featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. From the start of the issue it plays nearly frame by frame and scene by scene like the TV show, which first of all means that there is very little new in this print version of the story. The art style in the comic is somewhat cartoon style in comparison, though you can clearly tell who everyone is supposed to be if you were to match the comic with the TV show. The story of the issue follows the very first episode of the series that aired in 2010, with the debut episode titled “A Study in Pink”.
The humour of the TV show is lost as it does not translate very well onto another medium, the witty delivery of Martin Freeman’s Watson is lost and you will have to recall the delivery on the TV show to will yourself into a giggle. The same for the character of Sherlock, his fast paced explanations and acute observations are not delivered in the same astonishing manner then they are on film.
Something that shames me to admit is that it took me a few pages to grasp that the comic should be read right to left instead of the usual western left to right method. This caused some confusion for me as dialogue was becoming tangled and enjoyable to read.
I am sure that new comers to the modern adaptations of Sherlock may enjoy this if they have not watched the BBC’s unique interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary sleuth. As for fans of the TV show, I would recommend giving this issue a miss as it will not give you any new insight to the characters.
Rating: 5/10
Calum Petrie – Follow me on Twitter
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Originally published June 8, 2016. Updated November 10, 2019.
